Lapband or Sleeve (crossposting) ??

I just found out my insurance will cover both the lapband and the sleeve.  Outside of the sleeve being non adjustable, I need help deciding.  My surgeon says either will be great for me and it's a good decision either way. 

So let's hear it please, what are your opinions?  Maybe you can come up with something I haven't already gone over with my surgeon. 

Anyone?

Ginger

 As long as you have insurance, I think you can go either way.  The advantages of the band are that it's adjustable and reversible (or revisable?)  Personally, I've had a great experience with the band, and recommend it to anyone who is willing to use it as an aid to change eating and lifestyle patterns that have led to obesity.  

With the VSG, there is a possibility that the smaller stomach can stretch over time, and there is no way to limit the food intake (beyond capacity), as there is with the band.  Right now, there is limited data to show whether or not the VSG is effective long-term.  

However, for someone who does not have insurance, I'd lean towards the sleeve, which has less follow-up care required.

Tami

Well if I had the choice I would choose the sleeve because I've never been able to get a good restriction, always either too tight or too loose, then I lost my ins. coverage so not able to afford any fills now. I think that is the greatest thing about the sleeve is it works the way the band should but doesn't most of the time. With the sleeve there is no trying to get the right restriction, it's there from the begining. As far as stretching, I don't believe the sleeve can ever stretch back to the original stomach size, it may stretch some but not alot especially if you are careful of protion size.  Besides that, the part of the stomach they remove is the part that produces grehlin, what makes you hungry, I've always continued to feel hungry with the band. So if it were up to me I'd say run don't walk to the sleeve.

What's your bmi? The bands feature a less than 50% success rate. Please do your research and choose a surgery type before you see a surgeon. Anything they say has profit motive twisted into it.

The VSG comes from the duodenal switch (DS). The sleeve is the restrictive part of the surgery. The problem with the pure restriction is that it stretches after about 2-3 years you find vsg patients regain and are in need for revision to the ds. One cut is all you need. Please go to the link in my signature.

People feel very strongly about tbis and you may get some very categorical answers.

But the true answer is, it is down to how you feel! I don't know as much about the VSG as I do about the band simply because I have lived with the band for almost 5 years. But they are both restrictive surgeries, the main differences in how they affect our lives being that the band requires much more after care. This wasn't a negative for me but it is for some.

Some people don't get on with their bands because they can't follow the basic rules, others have problems which are not of their own making. But I am told that the sleeve can stretch over time and so some VSG people also need to go on to futher surgery (the DS).

For me the simple fact was that I personally did not want bits of me removed or rerouted. So, after doing my reserach, for me the band was the only option. And I don't regret my choice for one second.

Kate

 I've had my band now going on 6 years and I am STILL HAPPY and most IMPORTANTLY IT STILL WORKS! I have to be honest IF the Sleeve DID NOT STRETCH out after 2-3 years I would go with that in a heartbeat, my biggest problem was MAINTAINING my weight loss and I don't believe the Sleeve is BETTER than the Band in maintenance. 

However due to the HARD recovery period of removing the Stomach most Sleevers will lose weight quicker than most Lap Banders, but  most Lap Banders that are motivated and follow the plan lose just as quicker than Sleevers do.

I think once you REMOVE YOUR STOMACH there IS NO TURNING BACK so I think most Sleevers have NO choice as to be HAPPY and content with their choice. If their surgery fails and they regain they can get switched to the more dangerous DS.

As far as complications MAKE sure you have a surgeon that DOES BANDS ONLY or TRULY BELIEVE IN the band your success will depend on it, since you will need to get to your sweet spot for your band to be effective.

I am going on 6 years and NO complications THUS FAR and followed my post op diet and did not eat solids until my band healed 6 weeks post op, I RARELY (PB) vomit with my band, if I do, make a mistake and eat something thick like bread it may get stuck, but I rarely have problems.

I think BOTH surgeries will work well, but again I STILL HAVE RESTRICTION at 6 years and I don't think there is ANY EVIDENCE the Sleeve still works at 6 years, most lap banders who ABUSED their bands and it slipped have revised over to the Sleeve so I would take their words with a grain of Salt.

You may want to read this latest article on the Sleeve failure good luck


http://bariatrictimes.com/2010/07/22/sleeve-gastrectomy-fail ure-just-when-we-thought-we-had-the-perfect-operation/

I would really do my research for both.  Here is why.  The lap band has a lot of complications such as band slips, erosion, heart burn. It can take months to get to restriction with the band and like me some people never get restriction.  I either had too much restriction or not enough restriction but yet I had heart burn all the time.  

My only concern with the sleeve is that it has not been done that long so we don't know the long term effects later down the road.  I would probable have done the sleeve if my insurance had covered it but Blue Cross Blue Shields of NC does not cover the sleeve and they are not known to approve even with appeals.


Tamara

Hi Ginger,

One of the main reasons I chose the band was because it can be adjusted as needed to aid me in weight loss and maintenance.  I was also able to ease into restriction and really take the time to learn my new eating habits. I was kind of scared of losing a lot of weight really fast and being "thrown" into a new way of eating and the band has turned out to be the perfect fit for me! I am losing weight at a rate that is very comfortable for me (.75lbs per week) and I'm not following a really ridged eating plan.

If you do decide to go with the band, please keep in mind one thing my surgeon really stressed --that exercise is very important to long term success especially  with the band more than any other surgery.

Good luck to you!

Trixie