Lap vs Open Gastric

Im very happy because after thinking my insurance would not cover the surgery I found out today that they will in fact cover the surgery! I was so happy to hear the news! My question to all of you is what are your thoughts on the Lap Band vs Open Gastric Bypass. The surgeon I met with was VERY against the LAP Band and actually will not do that procedure! So I am looking for any information that could be helpful! Thanks! By the way, everyone on here seems so nice and supportive, I can not wait to get to know some of you!

Congrat's and welcome.  My surgeon gave me and my husband this for his reasons not to do a lap band . . .  if you have no will power it will not work.  you will loose the weight much slower and have a higher chance of gaining back in the long run.  if you are on any meds ie blood pressure, cholsterol you can be off them immediately with rny but not with lap band.  Good luck in your journey. 

This is such a personal decision that no one can really tell you what to do. I have a lap RNY so I have no experience with the band. You will hear pros and cons to both. If you indeed want the band, then by all means go to a Dr. who will do the procedure. Don't be fenced in the corner and have to settle. Read, read, read about the surgeries. It is a life changing decision. You need to arm yourself with all kinds of knowledge. Have you also visited the "lap band" forum on this site? You might want to get some feed back from them. I was on the fence up until the last two weeks and finally decided that this would be the best for me. RNYs lose faster, however I believe that after a few years (5?) both RNYs & bandsters catch up with one another weight wise.  I've seen success and failures with both. If I can think of the names of the books I will send them to you. Best Wishes~~ Diane

Hi, Well as it turns out I was looking into the lapband at first but then after doing reshearch and talking with people and reading some the forums. I decided that the lapband was not for me. I choose to go with RNY because I needed to loose it fast as my back is very bad with two hurniated disc. I also did not like the idea of having to get fills every 6 weeks or soand having to start back on liquaids after wevery fill. and I didn't think it would give me the amt of weight loss that I needed to achieve. but there are many lapbanders that are very happy and have great sucess.  so im not putting any ones decission down. It is a very personal decision that you must choose. What ever decision you make I wish the very best. Sheila

It is a very personal choise.  I for one am a LAP BANDER! I am down 47 pounds nad have had my surgery on the 24th of April  I think you need will power for all WLS.  You need to take care of you and the best way to do that is to start now with portion controls and doing lots of research. I chose LapBand.  I am so happy and so glad.  I love the fact i am absorbing nutrients and also happy that I have a great positive attitude which helps.   You can research it and talk to others...but the choise is yours babe.  Good Luck!

I'm also choosing Lap Band but for the exact reasons people opt to do RNY - slower weight loss.  I can lose weight on my own -- it is the regain that is my issue.  I have lost 200 pounds over the years but it always comes back on.  I'm a volume eater and, in that, the Band is a great tool.  But, it is a tool -- just like RNY.  If you don't change your habits with either WLS, you may have greater difficulties down the road independent of your "tool choice."