Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (stomach sleeve)

I am trying to decide between the Lap Band or Vertical Sleeve. I would like to hear from anyone who has had the VS done and what your experience has been since. Are you glad you got it done and have there been any issues? I need to hear about the good and the bad so I can have questions ready for when I meet with the surgeon in 3 wks.
What has anyone's experience been with the Lap Band? Would anyone choose a different surgery than what they had done?
Thank you for sharing

Lab band has a lot of issues.. It can break, Slip, migrate into the stomac, body can reject it, port infection.  then the life long of fills and unfills.. You lose slow and will have to diet the rest of your life.   People say with the band you can reverse it, well why would you?  Then you regain all the weight..

Sleeve all the way if I were you. I was gonna go with the band till I read about the sleeve. No pain, took 55min to do the surg,  fast recovery,  easy to eat, easy to drink.  I can't think of any bad, I have had no issues. No hunger.. LOL get smaller plates.

good luck

I received the Lap Band in 25 minutes with no pain at all and went back to work the next day. But could've the same day. I've had no trouble at all. And yes there is restrictions as to how I can eat, BUT that's good because it's making me change my eating habits rather than just eating the same way as before and I'm losing at least 2 pounds a week as they advertise.

Of course everyone will talk negatively of the weightloss surgeries they didn't choose as the one they did get is the best. ALL of the Weight Loss Surgeries DO work as long as you stick to the Program that the Surgeon suggests.

With any surgery you want to look at the long term results.  I would go to the forums for each of these procedures and see if you can find folks who are several years out from the surgery.  Generally in the short  term any of the surgeries will look good -- if it were me I would want to hear from folks who have been living with the procedure for a long time.

I just had my three year anniversary with the duodenal switch and I could not be happier. 

Red

Thanks for your response. Do you know of any other good forums to look into? I am having a time finding forums or message boards in relation to Bariatric Surgeries. Are those Pekingnese in your profile pic? It looks like it but the picture does not come out clear enough to see for sure. I have 2 Pekingnese, one is a Red Sable and the other is a Fawn Sable, both girls.
Congratulations on your surgery

Yes Maria they are all three pekes.  They are my babies and my life.   Aren't pekes the greatest.

So far as the forums here on OH each surgery has its own forum.   Other than that you might try a google search.  Good luck.

Red

Dr. Riley and Dr. Michele are awesome! Dr. Riley did my sleeve but I know he is deployed now. I was in your situation also and decided upon the Sleeve for one reason only, non-reversible. Some other great things are that I have NO food restrictions. Of course I should and do stay away from certain foods, but if I wanted that stringy such and such I could have it and not wory too much about pain or it messing with the band,. However, you have to choose the best surgery for you! 

6 months today and I have lost 115lbs. I absolutely LOVE my sleeve. It has been an amazing tool to my success. You need to know this is NOT a miracle cure. I workout daily and track every calorie that goes into my mouth. It's a lifestyle change and you HAVE to change your life or you will gain the weight back. I love how much I have changed with this procedure. Any questions, I would love to answer them! 

Thanks for your response and congratulations on your progress. How long did you have to stay in the hospital and was it difficult adjusting to the volume of food you could eat? Dr. Pearson (Life Skills) organizes a support group once a mth so you can have other people to talk with regarding your frustrations and other thought. They meet at Bob Hope Village in Shalimar and they arrange meetings by Email but I have not received notification for the July meeting.
Do you have any pictures showing the progress you have made in the 6 months? I like the thought of experiencing less side effects and having a little more wiggle room with different foods but I'm also afraid there is not enough restriction to keep me in line. I love food and carbs tend to be my downfall which is something that I will definitely need to cut down on. The thought that this procedure is permanent with no going back is scary but that is why I am doing the research...so I can have questions ready for when I see the surgeon in a couple of weeks for the consult appt. Thank you for your feedback and keep your chin up

girl my chin is WAY up. no need for that

NO desire to go to the meetings because I went ot one and hated it, but OH helps me alot.

My restriction is waaay better than I thought it would be. I dont have pictures that I want to post, but I have some for my personal use only.

 I had Dr. Riley and he is great .I had the VSG on Jan . 13 I have lost 87 lbs 50 before surgery I have lost a lot of inches started tou in a size 28 now a lose 18 . I eat carb some but make them the complex ones and I get my protien in first . Just remember that you have to get youre protein first .You may have room for a few carbs and you may not some protien is more dense than others. I had no problem getting my fluids and protien in but I think I was an exception. I did not and have not thrown up ever I know when I have had enought and quit even if I feel like I could take another bite I won't because I don't want to be sick.
 I did not walk as much as I should have after I recovered from the surgery but in the beginning I moved a lot to keep blood clots from forming. I would go to bed and the next morning I could see my hands and leg thinner at times even when the scales stayed the same. By now you will have seen DR. Michelle or Dr Riley. I hope all is well with you what ever you decide .
  I do not regret my VSG I like being able to do the things I have not done in years I had forgot what it felt like to have a lap and not have to worry if the chair will hold me or not.