I have questions....

 Hey all, 

I am a lap bander. I was just wondering if someone can explain to me what the main differences are between the lap band and the VBG?? 

Also, why did you choose the VBG over the lap band??

Thanks,
Rachel

With VSG they totally remove the biggest part of your stomach.  Your stomach looks like a banana.

I chose VSG because with the lap band I didn't want a foreign object in me and I didn't want to deal with the potential problems (slippage, erosion etc) or deal with the port and have to back to get fills. 

With RNY I didn't want the malabsorption and all the potential problems that come with (dumping, malnutrition, ulcers etc).

What I did want is my stomach smaller and get rid of the part of the stomach that produces the hunger hormone - grehlin.

VSG (in my eyes) is a much safer procedure with great results.

A lot of people are turned off by the permanency of it, but unless you are having severe problems they don't reverse either of the other procedures.  And with the RNY I haven't ever heard about someone getting it reversed.

so to answer your question, the vbg is where they cut a hole in your stomach a line of vertical staples and a band create a pouch. . (lots of pictures online so you can get a clearer picture) 
The lapband is an adjustable band that is place for restriction, not altering your stomach as such, just placing the band instead, it is less invasive.
I didnt have a choice with the wls. The only one i can get is the vbg so t hat is what i am getting. I can not really help you with the reasons as i dont have a alternative choice.
I hope this helped.

Shrinkingpeach is correct in her explanation. I have the VBG. The pouch created is about the size of a large egg. Same with the Lap-band. The VBG doesn't allow for the opening from the pouch to the large stomach to be adjusted. It's just the same all the time.  I decided on the VBG with the help from my doctor. I wasn't a big sweets eater. I was just a big eater. I never knew what full was, but I new what stuffed was!  The VBG and Lap band address the problem of not feeling full, while still allowing the person to get all of the nutritional values of the foods eaten. I didn't need the bypass for what it allows, so we decided on the VBG (the Lap-band wasn't paid for by insurance for me either).  It's almost 6 years since surgery and I am incredibly happy about my decision! I maintain my weight pretty easily. What I do like to tell people thinking about WLS is that every surgery type works. How well and how long it works depends solely on the patient. It isn't a quick fix. It is a lifetime of lifestyle change!