if you could go back in time would you still do the lap band

If you could go back in time and make the decision of whether or not to do the lap band surgery, would you still do it, knowing what you know now? Why or why not? How long ago did you do it? How much have you lost? Do you have any issues for example what foods can you not eat now? Or do you have any complications? I have a friend he did the surgery 4 years ago. He weighed 320lbs before the surgery. Now he weighs 185lbs. I recently asked him the same question, and he said for him it was a no brainer yes he would do it again. He can’t eat rice, pasta, or bread.  He did say that he eats a lot of mashed potatoes with gravy, because it makes it easier for him to get the other food down. There have been times that he has eaten to fast, and didn`t chew the food well enough so he ended up throwing everything up. Can you please share with me?

Thank you

Yes.

8 1/2 years.

lost all my excess weight, have regained a bit but still in U.S. size 10/12

leak repair four years ago.

can eat all foods.

almost never have any food problem.

Oops... meant to edit, not delete.

I'm about four months out from starting the pre-op diet for VSG surgery.

• I started at 330 and and I now weigh 244 with just under 30 to do.
• Diabetes is GONE.
• Fatty Liver disease in GONE.
• Blood pressure is normal.
• I've gone from a 4XL shirt to an XL.
• I've drilled nine holes in the leather belt I bought this summer.
• I'm not eating carbs right now but maybe after I reach my goal.
• I can tolerate all foods as long as I eat slowly and don't eat too much.

Hmm... eat slow or drop dead from a stroke in 10 years.

Yeah, I'd do it again. And I self-paid.

VSG isn't the Lap Band, though. The OP is asking about Lap Band, specifically. 

Even tho I had my band removed this past summer, if, as it was at that time, the lap band was the only WLS that I thought was right for me, yes...I would do it again.  Even tho I am currently pre-op for the sleeve now, even tho I managed (regretfully) to regain all of my weight after a serious issue one night and personal issues that caused me to not care about much anymore for a few years.  I would do it again IF it were still my best option.

Knowing since that I have better options, knowing that I cannot live with that band anymore and hope for good results, knowing that, despite everything, I followed the band life to the "T" until I couldn't any longer, I am so happy to have it gone.

I vomited most of the 80 pounds lost with the band and even tho my surgeon asked me if that was the case, I misunderstood the reason for him asking.  I was afraid it meant I was failing, not that the band was not a good tool for me, I told him no.  Even tho I had to travel an hour away to get persistent "adjustments" to the amount of fluid in the band, I was afraid to admit that I was indeed vomiting my weight away, destroying my esophagus and causing some minor but so far permanent damage.  So, I told him "no, I wasn't vomiting the weight away".  So stupid of me.

Now, knowing what I do, I would never do the band again.  That is not to say tho that I think it has no good merit.  I think that in some rare cir****tances, the band might be the right way to go for some people.  But ONLY in those cir****tances, NOT for long term use!

I did not look, are you a pre-op or post-op of WLS?  Are you asking out of concern for your friend?  Yes, mashed potatoes and gravy DO make the meat slide down easier than on it's own.  But, I hope he is being very careful on that slippery slope.  I broke the rules with meat only one way when it was needed - I took a few sips of very warm tea or coffee just before eating meats like turkey, beef or like tuna.  Gravy is not good for anyone.  And could be more of an excuse than anything else.  BUT, your friend has to make his own choices, this is his journey.  Mashed potatoes are one of my fav's but they are starchy carbs as well and not a good stand by.

Eating too fast, not chewing enough, it's part of the journey.  you either pay attention to your eating or you pay the piper (the toilet).  I often found that if I was trying to eat and have conversation at the same time, I usually paid the piper because I was not eating mindfully.  The GOOD side of my having the band..I am well prepared for my post-op life.  But this time, it will work for life!

(edited to correct spelling)

Heck no. It was the worst thing I ever did to my body. I was fat when I underwent surgery. Now I'm fat and horribly damaged by the band. 

Had it done in 2003, removed in 2005. Have diaphragmatic damage, Vagus nerve damage, gastritis, hiatal hernia, ulcers, adhesions, diverticulitis (from being constipated so often while banded,) esophageal issues. I had bouts of sneezing that would last for hours at a time until I passed out. (Vagus nerve damage.) That lasted about a year. Once a week, at least, I'd bend over or move 'wrong' and I'd start sneezing nonstop, unable to catch my breath, until I passed out. Nothing could be done about it except to wait it out. 

Left shoulder pain- VERY common with banding. The band's proximity to the diaphragm and the nerves that run through it cause referred pain to the left shoulder. Mine was severe since my horrible surgeon didn't know what he was doing while placing the band and either damaged the nerves or placed the band in such a way to cause damage. 

I threw up any time I tried to eat solid foods. I lived on liquids. Even those would come shooting out my nose quite often. I never had saline in the band and it still caused severe inflammation.  I became anemic and malnourished. My hair fell out. I felt like walking death all the time. 

The band is such a disaster for so many people. There's no rhyme or reason to whether it will work for someone or nearly kill them. The odds aren't in our favor, though. Google Lap Band + failure rates. There's a multitude of information out there. It's important to read it with an open mind, knowing that these complications DO NOT only happen to "other people." They're very, very commonplace. 

No way on God's green earth!!! I was banded in '07 before they admitted to lying about things and before we found out how much damage it does. If I were offered a million dollars for another one I can honestly say NO I would never consider it. I still have damage from the one I had for 7 yrs and had removed several mos ago! I have the most horrendous GERD from it, It feels like i have hot lava in my throat 24/7 from the esophageal damage it did and from what I can tell it is going to be permanent! I know literally thousands of people with at least some damage from the band. It has been proven to be the least effective form of weight loss surgery, only 50% of the people with a band lose weight at all and only 25 % of those keep it off so very poor statistics. It is also costly if you have to pay for fills. I know mine cost $225 every time and it doesn't take long for that to add up. The last 2 yrs I had an empty band and it still kept tightening to the point where I had constant pain under my center rib cage. It for sure wasn't any fun especially since I only lost 20 lbs with the band and yes I followed all the rules and regs. It is just a horrible form of surgery and not worth the time, money or suffering

I would never have the band,past present,or future.