LAP-BAND or Vertical Sleeve? Need some advice.

I have been trying to decide on what surgery to have. After reading some of the posts on the LAP-BAND, I'm kind of shying away from that one. It sounds like it has caused a lot of problems.

Can I get some Pro's and Con's from those who have had either one of these surgeries? Both of them kind of scare me.

Thank You

My surgeon won't do lap bands, and doesn't know any other doctors who will, either.

No to lap band. Can't think of a single pro- but plenty on here who have revised from lap band can attest to the cons.

This is not a choice. Do not get a lapband. Repeat Do not get a lapband.

Even if you are compliant and lose weight with it the chance of complications biting you in the butt at some point are way too high

Edited to add:

Please read this thread

Thank you all for your replies. I won't be getting the Lap-band.

I do want to know more about the Vertical Sleeve. I have read quit a bit about it, and it seems to be pretty popular. Just need more input.

Any comments?

Your realistic choices are RNY and VSG. There are a million posts here comparing the 2. Read them all. The only other choice is DS, but the likelihood is you would need to travel a great distance to find a doctor to do one.

I'm happy with VSG, but wish I had taken the time to consider RNY as well. I never thought of RNY as an option because I thought I wasn't big enough for something that drastic. Now it doesn't really seem more drastic than VSG and it has slightly better outcomes and way less incidences of new onset GERD.

Here are my pros and cons for VSG:

Pro: I've lost all of my excess weight rapidly and love my body and my life. I am confident that I have a tool that will help me with the daily lifelong struggle of maintaining my ideal weight.

Con: I have acid reflux and I didn't have that before surgery. I take a PPI for it and there are risks of osteoporosis, dementia, anemia, and earlier than necessary death from long term PPI use. I go for weeks without needing it if I'm careful with not laying down for a few hours after eating and using a pillow, but often I need it. The risk of not taking it is esophageal cancer.

I got off the PPi's by treating the GERD and heartburn with a teaspoon of baking soda in eight ounces of water. My doctor approves. I did that for a few months and the GERD has been completely gone for the last few months. If it starts again, I will use more baking soda.

As Grim said, there are a lot of posts comparing the 2 surgeries. There are pros/cons for each which may help you decide. Also, your surgeon may have an opinion on one or the other option for you based on your health and weight history.

I know you're only asking about VSG, but if you have a history of acid reflux, GERD, or diabetes, you should consider the RNY. Diabetes can be resolved with VSG or RNY, but it seems like people who have diabetes for longer prior to WLS do better with RNY. VSG can exacerbate acid problems due to Boyle's Law - decreased volume = increased pressure.

I had VSG in March 2014 and, for me, it's all pros, no cons. But I was a "healthy" super morbidly obese person with no acid issues and no history of diabetes. While the choice for WLS was an easy one for me, it's daily hard work just as it would be to lose weight and maintain that loss via any method. But I didn't lose it with any other method, so clearly this method is the best one for me :)