Lap Band vs. Sleeve

Most surgeons (and insurance companies) in the US require a BMI of 35 plus a comorbidity (diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, etc.) or a BMI of 40 without comorbidities for bariatric surgery.  There may be surgeons who are willing to perform the surgery if you're under that if you can pay out of pocket.

Pregnancy:  I know people who have had healthy babies after RNY, sleeve, etc.  My surgeon asks that women wait 2 years after surgery and be at goal/maintaining before attempting to get pregnant.

I have to go back and look at your post--forgot your other questions!

exercise:  Every surgeon is different.  Mine expects you to exercise.  I went back to the gym 1 week post op (cardio only) and will add in weight training when I am cleared for it.  The staples are not removed--they stay in your stomach.  Different surgeons perform the surgery differently, but mine was laparoscopic.  I have 4 small incisions and 1 larger one and they used surgical glue on them, which just gradually flakes off over time, so no stitches/staples on the outside of my body at all.

pcod:  You may have to stop taking it just before your surgery (or at least the day of), but after you may or may not resume it.  You actually may not need it, depending on how the surgery impacts you.  I assume you're on metformin or something similar?  Sometimes just losing some weight will decrease or eliminate your need for meds. 

rating surgery:  My surgeon said that choosing a surgery is kind of like buying a car--everyone thinks that their choice is best.  My advice is to meet with surgeons who perform all 4 types of wls available and get their opinions.  With your starting weight, though, I'd guess that the band or sleeve are probably your best options.

Everyone has their own reasons, but you asked so here are mine:

1.  I was freaked out by the idea of a port.  I now realize it's not actually on the outside of your body like I pictured in my head but my husband made me watch this movie called Exestence a few years ago where people had ports in their bodies they plugged video games into and it scarred me for life.  Seriously, this was a reason for me, although had the surgeon suggested I rethink that I would have.

2.  Statistics.  Statistics for the need for repairs/revisions and for long-term success just were not there with the band.  According to the info from my surgeon, 25% of band patients need a follow-up surgery b/c of slippage, deterioration, inadequate weight loss, etc.  Also, 3 years out the excess weight lost was only around 30-something percent, vs 80-something with the VSG, RNY, and DS. 

3.  Ghrelin reduction.  The band does nothing to impact the production of Ghrelin, and with your whole stomach still there I can't imagine that you don't still feel hungry (this is not based on science, just my feeling).

That was it for me--mainly, though, the statistics.  If I was going to do this, I wanted the best chance at long-term weight loss AND quality of life after surgery (which is why I didn't do rny or ds--didn't want to mess with my intestines or deal with malabsorption of nutrients).  My surgeon's success rates with VSG are nearly identical to RNY and not far behind DS.

It also helps that one of the best VSG surgeons in the world is in my area and part of my insurance network. ;)

I have the lap band for 2 1/2 years now and I can see now how problematic the band is. The "tool" of any surgery nonwithstanding, it's all about what you eat. I've lost 70 pounds so far and have worked very, very hard for each lb.

Each procedure has its pitfalls, I've learned a lot abt the band during this time and worry that a slip or some such is only a matter of time.

The sleeve seems to be popular now with people and I had a guest this weekend who was 1 month post sleeve surgery and was throwing up. A lot. So everyone is different and each procedure has its pros and cons.

I'm with u sista. Good luck.

I had a stellar LapBand experience until 4 and a half years out.  Then my band starting giving me problems.  The LapBand can work and it does often times work very well.  Mine saved my life and I will be forever grateful.  However, in the end, it had to be removed and I chose the Sleeve. 

do I wish I had done the Sleeve first?  Perhaps, not, only because I was not in that mind set at that time.  I didn't want something so drastic and I probably wouldn't have done any procedure if RNY or Sleeve were my only options.  Even at almost 500 lbs, the thought of having 85% of my stomach permanently removed was not something I would entertain.  The LapBand got me where I needed to be in a 4 year time span and it also opened my eyes to realizing that I can make changes that have altered my life in a good way.

It's a very personal decision.  You have to decide what will work for you.  Each WLS procedure has pros and cons.  Regain is possible with everyone of them, except maybe the DS.  It's a total lifestyle change and if you aren't ready to make major changes to the way you eat and the way you think about food, you won't be successful in the long term.

Good Luck with your decision.

I had a lap band put in 12/2010.  I have only lost about 35 pounds.  I have been so disappointed.  I am now considering (strongly) abt the sleeve.  My concern is that I eat like a bird as it is, so I am afraid the sleeve won't help me either.  I just know I have had fills and unfills til I am blue in the face :(   Can anyone tell me if they have had similar issues?  If i was to do it over again, I would have started with the sleeve.

My choice also went from Lapband, trifled briefly with RNY and landed wholeheartedly with the VSG. I can't say it better than everyone else has above - I went through the same thought processes and desires.  Good luck to you with whatever you choose :-) Jessica