Considering a lap band - scared after reading this forum!

[Elrix 8]

I have my first consultation next week to get a lap band . I was certain that the positive results from the lap band would outweigh the negative. Now I feel scared en very unsure after reading this forum. Everything from cancer to heart problems! How can I then go ahead with such a surgery?!

[Elrix 8]

My bmi is 32 at the moment and I’m not even sure if I’ll be approved the surgery. It’s also A LOT of money and a life altering surgery (whether that be good or bad). I just feel like food controls me, appetite gets the best of me, I need a long term TOOL to help me deal with my eating habits.

[mbj8r8 9]

I had the Lap Band in 2010. Initially I lost all my extra weight. However my band slipped and had to be removed. My WLS no longer does lap bands because of problems they’ve had with it. I would suggest you read some studies, the good and the bad, to see if it’s right for you. I know someone who still has theirs in and is happy. However, I hear of a lot of people revising the band to another WLS.


HW 355
CW 335
GW 180

RNY 01/22/18

[Elrix 8]

1 minute ago, mbj8r8 said:

I had the Lap Band in 2010. Initially I lost all my extra weight. However my band slipped and had to be removed. My WLS no longer does lap bands because of problems they’ve had with it. I would suggest you read some studies, the good and the bad, to see if it’s right for you. I know someone who still has theirs in and is happy. However, I hear of a lot of people revising the band to another WLS.


HW 355
CW 335
GW 180

RNY 01/22/18

I’ve read a few studies but have only come across the bad ones, it seems to be the most numerous. Some people say it’s the best decision they’ve ever made and others regret it severely. How will I know? Because opinions are so vastly different. I’m only 21 years old and haven’t read about a band lasting successfully past 15 years, which means it won’t be a life-long helper for me. I was optimistic about the idea of something giving you control of your weight for good, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

[Dr. David Thomas 8]

I think you should consider a different type of weight loss surgery. Having done many bands, and taken many out, I would recommend the band in only limited situations.

[Elrix 8]

38 minutes ago, Dr. David Thomas said:

I think you should consider a different type of weight loss surgery. Having done many bands, and taken many out, I would recommend the band in only limited situations.

I’m looking into a laparoscopic sleeve gastronomy. Any referrals for surgeons in South Africa?

[Travelher 915]

2 hours ago, Elrix said:

I have my first consultation next week to get a lap band . I was certain that the positive results from the lap band would outweigh the negative. Now I feel scared en very unsure after reading this forum. Everything from cancer to heart problems! How can I then go ahead with such a surgery?!

I have to agree with others that knowing the real results of the band I would never steer someone that way and then sleep at night.

Look into all your options, read the studies and make an informed decision, i for one wish i'd just done RNY to begin with.

[Elrix 8]

What is a RNY?

[Travelher 915]

4 minutes ago, Elrix said:

What is a RNY?

gastric bypass

[Dr. David Thomas 8]

1 hour ago, Elrix said:

I’m looking into a laparoscopic sleeve gastronomy. Any referrals for surgeons in South Africa?

No, sorry. I don't know any surgeons outside of the U.S. If I were you, I would look into www.ifso.com (international federation for the surgery of obesity and metabolic disorders.) They could point you towards a few surgeons that are members.

[spealex 13]

I was banded back in 2008, and here I am again, back at my attempt to find the tool that will help me succeed for good. I obviously do not know your reasons for wanting the lap band, but I can guess they are similar to why I was banded years ago. I was young like you are now. I was terrified of having something so drastic and permanent done to me. The fact that the band could be removed in the future, gave me a sense that I can just take it out if it didn’t work for me and not lose anything from it. My band worked great for me for 8 years, until it stopped retaining the saline it needs to create the restriction which keeps you from overeating. I am now scheduled for bypass this week. I did not envision jumping from band to bypass, but am doing so at the suggestion of my surgeon, who recommends it due to my switch to sweets when I was no longer able to eat as much food as I had always eaten before surgery. If I were to start this journey all over again, and with the options there are now, I would definitely consider the gastric sleeve. Talk to your doctor about it. Best of luck.

[WLS4ME33 60]

I have my first consultation next week to get a lap band . I was certain that the positive results from the lap band would outweigh the negative. Now I feel scared en very unsure after reading this forum. Everything from cancer to heart problems! How can I then go ahead with such a surgery?!

Hi, just wanted to chime in. I’m also in my 20s, just turned 25 last month...I agree with someone else who posted here, you should look into the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, initially I was dead set on having bypass, and my surgeon told me that by all means I could have it, but he also urged me to look into the sleeve because I’m young, and bypass does have some possible complications that the sleeve doesn’t, and *in his words* I have a lot of living left to do, so, if by chance I had those complications I would have a long time to have to deal with them...and after I did my research I felt just like he did. So I decided to go with the sleeve...both the sleeve and bypass are great tools for weight loss. Take your time and consider all of your options before you decide which surgery, or even whether or not to have surgery at all. As far as BMI goes the lowest I’ve heard get approved through insurance was 35(with health issues associated with being overweight)..definitely look into that aspect of this as well. We’re all here to be of help and support to you. Good luck!!

[CyclicalLoser 155]

I saw the topic and couldn't stand not to reply. I had my band placed in 2010. I weighed 293. I got down to 220, but never was able to eat correctly. I never felt full, and even though I now have all of the Fluid out, I still have considerable constriction. I am now about 300 pounds. My port has flipped almost 90 degrees so when a doctor called me a wimp for asking for lidocane, I told him I'd give him $100 if he got it on the first try. It took him 20 tries. It was so bad, he took extensive notes in my file on how to point the needle. From then on, they could usually get it in about 5 tries.

I have occasional referred shoulder pain, my surgeon for my upcoming RNY told me that it could be scar tissue from the band irritating the nerve that goes to the diaphram.

I won't go as far as saying the band is garbage - it's not, but the new statistics show just how bad it performs compared to others. I strongly urge you to consider other options. God bless, and I hope you are able to find a procedure that works well for you!

[Em_130 2]

I couldn’t help but reply. A friend of mine had lap band done at 15, and just recently had revision surgery for vsg at 23. The surgery was initially successful but she slowly gained all her weight back.

I live in New York and almost all of the surgeons on the team at Mt. Sinai (uptown) don’t perform the lapband due to low success rates

[Jerseygirl4523 44]

My surgeon says in the last few years he has taken more lap bands out than he has put in.