Lap Band vs. Gastric Bypass?

Just finished Psych eval and Meeting with Dietician. I am deciding between Lap band and Laproscopic RYN. Any comments?

I think I would investigate both and see what is best for you! I had Roux-n-Y and would do it again in a heart beat. I am sure that everyone that was banded would also do the same. Talk to your surgeon........the two of you should make the decision that works for you....he can give you the pro's and con's of both surgeries! Good luck! Sue 320/141/130goal

I'm waiting to be approved for the Gastric Bypass (lap); Personally I didn't like that fact of having to go in for fills and unfills, for me I figured it would end up being an excuse not to lose weight ( didn't have money for the fill/ unfill; ). But for each and every one of us it's a decision for us and the surgeons to decide. Best of luck in your decision. Do your research. Julie K Brunswick, Oh

The best decision you can make is an educated one. You've got some homework, my dear. Valerie

I had the adjuctable lap band in 2003, I just had the revision to the RNY bypass. I am now happy with my bypass as I had a major issue with getting follow up care in my area for the band. Make sure you research everything about the band. If you are getting the adjustablke research the cost of fills. Casey

I had the adjuctable lap band in 2003, I just had the revision to the RNY bypass. I am now happy with my bypass as I had a major issue with getting follow up care in my area for the band. Make sure you research everything about the band. If you are getting the adjustablke research the cost of fills. Casey

I have the band and and love it. Everyone seems to love their particular surgery. I only had 95 pounds to lose so the risks of RNY or DS were too high for me. Start with making sure you have a supportive and able surgeon and then study..study..study. Cathy

Here is what my doctor told me: The band does not work for people who eat a lot of sweets as there isn't the "dumping syndrome" with the band like there is with the RNY WLS. There is also no huge, fast weight loss like there is with RNY. However, some nice people on this board wrote and said that not everyone who has the RNY has the dumping from too much sweet stuff. My personal opinion is like what the other post said--the band might be good for someone who doesn't have over 100lbs to lose like I do. Also, I learned at St. Vincent's introductory meeting last November that each "fill" will cost between $150 and $200 and insurance doesn't cover it. No one ever told me that! You don't need fills that often, however. The band is good because it is immediately and pretty simply reversible and the RNY isn't. I was all for the band until my surgeon said the weight-loss is not comparable--like in how long it takes. It all depends on if you want something foreign in your body for the rest of your life. I was swayed over to the Lap RNY surgery. If I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna do it all the way!! But, anyway, that decision is up to you and your doctor, and good luck to you whatever you decide!

Granted that the weight loss for the band is slower than the RNY in the short term, but long term studies have shown weight loss to be comparable. Also, with the RNY, you have a 12-18 mo. window of opportunity to lose your weight, then the loss slows, and eventually ends. With the band, adjustments can be made for the life of the band, thus making your window of opportunity as long as you need it to be to reach goal. Also, many people use the reason that they don't want to go in for countless fills. The average # of fills needed to reach optimum resistance is 3. (As stated by my surgeon). Right now I see my doctor 3 times a year just for allergy shots, so 3 times total doesn't seem like much to me. Sure the band is a foreign entity in your body, but so is a pacemaker, and when was the last time you heard of someone using that as an excuse to not have a pacemaker implanted. And to me the most important thing is that the foreign body can be removed, whereas rerouted insided are there forever. Each person is different and must make a decision based on their needs and lifestyle. The above views are just my honest opinion and aren't meant to be offensive to anyone or their particular surgery--In other words--No flaming--please! This is a zone!!

I had the gastric bypass, but was in the same boat as you. I decided that I was going for the FULL MEAL DEAL and got the bypass instead of the band. A month after surgery, I had a life threatening complication and severe pain for over one month. During the time that I was up every night crying and having to go to the emergency room two times for pain, I thought that I made the wrong decision in getting the bypass (I only had 90 or so pound to loose). Well, I am three months out and I am recovering now and come to think of it, I would probably do it all over again, without the complication of course! For me, I was so sick of being fat that it was worth the chance that I (we all ) take with this very very dangerous surgery. If you want my opinion. The odds are against having a terrible complication like I had. Go for he bypass baby and don't look back! You will be down 100 pounds in 6 months if you do everything correctly.