VSG vs Lap Band

I can tell you from personal ecperience that I like the sleeve much better. I WAS banded, losts of probs with it and finally had to have it removed after 2 years. and in between there they made an attempt to do a RNY. but Im glad I got the sleeve now. Id say the weight loss averages in between the VSG & RNY. I am 6 weeks out today from VSG & down 28 pounds.

I am sleeved, WITH a Lap Band.  The reason is two fold.  My insurance pays for Lap Band, but not the sleeve.   I had the lap band surgery and self paid the sleeve portion of the surgery.  $1715.00 I believe the research shows that the sleeve is faster and less intensive with having to get fills, etc.  The prospect of my stomach being removed and thereby reducing the production of Ghrelin was attractive to me as well.  I do have the band, but it is unlikely that I will never even need a fill.  If I need further restriction, the band is there as a little insurance policy!   There are ways around what insurance will and won't pay.  IF you really want the sleeve, save up, beg borrow or steal. I'm SO glad this is the choice I made.

What a great idea!!!!

I would love to do that!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am a bandster by Dr. Alvarez, hubby got the sleeve by Dr. A. From my experience, the sleeve is so much easier than the band. I have had major bouts of reflux, vomiting from getting things stuck, and even irritating the stomach area where the band is placed so much that it literally closed up and I had to get an unfill. The band is expensive: in 12 months I have had it I have had 12 fills or unfills  at $200 cash each time. I hope this slows down in the next year but I am not so sure because I just go plastic surgery 3 weeks ago and he had to do a complete unfill for the surgery...now I am back at square one getting it filled back up which I found out the hard way this weekend, you have to go very S-L-O-W in refilling it. The inconsistency from one day to the next with having restriction/not having restriction based on fluid levels in the body, monthly hormone cycles and stress is ridiculous. My weight loss is much slower than my husbands and he can eat just about anything although in much smaller amounts than previously without surgery. There are a few things I just can't eat because they are too dry like grilled chicken.  If I had to choose between the band or bypass, I would go with the band just because of the complication rate. I would really petition the insurance company to go with the sleeve by providing their medical director with lots of research of the effectiveness of the sleeve.  Good luck but if it were up to me, I would just find the money to self pay for the sleeve and go to Dr. Alvarez to get it for $10,000. If I ever have ONE problem with my band like slippage or erosion (happens about 5% of the time, I will find the money to go to Alvarez and get converted. Until then I have to make it work.  take care, MIsty

Thanks for sharing with me.  I will most likely end up getting the band, I can't afford to self pay.  Too many kids to feed and put through college.  I will present some of the research to the insuracne company but with a company like Humana I doubt they will budge.  Thanks and lots of luck to you an your husband!!  Oh and one if my big problems that is tht my husband is too skinny and trying to gain weight. 

Trina - my advice - if you do not want the band then please don't get it. There tends to be a lot more patients and work required to make the band work for you the right way, if its not what you want you are going to end up resenting it. I only wanted the band and worked hard to get it. At two years out I am down 108lbs from 299 and still losing slowly, which is what I wanted. I have no food intolerance, no reflux, and I have never had an unfill - the reason why, I knew what I was signing up for, accepted the slower rate of weight loss and have never ever had my band to tight (that is one of the mail contributors to slips and errosions). My band was covered by by insurance which means my adjustments (fills) are two. I've had five in two years, the last two being a year apart.  The band is a lot of work and if you are not commited and do not WANT the band you are most likely going to be frustrated and unhappy with it. Fight your insurance for what you really want - if they approve for bypass or band then how can they say no sleeve. I don't want to discourage you but I also don't want to see you get a surgery that isn't what you want, and then be unhappy with it. Submit for the one you want and if they deny you, appeal - most companies approve on appeal because they know you are right but want to see if they can get around it. Good luck!!

Thanks for the advice.  I will talk to the surgeon about it more.  I will be perfectly fine with the band though.  I didn't even know about the VSG until I started the process for the band.  I have no problem accepting the slower weight loss with the band.  But it would be nice to not have to go in for the fills. But if I have to, I have to.  IT's not that big of a deal.  The rate of losing isn't as important to me as keeping it off!!  108 pounds lost in two years is awesome!!  The surgeon told me to expect 40 pounds in the first year and if I lose more than that it's a gift.  That's fine with me.   As long as I am not gaining anymore I will be happy!!! 

ladies the sleeve is $5,500 in mexico with Dr almanza he will be doing my daughter soon and myself in sept I hope

I went to Venezuela to have my sleeve.  I met someone on this site who had it done and she shared her info with me.  Both of us had good experiences.  The price was less in Venezuela than in Mexico, and I felt a bit more confident.