I want the Band but Dr is steering me towards RNY or Sleeve

This is just my story.  I was banded in 09.  I have had no issues with it but, it has not been the tool I hoped it would be.  I was either hungry (band having no affect on my appetite), or so tight I couldn't keep protein shakes down.  I was back and forth to the dr. for fills and unfills.  There were a couple weeks here and there I was in a good place.  Overall, I lost all the weight myself.  If I could do it over, I wouldn't have it.  Again, just my story.  Do thorough research on all your options, take your time.  Remember, no surgery is a miracle, only a tool.  You will still have to do the work of changing your lifestyle (eating, exercise, your relationship with food).  Good luck!

Never -- EVER get a surgery type that a surgeon want YOU to have, you will have to live with it, years down the road, you will have to deal with a surgery and it's possible side effects and consequences.

A lot of surgeons have moved away from the band because they DO NOT LIKE the aftercare, and they don't take the time to educate the patient on how the band works and since with the Sleeve and Bypass, they really don't need to see you much, they operate and you are gone, whereas with the band, you must follow up regular with fills and aftercare to be successful.

If you really want a lap band you need to find a good surgeon that is band friendly, my old surgeon tried to push the Sleeve on me, but I was not going for it, the Sleeve is too new and now we are seeing long term issues of reflux and it stretching and other ailments, you don't want to be no one's guinea pig, especially on a surgery you can't reverse, and have surgeons use you to gain experience.

good luck

Nana....sorry but there IS after care with the other surgeries as well.   We have to have regular checkups to make sure our vitamin levels are where they should be.     Actually with ALL WLS procedures you should have regular checkups and saying that the surgeon does other surgeries and sends you on your way not to see you much is not true or at least with MY surgeon.    My surgeon educates everyone of his patients on ALL the procedures and he does the surgery on the patient that is best for them...they lifestyle and the medical conditions that they have.   He has continuing education classes every month for all of his patients who want to come and we also have 2 other support groups every month.    ALL the WLS work and ALL have chances of complications.   Yes...Lap band does have more expenses due to the fills...but I know lots who have had the band and had no issues but I also know lots who love their band and have had no issues as well.   I was going to get lapband 9 yrs ago but my surgeon said that RNY would be best for me.   That is what I had and I've never regretted it for one second.   Good luck to the original poster here.   Praying you make the right decision for you and your life.

Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian

I have to disagree with you that the doctors are no longer doing the band due to them not liking the aftercare.  Most are no longer doing the band because of long term complications.  My doctor has been doing the band for 10 years and he stated in March at the monthly seminar that he only does 4-5 band a year if that and is steering his patients away from getting the band.  He is currently taking 2-3 band out a week with some revising and other not.

As for the WLS and aftercare you are very ill informed.  All of the WLS have aftercare for life.  The bypass, and DS have more aftercare than anyone with a lap band would get.  The sleeve also gets aftercare just not quite as much as the other two. 

The sleeve is not a new procedure as it has been done to treat stomach cancer for years.  The last several years it has taken off as a procedure for weightloss.

The lap band REQUIRES....CONSTANT AFTERCARE for the first years, unfills, fills, too tight, not enough, etc. and trust me MANY surgeon got sick of that and started having PA's and nurses and sometimes unskilled staff filling the band. Also you are correct when you say that the other surgeries require some level of aftercare to check for labs for deficiency, and other types of complications.

You are also correct OTHER surgeries end up costing as much money for repeated surgeries, for bowel issues, adhesion, hernias and probably more costly, once the lap band is properly restricted you don't have to go back to see your surgeon but yearly if that, if someone had proper restriction.

You are incorrect, THE SMALLER Sleeves has not been around for years, they had to make the Sleeve smaller in order for it to be an acceptable weight loss surgery and as a result, it cause more issues long term, you can google that, strictures, reflux, twisted stomach, etc....not saying all Sleeves are like that but many have those issues. A total gastrectomy is different than a Sleeve.

I have not seen my surgeon since January and I probably don't need to see him any time soon because I don't have any issues or need a fill.  Some go years without needing a fill.

Hi Nana, 

I just have to mention a couple of things - it is true, there are surgeons out there who either have no after care for their patients or crappy aftercare.  Mine had crappy aftercare and I got rid of the band. 

I now have a different surgeon tho ging forward to the Sleeve and they have an entire team.  This team keeps up with their patients their entire lives, unless the patient stops.  Even after surgery, I will have to check in with them in 3,6 and 12 months and then every year for life.  If I have problems, they are all only a phone call or email away.

That said, I will NEVER AGAIN say anything good about the lap band.  But I DO give kudos and respect to those who have it and have been successful with it.  They deserve that! 

I am not a band cheerleader nor I am a band basher, I am a realist, and trust me, in the 7 years I had my older lap band, there were days I wanted to rip it out and stomp it, and guess what? Turns out it was my old surgeon's skills, he never repaired a hernia, they were not doing those routinely 9 years ago, also I was always too tight or too loose, and had reflux if I had tight restriction so I kept that old band loose, so I hear on the very bad aftercare, sometimes IT'S NOT the band and the aftercare, it can be a bad surgeon.

I only went back to the band because of my fear of the unknowns with the Sleeve and possible reflux and the dumping syndrome and knowing I can always remove this band if it cause me issues and always get it adjusted if need be.

I honestly wish you well and hopefully you have better outcome with your Sleeve than with the lap band, truly the lap band can be a disaster for many, I don't recommend it to people because I know that it involves a LOT of work to be successful with it, and you can't keep it too tight. 

My surgeons would not band anyone. So that surgery was off the table. I didn't know anyone with VSG. The two people I knew with RNY are doing great with it. I opted for VSG. I talked to my doctor about my health and expectations of weight loss. He said there was no reason why I shouldn't lose 100% of my excess weight with VSG as long as I am compliant.

Your surgery choice should be something that you are comfortable with. Are you comfortable with 80% of your stomach being removed with VSG? Are you comfortable with a lifetime vitamin regimen with RNY? Are you comfortable with returning to your doc to get filled/unfilled with the band? Just research and talk with your doc and other patients. You will make the right decision for you!

DON'T GET THE BAND! TRUST ME! DO the RNY! Don't make the same mistake I did. I had more  complications with my lap band than I have had thus far with my bypass. You will regret having the band like I did. Mine slipped up on my espohagus and my moms is twisted; she can't even get fluid taken out so she has to have surgery too!

Don't put a foreign object in your body... Learn from my lesson. The doctor knows best. The rate is currently 60% of all banded patients have their bands removed by the 5th year due to complications. 

Listen to these people and do the research. Otherwise get the band and please contact me in 10 years and let me know how you are doing.  Heck you can't even get a band in Boise and we have a center of excellence. The doctors talk about the band at their seminar but then say they no longer do the band due to all the problems. Best of luck....