why lap band ... as opposed to other surgery

[Paulo 0]

Just curious.

Since there is more than one form of bariatric surgery, and this group is about the lap band, why did people here choose the lap bad over the other types available?

[Jodi_620 37]

Actually at the time I was not aware of any others besides Lap Band and Gastric Bypass. I compared the two at length and my reasons for choosing Lap Band were the fact that it is

1.) Less invasive-no removal or rerouting parts of my digestive system. Simple Laproscopic outpatient procedure with a fairly quick recovery time.

2.) It is adjustable-If I start gaining down the road I can go in for an adjustment. I know two people that had bypass and gained weight back one has gone back for the band and the other is considering doing so.

3.) It is reversible-If I had complications, the Lap Band could be removed.

4.) It seemed right for me. I knew that I could make the necessary changes to make the Lap Band work for me.

[ParrotheadCathy 0]

Well, I had never heard of GSV as a stand-alone procedure -- I'd only read where it was used as a step 1 in extremely heavy patients who doctors didn't want to do bypass on because of the risk. What I'd read was after 100 to 200 pounds, they revised the GSV to RNY. And that was as far as I went with that. After all, they make your stomach tiny and remove part of it. I didn't want anything that drastic.

I needed to lose 134 pounds and I thought I wasn't fat enough for RNY. How many times did I hear the phrase "the first 100's a gimme"?

Lap band is adjustable, 100% reversible with a minor procedure (there are some surgeons now who reverse RNY but I'm not thinking it's a simple procedure) and I believed that it left me in control of the situation.

The risks were part of it for me, and others will tell you that RNY is safer than lap band but I wasn't buying that (and still don't) but that's a personal decision in the end.

There is an EXCELLENT comparison of RNY and lap band on the welcome page of this site.

[Sarah.R 2]

My hospital paid for my entire surgery and only the lapband was offered. Even if the bypass or sleeve where offered I wouldn't do that. Just something about the fact that a bypasser can loose up to 100lbs in 3 months is completely unrealistic and sounds dangerous to me. Also I never want my insides rerouted and the fact that your stomach is cut off but still producing acid and what not while it's sewn up in there is kinda nasty.

[emjay 8]

For me, it was the only surgical option I would even consider. I was able to lose weight when I set my mind to it but never able to keep it off. The mere thought of having weight loss surgery seemed drastic to me, but the lap band was the only procedure I was even willing to consider for myself.

It truly is a personal decision. I needed a bit of help and it seemed like the right answer. I don't regret getting the band for 1 minute, but it's only been 3 months, so I'm just trying to make good choices to keep from developing any complications or adverse effects. You can research all the different types or surgery and there are risks to each and every one.

You have to pick which one is right for you, knowing your lifestyle, your medical conditions (if any), the type of food choices you may have to make, the amount of weight you have to lose, and your goals along with what complications/adverse effects that may arise among other things.

I think it is important to not let anyone "talk you into" a specific type of surgery. You really have to figure it out for yourself. :wub:

[Libbyjane1976 1]

For me it was an easy decision.

#1 I did not want my insides rerouted. No way.

#2 Too many complications!!!

#3 Death rate from GB is too high

[heschete 0]

For me it was an easy decision.

#1 I did not want my insides rerouted. No way.

#2 Too many complications!!!

#3 Death rate from GB is too high

The same for me. Im scared to death to have the sleeve or gastric with complications for the rest of my life. I knew that if the band gave me severe complications I could have it removed.

[Lashayeb 0]

I chose Lap Band due as it was less invasive than gastric. I had surgery yesterday and I am up typing in this chat room. I know 2 people that had the gastric and easily started to gain weight right back. I did not my stomach cut and re-routed either. There are plenty of success stories with the lap band.

Lisa

<a href="Weight Loss - Diet Ticker">

<img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/wNIYNVU/weight.png"></a>

[mariem 0]

I was so dead set on the lap band, researched the heck out of it in fact. It wasnt till my surgeon told me, "Mariem, you do realize if you are my average patient you will only lose 50% of your unwanted weight and that will still put you in the obese catagory"

He said it was up to me which surgery I wanted but asked me to do research on gastric bypass and that he felt it was best for me.

He explained that with gastric bypass the complications are generally within the first couple of months then the complications go way down. With the band it's the oposite, very few in the beginning and then from one year and beyond there are many.

Also, 100 pounds in 3 months is too much unless the person is super morbidly obese (like over 400 or 500 pounds) for us average RNYers I am about average losing 99 pounds at the 6 1/2 months I have had it.

No, Im not saying mine is better than yours. I just wanted to give you a viewpoint from someone who used to be so dead set on the band that I wouldnt even look at RNY as a possible solution. In fact all the reasons for not having it were all listed on this thread :biggrin:

Good luck to all of us wherever our journey takes us

Long story short, 2 weeks before surgery I told him I wanted RNY gastric bypass and that was on 1-8-09 I am now down 99 pounds and feel great.

[gtbadkitty 0]

mariem "He explained that with gastric bypass the complications are generally within the first couple of months then the complications go way down. With the band it's the oposite, very few in the beginning and then from one year and beyond there are many."

What are the side affects after a year for lapband patients?

[mariem 0]

mariem "He explained that with gastric bypass the complications are generally within the first couple of months then the complications go way down. With the band it's the oposite, very few in the beginning and then from one year and beyond there are many."

What are the side affects after a year for lapband patients?

Port flips, your body's rejection to a foreign object, errosion of the band, band slippage just to name a few. Im not saying mine is better than yours. Im just saying that as a person who was so dead set on the band, I wasn't looking at RNY as a possible solution in fact it scared the hell out of me.

When I actually looked at the average person who had RNY there were very, very few with complications.

The other factor is that I was approved through BC/BS of Mass. That insurance goes away next month and I am back on the same crappy insurance I had before I started this process (husband went back to his old company) If I had the Lap Band I would be scared right now because there is a WLS exclusion on this policy. I dont know what wouldve happened if I had the Lap Band and these complications cropped up. They definitely wouldn't have paid for my fills that's for sure.

Other than my yearly labs I am done. No fills, nothing in my body to go haywire etc.

I support everyone in their weight loss journey, I just wanted you to know there are many, many people like me who have done a lot of research and came to RNY as the best solution for our situation.

We are all in this together :biggrin:

[gtbadkitty 0]

Thanks Mariem. I am still waiting for insurance approval and am still trying to collect as much information as possible to make my decision.

[mariem 0]

Thanks Mariem. I am still waiting for insurance approval and am still trying to collect as much information as possible to make my decision.

That's the best way to do it. If you have any questions on RNY please feel free to ask. Here's a before and now if you want to see. I dont think I like "sickly" at all like some people think of RNY'ers post op :biggrin:

Before

6 months later

[gtbadkitty 0]

Wow! You look great! Congrats! Have you had any complications at all?

[BigMomma 0]

For me it was an easy decision.

#1 I did not want my insides rerouted. No way.

#2 Too many complications!!!

#3 Death rate from GB is too high

I feel the same way. That is why I am pursuing LB.