Would you do it again?

No way. Wish I could have done the VSG first time around. Banders need to know they aren't just signing up for one surgery. One to put in, and one to take out, and more to revise, re-band, fix ports, etc. the band is dangerous. I'm glad it didn't give me a near death experience like many others.

 I love that you are carefully considering your options.  Personally, I elected to not have the band done due to the foreign matter and high maintenence.  I also read a lot about complications, but then again complications are a risk for any of the procedures. 

What I can comment on is my sleeve.  I am two months out and down over 60 pounds.  Here are the pros and cons as I see it for the sleeve:

Pros:
1.  Excellent restriction- doesn't take much to feel satisfied.
2.  Hunger (for me) is significantly less.  I have enough to remind me to eat, but nothing crazy.
3.  I tolerate everything- I feel very very normal other than the small portions that I eat.
4.  Super easy recovoery for me!
5.  No malabsorption issues, no medicinal restrictions.
6.  My hiatal hernia was repaired in the process and for the first time in over a decade no heartburn at all.  
7.  The sleeve does not stretch out if you choose a good surgeon.  It is all about them taking the strechy part out and this includes the portion that kicks out the hunger hormone.  
8.  This is hard to explain, but the cravings are almost completely gone- and I was a total binge eater.  
9.  Weight loss is going very well so far :)
10.  Incidence of complications is very very low.  Less than a half percent have issues.

Cons:
1.  I so should have done this earlier.
2.  It is possible for dumping to occur from what I am told, but I don't see people posting about this on the vsg board typically.  Not much of an issue.

My brother in law had the rny done and it has worked beautifully for him.  I think this is a personakl decision- research it carefully :) 

 

I've had great success with the band.  Five years out, almost 100 lbs gone - zero complications.

I believe that my success is due to several factors: 

(a) did a tremendous amount of research

(b) picked a good clinic with long term support

(c) had realistic expectations and knew I had a lot of work to do too

(d) never had a too-tight band

(e) have a French MID-Band, which is entirely soft and low pressure

I am three years out today.  No I would not do it over again.  I had a 1 year run doing OK and 2 years since of issues.  I really had wanted a sleeve and have talked those I know out of a band and into a sleeve.  They are doing great and thanking me over and over for talking them out of going thru with the band.

I would also like to point out that I haven't seen a band advertisment on the chanels I watch on TV in the last two years.  They where on ever 5 minutes before and the first year I had mine.