gastric bypass or lap band?

Hi everyone,  I am very confused and scared!! I keep doing research online but everytime I make up in my mind about one or the other I just get scared and confused. I wanted to know some of your opinions on the two? I'm just so very confused and my I add very scared of complcations!!! Have you all had many complcations from the gastric bypass? The internet makes you feel so scared to you don't know wht to do.

I chose the gastric bypass because I had a lot of weight to lose and I didn't want to have a foreign object inside me.  I have had no complications.  The most important thing is the surgeon.  Make sure that he has done lots of bariatric surgeries and also that you feel very confident in his skill. I feel it was worth the risk for me because I had so many problems caused by my weight before surgery.  Good luck with your decision.  Take care.

I am chosing gastric bypass for the same reasons Lynn chose gastric bypass.  I have a lot of weight to lose and I like the idea of malabsorption and I don't want a foreign object in my body.  And the thought of accessing a port drives my crazy.  Picking the type of surgery you have is a personal decision you should discuss with your doctor.

I believe that each person has to make up their mind about whether they want Gastric Bypass or LAP-BAND.  I think that most people who have quite a bit of weight to lose tend to go with Bypass.  I chose LAP-BAND and my decision was based upon the complications that are often associated with the Bypass.  As with any type of surgery there can be complications not just with Bypass.  I have had great success with the LAP-BAND.  I will pray for you that you make the decision that is right for you and that  you have surgery without any complications. 

Hi! I chose the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy.  It's weight loss results are comparable to that of the bypass, but if is purely a restrictive procedure like the lapband, but without all of the risks of complications from either... I originally wanted the lapband, but began to see more and more complications come up.  Don't get me wrong, it works for many people, but I didn't think that I would be one of them. I thought that since I had so much to lose (425 @ 5'2.5 and a BMI of 77) that my only option was bypass.  But I stumbled upon the VSG while doing research and was sold after a day of researching.   I'm 9 months out and I've lost 157 pounds.  I've had no complication, no ill side effects...  I feel fantastic!  This has been the best thing I have ever done for myself. There is no one surgery that is right for everyone.  My advice is to research like you've been doing, and then decide which one fits best into the lifestyle you want to lead...  not the one you currently have.  know what I mean...

Best of luck and keep us posted!

I hope it doesn't come down to horror stories plus or minus for you.  Complications are not black and white and it's very hard to compare two people -- even of the same weights -- and expect the same outcomes. I chose the Lap Band because I wanted a slower, statistically safer weight loss. My only child was very young and I wanted us as a family to be able to eat the same things and keep the family meal very important.  Size was also a huge factor. I wanted to be thinner, but not "thin." This is the part that's probably hardest for people to understand. I didn't want to be smaller than a fit size 16. Even now, I still think my body's best at maybe a 14-16. The Lap Band helped me get from the Size 32/28 you see in the first picture to the Size 22/18 you see in the last one.  As of yesterday, I don't have a Lap Band any more. It's been 3.5 years and as far as the Band is concerned, I have no regrets. Best, Frances