Lap Band vs. Gastric in the long run

I keep reading these posts and some say Gastric over Lap Band.  Other say you lose more with Gastric and the fills are worse.  Can someone tell me after the goal is reached which one is harder to maintain.  AND .......do many Lap Banders go to Gastric eventually? Thank you so much. KC Chicago

I am not nearly to goal with the lapband, but here is what I was told when I was making my decison. you will lose faster with Gastric Bypass to start with. But, within 5 years both are even. Maintainance is up to the individual.Regardless, you have to use the tool you have. I have no problems with the fill itself. I am in and out of the Dr.s o?ffice in a matter of minutes.Have you gone to any seminars yet? A lot of questions are covered at these.  LISA

Thank  you both for your candid remarks.  Barry, what doctor did you use. Lisa are you in IL also. if so who was your doctor. I am going to a seminar on Saturday.

I used to work in a place that did the Lap Band, and I am a bander myself.  The most recent data shows that the typical recipient (again typical, it all depends on the person) of the bypass will lose weight faster than the band.  In 3 years, they have both lost the same.  After 3 years the banding patients keep losing and the bypass patient usually puts weight back on.  I talked with many bypass patients who wanted the band as they had put all their weight back on.  I know there is a clinical trial going on to see if it can be done safely, but that is all I know. The adjustments aren't bad at all.  I am needle phobic, and I don't have an issue at all.  It is good to go in and have my adjustment and be able to move on with my weight loss when I have plateaued or begun to put weight on without changing eating habits.  All that being said, I know a lot of people have been successful with the bypass as well.  It really will depend on you though.  If you figure out how to cheat the process and you do cheat, you will fail, no matter what weight loss procedure you have.  I would recommend going to a seminar for each.  Talk with the people there who are presenting to learn as much as you can before you make your decision.  If you want to talk to a banding patient, I am available to talk off line as well.  Again, it is your decision and what you will be comfortable with for the rest of your life.

I cannot answer for the revision rate of the band to RNY but there are some out there. You might want to lurk on the revision board to answer that question. I really think that there would have to be a major mechanical  breakdown before you are converted over. There are a few out there also that just do not loose weight because they might not have taken the steps towards the proper lifestyle changes.  I would also imagine that the doctor that would take you on for that would also have a person be in a longer pre surg program. There are lifestyle changes and disciplines that each patient needs to do for each surgery. There are many on this entire site that are very vocal about "their surgery vs another surgery". I frankly stay away from the main board sometimes because of it, there are downright ******es about that subject there sometimes. From all the seminars that my husband and I go to and listen to the different surgeons speak - his group the Kane Center has 4 docs and mine has 1 (we give our testimony at the seminars). We hear the same thing over and over that the loss rate for both surgeries at 5 years out the percentage is the same. Sorry, Barry 3 years is incorrect. KC, you just have to listen to the seminar info when you go and make an informed decision for yourself. When you go for your first consult the doctor might also tell you what s/he thinks would be the better choice for you in the end. In the end it is your decision. Each surgery's lifestyle is comprised of making the necessary changes and I think both have their challanges. If you are a sweet eater you might want to forego the band because you can eat around the band with liquid sweets. I always have that built in dumping to keep me from sweets.  Christine

I am sorry I went to edit and hit delete........I don't remember my coments,

Hey KC,      while my surgery was a success, I wouldn't recommend him.  I am currently looking for a new surgeon to follow up on with my weight loss.  But I just had an adjustment so I am doing ok for the time being.  I will eventually be looking for the surgeon.  Ok enough of my rambling.  I hope you got some answers this past weekend!  Let me know if I can help out with anything. B

Hey Barry,  You wouldn't recommend who? And did you have your surgery in the city or ?? Thanks Kandi

Kandi, I would not recommend my surgeon.  Just some things that irked me and I won't recommend him, but I would highly recommend the band.  It was a life saver for me.  I had my surgery in the burbs.  I know my surgeon doesn't do it there anymore as well, but there are a lot of surgeons in the burbs who do the band.