lapband vs rny

what is the difference in eating. do you have the same diets? what about weight loss is it a lot slower? does that help with sagging skin?

I had RNY. My mother had lapband. Our diets are the same, with the exception of the vitamins we need to take. Statistically speaking, my weight loss has been faster than hers (130 lbs in 18 months), despite my being a slow loser. My mother, however, has lost very little (about 25 lbs) in the nine months since her surgery. As for skin...losing more slowly will help a LITTLE, but it's nearly impossible to completely shrink skin that has been stretched so far for so long. With the lapband, you have to get adjustments on your fills until you've found the right tightness. My mother, who must pay out of pocket for her fills, STILL hasn't found what they call the "sweet spot." She can eat much more than I can (although I am able to eat quite a bit but will get sick if I overdo it). She has also been attending Weigh****chers meetings since her surgery. This is OUR experience. You can also talk to others with the lapband. There are people out there who are doing terrific with it, and there are some people with the RNY who are having complications and/or no weight loss. But make sure you know ALL of the facts, because you don't want to be kicking yourself later for making the wrong decision (like my mom is). Good luck! Pamela 352/222/150ish

DITTO what Pam said (very well done Pam!).... The Band does require much more adjustment *pardon the pun* to hit that sweet spot for loss to occur on a regular basis... One thing I would add is to visit the Bander's forum here at this site and they could give you even more information regarding it. I believe that it is a personal issue that one needs to figure out. Which is best for them in the long term and what is going to work better medically. I initially chose the band but my insurance would not cover it. They WOULD cover the RNY so I went that route. I am glad that I had my RNY and wouldn't change a thing. Hope that this helps! Feel free to post away in here.. Elizabeth~

I was banded 15 months ago and LOVE it! The diet is basically the same. I have had 5 fills now and have lost 71 pounds with about 30 more to go. I feel the band requires more participation than the rny as you can eat sweets and they go right on through the band - no dumping or other issues, but you do absorb all the calories. There is an excellent article in this month's issue of Consumer Reports (lady on a treadmill on the cover) that compares all aspects of both surgeries from a non partial viewpoint. My insurance would have paid 100% of either surgery, so that wasn't an issue I had to face. I have many friends who had the rny and they're doing great. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions. You are taking the right steps by asking questions and researching before making a decision. Congratulations on this step!