Lap Band vs. bypass

Hello! I have had my Realize band for almost 4 years now and I have successfully lost all my weight once after surgery and then again (and even more so) after pregnancy. I am smaller now than I was before I got pregnant. My doc wishes there was a lower profile port he could put in me cause I am pretty thin and you can see it sticking out and I have the lowest profile port there is I think LOL ...I don't really care :)

I never considered bypass. For me, I was a volume eater. I ate great, healthy food but just WAAAAAAAAY too much so I didn't need the malabsorption part that bypass offers, just the portion control.

My mom and sister both had bypass (2003, 2005 respectively) and have been successful. However they are having more difficulty now with portion control as over time the pouch has gotten bigger. I think this can happen with the band though too because I think mine has gotten bigger since my surgery. Fortunately though I am still satiated the same. I don't always follow the rules and I have made mistakes!

I never had a procedure either (not even a cavity!!) so I was really scared. It was the best thing I have done for myself though.

Ultimately it is your decision and what you feel comfortable with. I recommend reading literature on both procedures. There are some great books out there! Ask your doc alot of questions too and see if your hospital has a support group for both surgeries and attend and ask questions BEFORE surgery. Steer clear of anything that touts itself as the best or perfect WL solution...any procedure or device created by humans is, by default, imperfect!

Let me begin by saying Good Luck with the decision you make.  For me I was banded Oct 2010 and now I am going in for a revision to bypass on March 21st.  Feel free to write back if I be of any help.

Sincerely,

Audrey

everyone in my surgeons office recommended the RNY to me too and I chose the band.  OMG that was the worst decision ever!  I wouldnt tell you what to do but if I had those wasted years with the band back I would tell you never in a million years would I choose the band.  LUCKILY no one said "i told you so'....finally now 6 years after having the band installed I am 5 months post revision and down 44 lbs, which I never lost that much with a band..  they are terrible and only a few people have true success.  if there are support groups in your area check em both out in the 5 months and beyond post op groups....you will see for yourself and be better equipped to follow the informed advise of your nutritionist etc.

I was very successful on the lap band and it failed.  i revised to the sleeve.  It's a much less challenging life with the sleeve.   didn't consider rny because i get migraines and need to take nsaids.  But the idea that you have pre-band is nothing like what it is.  What i imagined, that i could be satisfied and filled with a little food is life after the sleeve.  I basically lost on the band because i could not swallow.  I had many many fills but i cold either eat everything or nothing.  Not a very sophisticated surgery. I truly don't miss sliming and losing the enamel on my teeth.

 It was easy for me, I did not want my insides rearranged and I did not want to deal with possible dumping syndrome forever...it had nothing to do with faster weight loss for me....of course I had to work harder with my band, by walking daily and avoiding sweets on my own which was AOK with me....good luck

I am going on 7 years post op and I am still a happy lap bander.

Thanks everyone for your input. I think the decision might have been made foe me though. Most of my tests came back and it appears my gallbladder will need to be removed first. With that being said, they can do the sleeve or RNY and the gall bladder at the same time. However, with the lap band it will be two procedures. We shall see the outcome. Thanks again!

If I had the choice between the band, RnY and the sleeve, I'd most definitely choose the sleeve.

Good luck to you!