Isn't lapband for people who don't have much to lose?

[JodyG 0]

I've heard that lapband is for people who dont' have that much to lose. I'd be starting at 300 and would ideally like to end up at 160. I'd like to hear from people who have lost 150 pounds with lap band, how long it took, why they didn't do bypass, etc.

Also, do you keep getting your band adjusted forever, or do you reach a "sweet spot" after a few fills and just keep it that way?

p.s. I put this same post accidentally under the "Pre-op" forum, but thought I might get better response posting here.

[faithmd 14]

I posted on your other thread...

[JulieNYC 4]

I've lost 190 lbs over 14 months and 180 of that was in the first year. I'd like to lose 30 more and I plan to meet that goal by Christmas.

No, lapband is not for people who don't have that much to lose. I find that some doctors will tell you that -- and if they do, it's usually because they don't believe in the lapband -- they're more of a bypass practice to begin with. The exception to that would be someone who is at serious, immediate medical risk and needs to take off 100+ lbs IMMEDIATELY for health reasons (for example, uncontrolled BP that is in danger of killing the person). Keep researching practices until you find one that believes in banding for high BMI patients. Those practices are where you'll have the most success as follow-up care is paramount.

I chose the band because I'm a young(ish) woman of child bearing age. I didn't see a need to go through the malabsorption issues of bypass. I liked knowing there was something less invasive to my body that would help me gain control of my weight. And, if it didn't work, I could choose the more invasive process (bypass or DS) at that juncture. It's kind of like killing a bug with a shoe (the band) or running it over with your car (the bypass) -- the bug's just as dead with the shoe. For me, the band was the best tool for the job. Other people may need a different tool for various reasons (and there are tons of threads you can find using the search feature on this forum to find threads on bypass/band choice), but don't let your starting weight be the determinative factor.

Good luck in your journey!

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

I have a friend who weighed 570 pounds. He's lost well over 200 of that thus far. I can point you in his direction if you wish.

Bypass docs just don't know much about bands. Docs tend to prefer either bands or bypass, most docs don't seem to advocate both.

Keep in mind one issue about bypass. Within a few short years your intestinal tissue will start regrowing and you will once again be absorbing fat and calories and you'll be back to diet and exercise. If you can't do that now, why would you be able to do it then? I know I couldn't.

Look at who is getting revisions. Most of the time it is not band to bypass, it is people who had failed bypass and now they are getting banded. Take opinions with a grain of salt, but look at the facts. That's what matters.

[GayleTX 1]

Lapbands are for people who want to lose weight....and who don't want their intestines cut and rearranged. I chose LB because I have so much to lose that I knew I couldn't do it within the bypass 'window of opportunity' (about 18-24 mo.)....I wanted the lapband because it would be with me forever and as long as my attitude was working right, so would be band. JMO....