Lap Band Surgery

Help,  I know there are some people here that has had the lap band, I stopped by a friends house on my way home from Indy yesterday, and she said that she is ready to so this.  We went to a semiar about 2 years ago, but that was has far as it went. 

Can anyone give me some suggestion of doctor's that perform this surgery, does any of the doctor's from St V perform this surgery, what do you have to go through to get this procedure done.  Nancy does not have any insurance and she will be paying for this out of pocket. 

Thanks for assistance.


Peggy

To the best of my knowledge, all the St. V surgeons offer lap-band except Dr. RoseMarie Jones.  The pre-op consult and evaluation is the same as for RNY.  I think that Dr. Evanson, Dr. Cacucci and Dr. Gupta are doing the most bands.  Your friend might want to attend one of their seminars and ask about self-pay options.

Dr Clark and Dr Mandelbaum at St Francis also do the band and are a Center of Excellence.  They are both wonderful surgeons as is the ones from St V's.  I am six months out from RNY with Dr M and am so very impressed with my after care.  I can pick up the phone and call my nurse or nurtitionist and they actually answer the phone.  There has only been a couple times I have had to leave a message for them but they have returned my calls promptly.  I am comfortable calling to ask them what might seem like a silly question and to me that means a lot because I am full of questions lol.  There are many competent surgeons in our area, so I think its also important to find out about the after care programs.

Jeannie

Peggy,

Ball Memorial is only doing lap bands now.  Here's a link to check out:  http://www.accesschs.org/bariatric_services/index.htm

I'm not sure how much your friend needs/wants to loose but Dr. Gupta did my RNY and I was on the fence about the Lap vs. the RNY.  She asked me if I would be happy if I only lost 50 lbs and I said no.  She told me the lap band wasn't for me then. 

Frankie

Hi Peggy! I went to Clarian Bariatrics (also a Center of Excellence) and I believe all of the surgeons there do the lap band. As someone else here has said, be sure and check out all of your options. I too was considering the lap band, but after looking into the various surgeries I found that I just had too much to lose to go with that. You will not lose as much or as fast with that one, but if you don't have a ton to lose as I did, it could be a good choice for you. That's something to talk over with your surgeon.

Best of luck on your journey!

Jenny

Peggy,

You might have your friend check out the lapband board here on OH.  THere are many people on there who have lost 100-200 lbs.  She needs to make the decision based on what is best for her.  I am 4 months out from my band and have already lost 67 lbs.  I am very happy with that loss so far and I feel great.  I don't believe that there is any one surgery that is the "right one" for everyone.  Here are some of the reasons that I knew the band was right for me.

1.  Even though I weighed 334 lbs, I was healthy...no comorbidities at all.  The band was the least invasive procedure with the fewest risks.  It didn't matter if I lost weight slowly as long as I lost it.

2.  I am not a good pill taker, never have been.  I knew that I would not be compliant with the supplement regimen necessary to stay healthy with the malabsorptive procedures.  I didn't want to be skinny and unhealthy.  With my band, I only take Vitamin D/calcium and a multivitamin (when I remember).  See I told you I'm not a good pill taker.
 
3.  I self paid so the band was less expensive and also had fewer risks of costly complications.

4.  I was a volume eater, a binge eater.  THe band doesn't allow me to eat that amount so it works well for me.

I do think the band requires more "dieting" initially.  It's hard work.  However, with any weight loss procedure, if you do not make lifestyle changes, you will not have long term success.  With the malabsorptive procedures, I think nearly everyone loses weight, but the highest chance for failure is in the regaining.  With the band, if you don't change your lifestyle, you won't even lose the weight initially. 

There are a lot of misperceptions about the band out there, but the latest studies show that after 5 years, the weight loss with RNY and the band are very close to the same.  I think DS is higher.  They're all great tools and it just depends on what would be best for her. 

Peggy, I haven't been on this forum in a long time, I stay mostly on the lap band forum. I did want to tell you that Dr.Christine Gupta did my lap band and I love her. She is direct and to the point, if she were up here near south bend I would have sent my daughter to her, but she is going to a doctor locally. My only problem with St V's is it's 3 hours away, so not as easy to get in for a fill. But my insurance would only approve a center of excellence and I am really happy with St V;s and Dr. Gupta.

Dr Evanson (St V in Carmel) put my band in on March 21, 2008. I have lost 87 lbs. I dont think that is too shabby for not even a year out. :) The band does take the most work on your part, but as long as you are willing to do your part you can be successful with it. While I was at my consultation Dr E said that he had done the most lap bands in the state of Indiana. I highly recommend him.