Gastric Bypass Versus Lap Band or Sleeve

Thank you, this is wonderful information.  I am concerned that I will still be hungry but it just seems no matter who I talk to and what kind of WLS they had, everyone on this website has experienced problems - at least the forums that I have read.  It sure makes the decision process hard.  I will keep praying.  At least now I know that I have eliminated the band.  I am about 140 lbs overweight maybe even 155lbs overweight and have been overweight all my 40 years of life.  On a diet since I was in elementary school.  With two kids - toddlers - that I need to chase and play with, it is time for me to do something drastic and that is why I thought perhaps the bypass - at least I believe it has the most weight-loss success, minus the issues. 

But I will look back into the sleeve. 

I appreciate all the detail you have here and all the info you shared. 

Thank you so much!

The Sleeve! 
I love my Sleeve, NO malabsorption.  I tolerate all foods!  AND the complication rate of the Sleeve is much less than the RNY!

I wouldn't have revised to anything after losing my LapBand IF the bypass was my only choice.  I really didn't want any re-routing or malabsorptive issues.

I want to address the one poster who says IF you eat right you will succeed with the LapBand.  This is not always the case.  If you read this forum, you will see many going to Weigh****chers, many still on diets and still not losing!  NOT everyone gets restriction with the LapBand.  I was the picture perfect LapBand patient.  I lost 270 lbs with my LapBand in 4 years.  I never had any unfills or partial unfils.  I was perfect and I lost.  However!  at 4 1/2 years, things went bad.  I hadn't done anything to cause them but the LapBand had caused so much scar tissue that my surgeon had to literally cut my band out of my stomach.  If I had ignored my issues I woudl have had permanent life long damage to my stomach.  The LapBand is not the tool, if you want to lose weight and keep your tool forever. 

I feel sad for most LapBanders.  I see Sleevers reach their goals in less than a year.  They don't struggle, they can eat right and they never vomit or slime.  I hear LapBanders struggling and fighting for every pound.  I have had several friends who never reach restriction at all.  It's very common to not reach restriction for months. 

I seriously, would not recommend the LapBand.  And I think LapBanders do a great disservice to others by telling them "all you have to do is follow the rules and eat right."  -- It's just not that true.

Thank you

H Mommydoo,  I am a bander and over 3 years out.  I've had great success with my band.  For some reason this board got pretty negative for awhile.  A lot of us bandsters who've been successful just are not on here anymore as we are out busy living life and loving it! 

Like the other posters have said, do your research.  Before I made my decision, I even purchased books off amazon discussing the different surgeries.  Would you believe there is even a WLS for Dummies?  Yup.  I bought it.  My husband and I had to self-pay for my surgery.  My insurance would only cover the RNY bypass and that just wasn't for me.  There have been a few bumps in the road for my lap-band and I.  But I have no regrets.  But that is my story and everyone is different. 

Do your research.  Pray on it if you pray.  Considering the downtime as you have is excellent.  Have you considered follow-ups?  there are more frequent follow-ups with the lap-band so you can get fills and occasional unfills until they tweek you to the right level.  Ask your surgeon how long he's been doing each of the surgeries you are considering and what the success rates are that he's seen.  Mine was quite open about it.  Ask him what he thinks makes a successful lapband patient.  What makes a successful sleeve patient & RNY patient? 

No surgery is fool-proof.  There are risks to all of them.  And each surgery is not a one-size fits all solution.  Pick one of the WLS books up at your library or see if there's any in a book store near you.  I am really happy for you at the start of your journey.  It's an exciting (albeit nerve-wracking) time. 

I had the band and now have the sleeve.  I had the band for over 3.5 years before having to have it removed.  I now have the sleeve.  I can just give you my info.

The first year with the band I was down 80 pounds including 20 pre-surgery.  I could do well with just restriction but, never found the sweet spot they talk about.  Starting 8 months out I starting having the fill - un-fill situation.

I am 2.5 months out with the sleeve so all I can tell you about it is.  Getting the sleeve was less painful than getting the band or having it removed.  My down time was less with the sleeve than the band.  I have been able to lose the regain from the band and have managed to break thru the set point from the band lose and having my 2nd child 30+ years ago.

I put off getting the band out for 18 months as my only choice was the RNY until I couldn't take the pain any more.

Good luck with your surgery choice whatever it is.

Mommydoo if I had a fresh stomach I would  go with the sleeve. I am having the RNY at the end of april because that is the best choice for myself given my on going reflux issues from my lap band etc..

I have had this band for a long time and I can say from my experience I lost alot of weight,  but once the complications kicked in and  it was deflated for good I have gained most of it back. The research is out there in regards to the band with long term complications just read all the literature.

best of luck with your decision and talk to more then one surgeon:)

This link has some good info on the band.  There is another thread on this forum that talks about Dr. K's comments on the band.  I would take what he says very seriously, he is an excellent surgeon.  

http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASMBS/20919