Lap Band or Gastric Sleeve?

EnergyTank · March 14, 2014

Hi, I'm a 57 year old male with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, colitis, depression, and a stint put in my main artery. I am 255 pounds, 5'11 and am hoping to get down to 200 pounds with the aid of lap band or sleeve. I am having trouble deciding between the two. I'm not sure which procedure would be better for my situation but I would really appreciate some advice. Please post your experiences with either the lap band or the gastric sleeve but please keep in mind I'd like to try to live a fairly decent, normal life. Help!

SandyM · March 14, 2014

I've lost 70 lbs with my band and I ate ribs last night and have more energy than I ever had. That's closer to normal than I've ever been. I think either surgery will work for you, but you'll surely get alot of people here who think its their job to make your decision for you. I'd do my reasearch if I were you. Choose whats right for you.

2muchfun · March 14, 2014

FYI-This is and has been an incredibly hot topic. There are some folks on all sides who hate one type of surgery over the other. Here's a video down below that sums up my personal feelings about the different surgeries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VmvWFu79Ik#t=99

I can't find myself recommending any surgery over another but I do recommend WLS to anyone who has tried everything possible and found no success.

The band is more of a voluntary method of losing weight. The band dims our appetites but does not stop us from eating too much food. It's being satisfied with eating less food that makes the band work. The sleeve and bypass force the patient to eat less. The sleeve obviously is a tool that will allow the patient to eat very little food where the band will require the patient to exercise some judgment as to when they should stop eating.

tmf

Texasmeg · March 14, 2014

I was sleeved on Dec. 31, 2013 and couldn't be happier. I've lost 42 lbs, have plenty of energy, and eat fairly normally (though not much). I'm rarely hungry anymore.

I eat high Protein and avoid Pasta, potatoes and bread (though I can eat them in small quantities). I don't seem to have the cravings for diet sodas and sweets that I once had, but eat a bite of dessert now and then. Good luck in your decision!

Recycled · March 14, 2014

Lap band or sleeve? Might as well ask do you like Chinese or Italian food. It needs to be a choice based on your specific personal circumstances. And those circumstances should be discussed between you and your Surgeon. Seeking basic information about both procedures and the reasons others chose their type of surgery, is certainly advisable. But I wouldn't base too much of your decision on recommendations from strangers on a online forum. Good luck with your choice.

Teachamy · March 14, 2014

I looked at both surgeries initially until I found out my bariatric center stopped performing lap-band surgeries due to various complications and a lower success rate. So I can't say much about lap-band either way. I had the gastric sleeve and have been very successful, despite a lower BMI to start. I am a Type I diabetic, and my blood sugars are amazing now!!! Good luck in making your decision.

Dr-Patient · March 14, 2014

I had the VSG/"sleeve" after talking to my doctor, considering my comfort level and what I thought I wanted to deal with [fills, etc.]; and, mainly, after attending the Obesity Week conference last November, where >4,000 specialists/bariatric surgeons from around the world (mostly USA) were discussing the good, the bad and the ugly about all the WLS procedures.

I recently posted links to two lectures presented there. Find them at "Band, Bypass or Sleeve: Which one in 2014?" in my activity feed. Mind you, one aggressive, angry respondent (who had the lapband) went on a rant and accused me of being a 'band denier," which I am not. I simply provided statisitcal information currently given to bariatric surgeons that, fortunately, I had direct medical access to. I was simply sharing the inside info. Consider it, if interested and/or discuss with your doctor. I may add the direct link to this post if I get time to return to this today.

In short, worldwide, the lapband is going out of favor, but is still done; the bypass still has the highest rate of operations, and the sleeve is gaining in popularity. Personal choice, but I am loving my VSG and what it's helping me do for me--bringing sexy back, and greater health, less pain, no snoring, MUCH happiness, etc. Good luck with your choice. In any case, you'll find support here at BP. [excuse any typos; busy day.]

PdxMan · March 14, 2014

This is definitely a personal choice as has been mentioned many times. It is up to your personal levels of what you are willing to do and what your risk tolerance is. But one thing just caught my attention.

but please keep in mind I'd like to try to live a fairly decent, normal life.

I've been rolling this between my ears. What does this mean to you?

If I were to internalize this statement when I was pre-sleeve, my comments, with a filter, would be:

I would like to lose a bunch of weight, but still be able to eat what I want at times.

If I were to remove the filter and speak frankly, it would be further resolved to:

I would like to lose all of my excess weight but still be able to abuse food at times like I do now.

My definition of what "normal" was isn't anywhere close to my new definition of "normal". For me to enjoy a "normal" Thanksgiving meal, I would have to end the day in a food coma. Now, I end the day chasing my kids around and having them chase me. To enjoy a "normal" date night with the wife meant finishing my dinner with no doggy bags. Now, we split an entree and take something home.

I've been at goal for 2 years now and I want nothing to do with my previous definition of "normal". I love my new normal.

I don't think there is a single WLS which would have allowed me to abuse food like I "normally" did. If you seriously want/need/desire WLS, I think you need to come to the realization that your fundamental relationship with food is going to change. If you are not OK with that, then WLS may not be for you.

Edited March 14, 2014 by PdxMan

LipstickLady · March 14, 2014

I will support anyone's decision on their journey to health no matter what surgery they choose. I will never claim to be an expert in ANY surgery, including the WLS I chose, but I can tell you why I chose the sleeve.

In my area, most WLS surgeons are abandoning the band. They are seeing far too many complications, removals and revisions and are finding greater success in bypass or VSG. Two of my good friends had their bands removed due to erosion, nothing they could help, and had little success in weight loss. That said, you will find MANY success stories regarding the band, it was something I just didn't feel comfortable with.

Again, I am not an expert on anything other than myself, so I can only tell you about my journey with the sleeve. I have lost 109 pounds in 10 months with my VSG. I can eat almost anything I want, save bread, rice and dry chicken. It is up to me to make good choices, focus on my Protein and avoid bad carbs, While I cannot eat much due to the current capacity of my tummy, I can certainly graze on crap all day and fail to lose or even start to gain. I am one of the lucky ones who seems to have lost their grehlin production factory. I am rarely hungry and I no longer have the same cravings I used to. It could be because of my surgery or it could be because of the fact that I've cut out almost all bad carbs. I don't know and I don't care, HA!! What's important is that I have a miraculous tool that has gotten me from a size 20 to a size 6. I can run and jump and cartwheel and do anything I want to do. I made the best possible choice for my body and I am thrilled.

Someone once claimed that one had to be stronger to succeed with one type of surgery over another and that's utter nonsense. (It's my thought that if one was that strong, they never would have gotten fat in the first place, or they would have lost it without surgery, but whatever.) Every surgery can be eaten around. Every surgery will have it's pluses and minuses. Every surgery takes hard work, determination and will power.

I know people who have succeeded with the sleeve and who have failed with the sleeve. Same with Bypass. I only know two people who have had lapband and neither faired well, but that's not a big pool to judge by, so I won't.

Good luck to you with your journey! Make sure you do your research, ask your doctor what his or her recommendations are based on your body's needs and go from there. (My doctor recommends bypass to diabetics, FYI.) I am sure you will make the right choice.

Edited March 14, 2014 by LipstickLady

pinksjo1 · March 14, 2014

Yeah, its really tough to make that call for someone else. You need to do your homework, talk to your doctor (ask for statistics on success rates). I was in your shoes 8 months ago. I was convinced I was going to get the lap band. I thought well if it doesn't work I can always have it removed...WRONG! Upon doing more research, I chose VSG and I LOVE IT!! Best decision I have ever made! I am down 82 lbs! My production of the evil hunger hormone is close to nill! Good luck on your decision.

1Day1Life4Now · March 14, 2014

The choice to do WLS is a good one. There are a number of surgeries out there and they are all good but different people have different needs. Speak with your doctor and discuss the benefits of all of them and see what would work best for your needs. I chose the gastric sleeve over the band because I did not want to fool with the band adjustments and the additional expense of maintaining the band. I am very happy with the sleeve but I'm just 4 1/2 weeks post surgery. I feel great and am so happy that I did it. Which ever one you choose, you will appreciate the better health that weight loss offers you. Good luck.