Concidering Lap-Band Surgery

 I am a 34 yr old woman and currently at 427lbs at a height of 5 ft 6.  I am strongly concidering having this procedure done.  My mother recently died and if I dont do something about me,  I will be in the same situation as her. I know they do the procedure in Edmonton Alberta  and healthcare will pay for it.  I will be attending the pre requisite course referred to me from my doctor.  It will privide me with information to help my desision.  But can you provide me with feedback and let me know if you have regretted it or glad that you had it done please.  

 
The band has the slowest weight loss, the least weight loss, the highest regain, and the most mechanical problems.  Long term it has as many complications as bypass, just different complications.  It is not a safe option AT ALL.

If you don't believe me I would suggest posting this very post on the sleeve, RNY, DS, and revision boards.  That's where all the people that used to have a band post now.

Are you aware that the higher your BMI the less likely you are to do even remotely well with a band? Most lose fairly well at first but about 2 years and the problems kick in.  Most of the vets here that are doing well have already had their band replaced, repositioned, port flips repaired, the list is endless.

If you want a safe surgery type LONG TERM that would be the sleeve.  If you want the most effective for your BMI that would be DS.  But it isn't the band.  The band is like a band aid on a gunshot wound, it will only hold for so long.

According to the band makers 25% have their band removed in the first 5 years.  Another 25% need a 2nd surgery to correct a mechanical problem in the first 5 years.  Some studies show that over 95% don't even HAVE a band at the 10 year point.

Do this, find just five people YOU can speak with that have been banded for 10 years or more. They are out there for all the other surgery types, surely they will have banded folks out there. You find them.  Talk to them.  See what you think.  I'm not taking about someone who heard of someone that has a band, someone YOU can speak with.  If you can find 5 happy bandsters 10 years post op... you have your answer.

But please, post this on other surgery type boards because that is where you will find all those that had to revise to another surgery type.  There are tons of us out there.

 I've only been banded about 3.5 yrs and was considerated a light weight when I started.  I love my band and think it was a good decision for me.  But as the other poster pointed out with a higher BMI you might not do as well.  I've already made up my mind if for some reason I lost my band or had to have it removed I would get the vertical sleeve.   Research all your options, you have several to choose from.  Talk to people with all types of surgery but talk to those that are post op more than just a year or so.  It's a hard and very personal decision.  Good luck to you.  Lori

What Lori said ----
 
I love my band, but if I were at your starting BMI, I would never consider a band.  I would go straight to the VSG --

I am 5'3 and 284lbs. I have an Aunt who had lap-band, and a cousin who had RNY. I was 100% set on getting the band because I seen how well my aunt did on it. HOWEVER, she did not need to lose much weight. I thought with the band that I will be able to lose all my excess weight, just at a slower pace - which I was comfortable with as long as I could get all the weight off. After meeting with my surgeon, that was not the case at all. He said band patients only lose 40-50% of their excess body weight over a period of I think he said 2 or 3 years. The rest of the weight he said would not come off. He didn't persuade me to get RNY or the sleeve, but he was just telling me the facts about lap band. He said I didn't have to come to a decision until right before the surgery. Lap band also doesn't have a success rate for curing comorbidities such as sleep apnea, diabetes, hypertension etc. I really did not want to do the RNY at all because I was scared since it's a risky surgery. But then again all surgeries are risky with being morbidly obese. Most people with lap band also get a revision to RNY or the sleeve because they cannot get the weight off. I would rather not need to go through two big surgeries. So my decision to go with lapband changed and now I am going to do RNY after a lot of research on it. It's what will benefit me more. It's your decision you need to make but I would definitely look into your other options as well. My surgeon only does lap band, sleeve, or RNY. I would find out what your doctor specializes in and research them all. Good luck

I have to respectfully disagree with your surgeon.

I lost 100% of my excess weight with a Realize Band in 18 months.

I am not saying that a band is the best choice for you ---- but you should know that there are many of us who have lost significantly more than 40-50% of our excess weight with bands.

Yeah I'm with you...my surgeon has done recent research in to his banded patients, covering the last 3 yrs & almost all have lost 60-70% and a few 100% so 40-50% is not true!!

Good luck with whatever you choose though!!!

 
But LONG TERM is the key here.  Three years is not long term.  Long term the band has the highest regain.  He's tracking short term stats.  Short term stats mean nothing.

The band isn't even safe long term.  Sleeves are far safer with far superior weight loss.

Calm down...just my opinion!!!

 
What in the world leads you to believe I am not calm?  Because I disagree with you?  Seriously and for real?  Are you always like this?

Dearie, you can have all the opinions you wish, I'll keep the facts, stats, and peer reviewed journal articles.  I think it is a far wiser way to go about research for major surgery.