lap band or by pass?

I am not sure which I want to have I have read good and bad about both any suggestions?

I'm a newbie so my opinion probably doesn't count for much.  But so far so good with my band...5 weeks out...no fills yet...and down 20lbs.  My constant preoccupation with food appears to be lessened as well.

 Are those your only options because of insurance?  If so, because I've had a *great* experience with the band, I can certainly recommend it.  But, the band requires a lot of effort on your part to be successful.  You have to follow your surgeon's pre- and post-surgical protocol, and follow-up care, and basically you have to diet and exercise.  A lot of people who are interested in weight loss surgery don't want to hear those words, but the simple truth is that you still have to eat right and move your body to lose weight and maintain that loss (regardless of the surgery of choice!).  The band just makes it a little easier. 

If you are not limited by insurance issues, I'd recommend looking into the other surgical options that are available, including the sleeve and the DS (depending on your bmi).  

Tami

Teresa-
You need to do lots of research and decide what is right for you, your personality, and lifestyle. I can tell you that I chose the band because I did not want the anatomy of my stomach changed/cut, nor did I want the higher risk of serious complications because I have 3 children. I knew that I was going to basically be on a diet (or lifestyle change as my dietician called it--same thing) for the rest of my life and have to exercise and work really hard. Simply having a band does not make you lose weight, it helps you feel fuller faster and longer.
Good luck
Sherie

I think VSG, RNY and DS are all good options. I would read on all the forums and find out which ones have the highest % of ppl that have had them long term that are happy with their WLS choice.

Also read on the revision forum and see which WLS's most ppl are revising FROM!!!

If you are able to choose, look at all the main wls options.  Consider your own lifetsyle and eating habits and see which post-op lifestyle suits you best. Think about the actual surgery - which feels the most comfortable for you? This is for the rest of your life!

We all of us need to find what is the most important for us. For me, the most important was that I did not want bits of my re-routed or removed and I did not want to malabsorb. Those things are not "bad" - just that were not what i felt was right for me.

At 5 years out I still love my band. Others never make it to 5 years without problems. But I occasionally look in on other boards and all of them have worried or unhappy people sometimes!

This is major surgery and a major life change! It has to be the choice which feels right for you.

Kate

Hello

This is a very personal choice.  What I can tell you is- do your research.  I chose my surgery based solely on the fact that I had a very good friend that was super successful with her surgery (she lost 240+ lbs).  I guess I thought I could base my future success on her success...what was I thinking???  I really believed that because she did well I would too.  Of course she made it seem so effortless...maybe it was for her...not for me!!!  I work damn hard for every pound I loose. 


Please do your research, I'm not saying that Lapband isn't the right choice for you...just make sure you make aneducated choice. 

Hands down decision for me. Lapband can be adjusted - when you stop losing, you can get more help with an adjustment and there is no "window of opportunity". Bypass - once you've lost in your "window" (which I think is about a year but I could be wrong), you're on your own. I have a friend who had bypass and she is still 275+ lbs. Not to be mean but that is not the kind of success I was looking for.

That's it in a nutshell for me -  saw firsthand the results and said "thanks but no thanks".

Thanks to everyone *****sponded...I have to say this is a very hard decision, my son (17 yrs old) and myself are both having some form of weight lose surgery. The Dr is totaly anti band but he said he would do which ever we chose, needless to say I have been on the www non stop reading I really like the fact that there is no rerouting and less down time with the band...I am not a graze eater other than ice cream late at night I eat pretty healthy I have also been a large person. I have 4 boys and only one that is overweight and he also has always been a large person. I have asthma and at this time am unable to walk very far let alone exercise I am hoping with surgery I will be able to build my self back to health

I am so glad that your son will be able to have it at younger age. I know there is some controversery about WLS with those in their teens.............but think about how different, and more successfull our lives would have turned out if we had!

After struggling with my weight for years..............I feel like they should be able to get WLS at a younger age. Just how young though..............now that's kind of iffy! I did a post on my WLS blog about an 11 year old that had VSG. Now that one would be kind of a tough call for the parents......but she was already having severe health problems at that age! :-(