LB vs VSG - final decision due 4/5

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 Both are great tools. It's just a matter of how you work them that makes a difference. I always tell newcomers to the board to remember that people POST more often when they are struggling than when they are doing well. I have lost 150lbs with my band and unfortunately stopped posting so often. I am trying to get back to giving the help that was given to me when I was over 300lbs. 

I love my band because it constricts my quantities and keeps me away from starches. It's the best decision I have ever made for my body. 

Good luck to you! 

I'm not a bandster, but I almost was... I went through the pre-op diet, had surgery scheduled and everything.  Like you, I saw a LOT on this forum and in the Revision forum that made me stop and think about it.  I have insurance that covers WLS, so being self-pay isn't an issue for me, but the number of complications and re-surgeries did raise a red flag.

I decided to start researching the VSG since it seemed like I saw a lot of people saying that the VSG was doing what they expected the lapband to do, only without the puking, fills, unfills, etc.  I was freaked out by it at first, but the more I read, the more used to the idea I got.  I made an appointment to meet with a new surgeon to pick his brain and learn more.

During that consultation, I told him I was originally going to go with the lapband and he looked a bit puzzled.  He asked if my previous almost-surgeon mentioned that most people, especially those with a BMI like mine (54), typically only lose about 50% of their excess body weight (with the VSG, it's closer to 70%, on par with the bypass).  He hadn't... you can read more about it in the blog on my profile.

Mind you, this new surgeon I was meeting with also does the lapband and the RNY and I already told him that I wound up scheduling the consultation both because of his reputation and the fact that he's geographically closer to me.  He had nothing to lose or gain by sharing this info with me.

Also worth mentioning is that I have 3 friends who have the lapband.  One of them has stalled out and has been stuck 50lbs short of her goal for over a year.  Another is happy with her band, she got to her goal and has been maintaining for a year.  Another says she can actually feel the band at all times, no matter what position she's in or what she's doing, she's always aware of being there and she hates the feeling, so she's researching her options for getting it removed (she hasn't lost any weight with it and is considering revising to the VSG).

So, there you have it.  It's not the positive post you asked for, but it's an honest account of my own experience.  I can't say anything about the VSG as I'm still pre-op, but wanted to let you know that you're not alone in doing your due dilligence before committing to this... it's a big step.

Oh... one other thing to mention: if you go with the lapband and for whatever reason decide later that you want to revise to the VSG, keep in mind that many surgeons won't do both in the same procedure, so you should probably check on that with yours (and be aware that no surgeon will touch the former patient of another, so be sure you like and trust yours before taking that step).  Because scar tissue develops all around the band, tubing and port, cutting all that out can be hard on your body, so they require a healing period between procedures.  So if you wind up being one of the unlucky ones for whom the band doesn't work out, that'd be not 1, but 2 and potentially 3 self-pay surgeries if you wanted to revise and your surgeon won't do both together. 

I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer, but if you're going to be well-informed going into this, these are things you should consider.

Good luck with whatever you choose and by all means, do post this same question the VSG and Revision boards so you can get a hollistic view across different experiences.

~if you go with the lapband and for whatever reason decide later that you want to revise to the VSG, keep in mind that many surgeons won't do both in the same procedure, so you should probably check on that with yours (and be aware that no surgeon will touch the former patient of another, so be sure you like and trust yours before taking that step).  Because scar tissue develops all around the band, tubing and port, cutting all that out can be hard on your body, so they require a healing period between procedures.  So if you wind up being one of the unlucky ones for whom the band doesn't work out, that'd be not 1, but 2 and potentially 3 self-pay surgeries if you wanted to revise and your surgeon won't do both together.~

Thanks for adding that Smurf! Very valid point! Especially for someone self-pay!!!

I don't see anything negative about your response - just presenting information, so you're not a Debbie Downer at all, LittleMissSunshine. 

My doctor performs LB, VSG, RNY & DS, so I feel really good about the options I've been presented (that's also why I have until Tuesday to decide since my surgery date wouldn't change either way).

Thanks for the straightforward feedback!

This is a response to a lady who was considering the band (just like I did oh so many years ago).  I thought it was SO good it was worth posting on my profile to cut and paste.

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While I never got the band I will tell you about my story.  I was always fat upwards to 345 in my 20's, 325 when I started researching WLS in 2006 when my mom died.  I actually saw a LapBand commercial (the greatest ad campaign I have EVER seen).  I was never ever going to get the RnY because of the fact they have a hole at the bottom of your stomach (stoma) that basically just dumps the food you eat into your intestine (where the term dumping comes from).  I have seen COUNTLESS people in my personal life and read who CAN have complication etc.  Please note that I say CAN because it's not guaranteed that anyone WILL have complication x, y or z, but they can.  Ok so I'm researching the all mighty LapBand (and that's how I felt when I first heard about it) I needed a surgery that would HELP me the most, and I believe that I needed a surgery that would keep my stomach as a normal stomach.  Where the stomach acid helps digest and mix up my food, where my pyloric valve once the stomach was done doing it's job would open and let my food continue on the digestion road.  I wanted a surgery that would REDUCE the amount of food I could at at any one given time, ie the LapBand.

So research I did.  Now I saw the website where there is a (and I think back then in 2006 there was like a 50-60%) complication rate and you MIGHT not lose ALL your weight but I also believe that given the right mental aspect of this surgery coupled with the restriction you can do almost anything so I kept on researching.   I didn't like that the MAKERS of the LapBand gave so much negative information as far as success rate etc, but again I kept researching.  I came to OH thanks to a friend and well what I saw here made me nervous.  Instead of some arbitrary number on a website about complications I was seeing ACTUAL living breathing people with the LapBand who WERE having complications, some minor others not.  So I in total research mode started a pros/cons list.  I had page after page of "POSSIBLE" complications with the Band and of course RIGHT next to it I had the "words/advice" of those who loved the band saying oh if you do this or do that you will NEVER suffer from these complications.  In my research I am ALREADY forcasting that I WAS going to be the PERFECT bandster.  Like someone already said I was aiming to be ONE of the LUCKY ones.  The more I researched the MORE I found people who were banded in like 05/06 with these complications and they were CLAIMING to have been "perfect" bandsters.  But STILL I did not want the RnY because of the false stomach, nor the DS because I just do not consume that much fat and I had NO medical issues.  THEN boom bam thank you Jesus a young lady on the LapBand forum asked Dr. Curry about the VSG and that her insurance (just happened to be MY insurance) suggested she get that instead of the Band.

WHAT you say girl.  There is a surgery out there called the Sleeve...what is this...tell me more.  Well you guessed it I started researching the Sleeve and OMG it "appeared" to have EVERYTHING that I wanted....normal stomach, food restriction and to boot there was a CHANCE that I would wake up from surgery and NOT be hungry because it removed over 1/2 your stomach and the hormone called Ghrelin.  Well tell me more all mighty Sleeve.  I then simultaneously was researching the Sleeve but not taking my foot all the way out the band camp.  I wanted to know EVERYTHING I could about the sleeve.  After all I was willing to say GOODBYE ADIOS to over 1/2 my stomach (NOT that my stomach ever did anything for me, I still am VERY fond of ALL my body parts).  I took my research AWAY from the WLS forums and researched Full/Partial Gastrectomies as done on people who have stomach cancers and ulcers which has been done for over 30 years or more.  I read about peoples LIVES after having a partial gastrectomy, What LONG term vitamins "may" be needed.  How they just eat way smaller portions then before.  How yes they would lose weight.  How yes they weren't really hungry.  How yes you could even live a full and productive LIFE even without ANY stomach.  How a family who had a history of stomach cancer voluntarily had their stomachs REMOVED as a preventative measure.  How people were LIVING life YEARS after their gastrectomies with virtually the same restriction and the "bonus" of weight loss.

Now the whole time I still had my pro/con list.  The Band one was LONG and extensive on the "possible" complications, slips, erosions, esophagal dialation, adhesions for IF the band had to be removed all the risks involved in removal, the LARGE amount of scar tissue that EVERY person with the LapBand has and IF the Band needs to be removed they remove all the scar tissue as well and the dangers there.  The VSG after researching I had a pro/con list with just a FEW questions/comments.  What size bougie would the surgeon be using?  How does the surgeon check for leaks?  After surgery I did research to KNOW if I did have a leak what SHOULD I be looking for in those weeks after surgery?  How long does it take the stomach to fully heal over the sutures/staples?  In my research I had already essentionally found out about living without a stomach.  That was IT.  No long drawn out list of what "COULD" go wrong.  The Sleeve just made MORE sense.

I was fortunate that my insurance DID cover the sleeve back in 2007.  Blessed if you will because back then Insurance companies weren't.  I don't know what I would have done in 2007 once I KNEW about the VSG, if my insurance would only cover the RnY or the Band.  To be honest I don't like the GAMBLE of either of those surgeries to NOT be one of the "lucky" ones.  For the VSG I took a gamble that I might still be hungry.  I did take a gamble that hey you could have a leak but as of yet I have not seen a VSGer die purely from a leak.

My reality after my VSG.  I woke up from surgery with INSTANT restriction.  I have been blessed with NO physical hunger.  I am almost 3 years out, still not hungry and still with restriction.  I have lost over 100lbs.  I have my demons and my struggles but that have more to do with ME then my surgery.

I wish you well on your decision.

Ms Shell

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So yes thats the story of how I ALMOST had the LapBand.  Ok YES I'm bias but if you are LOOKING for a RESTRICTIVE surgery then you are doing yourself a DISSERVICE if you don't get the VSG.  All the GOOD of the Band with none of the bad...
 

Okay, I wanted to see how old you are.  I don't know, but I did pick up a post that you had a 20 year old son so you are not  20 yourself . . . right?

Get the real deal surgery now instead of as a revisional later.

But if you do go ahead and still choose the Lap Band.  I wish you very well with it.  When it works, it's good, when it doesn't  .  With the band, you can go through stages and fluctuations.

 

 

Best,

Leila

Go for VSG.

It's all about results, right?  Look at some of the tickers on the LB forum.  VERY few have made it to goal in a reasonable time.  I just read a post where someone was celebrating a surgiversary for losing 50 pounds in a year and 25 in the second year.  Um... that's nice but I need more than 50 pounds a year (at best) to keep me feeling like I've had "results".

Are their people who've been successful with the band? Absolutely, but very few.  Just hang out on the board for a little while, check out tickers and results and you'll see for yourself. 

You have to feel comfortable about it! Both surgeries can work well, both can have problems. The long term data on the VSG is not really in yet but it looks like a good surgery for those who are comfortable with the op.. I wasn't! That is not to say anything negative about VSG - it just wasn't for me.

My band has worked for me just as it is suppsoed to; others find it less helpful.

But if ever I lose my band (and I am not stupid, I know things can go wrong), i will either have a new band or nothing!

Kate