New! Trying to decide on what surgery, etc.

Hi There,

I am new to the forums and attenting one of Dr. Chua's seminars this coming May.
My regular doctor referred me after some weight loss attempts for the past 2 years or so.
I would like some feedback on a lap band vs. gastric sleeve.

I am 5'5, 237lbs (I have been as high as 280) and 35 years old.
I am hoping my insurance will cover the surgery.

Any feedback would be helpful!

Thanks.

 As a former patient of Dr. Chua and also a guest speaker at his seminars, you will be able to hear from a handful of us speakers about our experiences with the different surgeries he performs. We aren't there to make him look good or promote his business (even though we all think he is the absolute best!) .  We tell it like it is and are honest about our expereinces. It is only fair that people hear the truth.  

I had the VBG almost 7 years ago, which is similar to the lap band, except that my band needs no adjustments and  has no port for fills. Historically, it is a slower way of losing weight and you have more control over how much and how fast you want to lose by how much saline you have filled in your band.  The stomach is not removed for this surgery.  The sleeve requires some of the stomach to be removed, creating a banana shaped stomach. This procedure allows you to eat more but provides some restriction, just not as much as a band does. Weight loss is slightly faster. If you are planning on having children, the band is nice because it allows you to adjust it so you can take in enough nutrition for the developing baby.  

I was unsure of which surgery to have when I finished the preliminary appointments, and went with Dr. Chua's recommendation with absolutely no regrets! Your choice of surgery has so many factors to consider, including what type of eater you are, how much weight you need to lose, and even what you do for a living. Thankfully, all of these things are discussed at his seminar. It is by far the most informational seminar I attended (I went to seminars of 2 other doctors when I was exploring my options and felt like I wasn't being given all the information or truth).  I was 314 lbs at my highest weight, and am maintaining my current weight around 172 quite easily (I'm 6'2" tall). I lost my first 100 lbs in about 7 months because I dedicated myself to this new lifestyle. 

I hope to see you in May! I should be there to speak, unless my travel schedule doesn't allow it (Iive in Oshkosh). If you have any other questions for me, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Lois

Thank you so much for the reply!! :)

Check out the book Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies.  This book in the "Dummies" series does a fabulous job of describing the complere process and describing each surgery type.  It is a great reference. 

The other big thing is to check with your insurance company to see what types of surgery they cover and what are the prerequisties. 

I also found some websites that had comparisons between each type of surgery. 

But, above all you really have to decide what is right for you.  I personally chose the lap band, but that is my chose and is working for me.