I'm four years post op and was 267 at my highest. I had to do the three week liquid shake diet and was scared about falling under the bmi. I did have high blood pressure, cholestrol and diabeties though, so I was ok.

MSP will cover the gastric sleeve and RNY, but will not cover the lap band. The wait times are a bit crazy; my referral went in fall 2010 and I might have surgery this year, probably next.

Yes, there is a lower percentage of people with long term weight loss with the lap band, and no, MSP does not cover it. However, when I met with my surgeon for the first time, I was quoted 3 years for the RNY or 6 weeks if I paid for lap band. I have been on the wait list since 2010. It's really a pro-con; are you willing to risk lower success rates and high out of pocket expenses in exchange for a shorter wait time?

lap-bands are NOT covered my MSP in BC.  only the permanent surgeries are (i.e. VSG, RNY).

Most people don't lose nearly what they expect to lose.  The cost of the fills, as you have to get the band refilled regularly with saline.   Then they can over or under fill which will cause problems and another trip to correct it.  There should be a lap band forum on here somewhere.  You will hear from some about great successes but not for most.  And I don't believe the cost is much less than a bypass surgery in the first place, and a lot of people end up getting a revision to a bypass of some type in the end.  So twice the cost.....