LAP-BAND or Vertical Sleeve? Need some advice.

No lap band, I am a revision from a lap band because of the complications. I also thing you should seriously consider rny as well as sleeve. I was leaning sleeve as well and switched to rny on the advice of my doctor and very glad I did. The band gave me reflux and the rny cured it. I would likely have ended up with a second revision if I'd gone sleeve.

Stay away from lab band. Most experienced doctors won't put one in anymore. 2 weeks ago I had a VSG and my band removed. I wish I had a VSG years ago instead of band. Food got stuck all the time and weight loss was minimal. My VSG surgery was easy and I feel great.

Just echoing consider the gastric bypass along with the sleeve. I'm another who developed GERD post-VSG. I am having a second several hour surgery in December to try to fix the hiatal hernia that my surgeon tried to fix at the time of my VSG in an effort to decrease the acid reflux I get when I don't take my PPI. Hindsight is 20/20, but as much as I otherwise love my sleeve, I can't help but wonder if I would have avoided these issues with the gastric bypass.

What ethical surgeon would still do the Lap Band? It is one of the worst WLS that was ever invented due to the amount of complications. (There are a couple of others....i.e. Fobi pouch).

Get a VSG, RNY or DS. They are tried and true.

Scott

I have had a band for 11 years, could not have lost or kept off weight without it. But I have had issues, slip, unclip port flip. Few surgeries, one replacement, and two babies later I still appreciate/love my band. With that being said, the MAJORITY of people have HUGE issues. I think I was lucky, and I have always said that I truly believe some people do not do well with foreign objects in their body.

Not many doctors will do the band and it is hard to find ones who will fill them or help with issues. If you get the band you will have to always do your research if/when you decide to relocate to another part of your state/country to make sure you have a doctor in your area who will help you when/if you need it.

They can be tricky to learn, I have a few friends who just did not loose weight! Period! between not feeling full and learning to cheat it never worked for them. If you decide to get the band make sure it is a LAP BAND not a Realize band. Thought they "say" they are the same they are not, they inflate completely different.

Good luck!

LapBand has had an uncomfortable amount of serious complications without an acceptable level of success to validate them. If you want a real opener, read the forum for WLS Revisions and Failed WLS. You'll see a lot of LapBand patients there.

The sleeve is the best option if you are seeking a restriction-only procedure. If you are certain that eating less is all you need to lose the weight, then the sleeve is the best solution.

If you think your metabolism is shot, learn more about the RNY and DS as alternative options.

Recent studies have shown that VSG is not a "restriction-only procedure." Here are some links if you're curious -

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4879937/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5509746/

I am here tonight for the first time in years bc OH is calling me back at a time of need I guess. I'll post my tale of woe in a bit. I have a band. I am 13+ years post op with the original band on 9/29/04 then a revision to a realize in 2009 bc they just couldn't make my band any tighter and I had no restriction. I was successful. I lost 115 lbs. In 2004 the band vs RNY wars were crazy and I'd never heard of a sleeve and RNY scared me. So I went with the "safest" adjustable" "can be removed" option. In hindsight it's been awful. I've never had restriction where I felt full after a small meal. Only I can eat a lot of it or I cant eat it at all. I lost 90 lbs in 9 months while they tried to give me restriction through many many many fills. I say now it was a lifestyle change with a foreign body in me. I was just ready, my mindset was ready to make the lifestyle changes. My original goal was weight loss for pregnancy, I wanted one more baby. After 90 lbs I started trying and got pregnant the first time. Had a pregnancy with no restriction but bc of lifestyle changes gained less than 30 lbs as opposed to my 75+ lbs gained with prior pregnancies. I lost all the weight right away and then more for a total of 115 lbs. However through the years my band support has dwindled instead to my revised friends, my self pay friends who lost a ton of money on something that never worked,and since 2011 I asked my surgeon to check me bc it was now no longer a lifetime device and it was no longer a matter of if but a matter of when. When would I have that complication? When would I need mine out? However he found no complications with diagnostics. My issue also is I wanted a revision to a sleeve. I still in my head need a crutch. It's been so long since I've been morbidly obese that I'm terrified bc I at least developed a lot of food aversions from the band. I can't eat cake, pizza, anything doughy but I also can't eat vegetables, enjoy a salad, grilled vegetables, no way. I don't have an eating disorder but disordered eating. I don't eat with my family, I don't enjoy meals out, I've got 13 years of practice being the busy person holding the new baby at a get together so the parents can eat, or tidying up at a dinner with friends so people don't notice. I gave up on my doctor doing a revision in 2014. Last October we moved from NY to NC. I knew I needed a doctor for follow up and did my research and found a good surgeon with great reviews and called and they needed my records to review. I'd call to have them faxed, get busy for a few weeks, new state, new job, new hours then call again and no records received, make a mental note, call again, more time would pass. However I should have pursued it more bc about six weeks ago I started not being able to keep food down. It has gotten progressively worse. I now started to aggressively pursue my records and try to get a consult. There was an issue with faxes, consents, faxes sent not received, (both offices have been wonderful) and finally they got my records two days ago and somebody took pity on me for an appointment and fit me in tomorrow. Two weeks ago I noticed my port site was caved in (had a tummy tuck in 2012, so I like to look at my flat stomach lol) now I have severe port pain over the past few days and I have no clue what will be wrong with me bc there are so many damn possibilities of band complications from minor to major. Do your research. If I was just having surgery now I'd NEVER consider the band!

I'm sorry you've had such a challenging experience. I hope you get answers soon.

Thank you Heather for taking the time to share your experience with me. I'm sorry you had to endure so much pain and agony over this Band.

You obviously put your trust in this product that apparently was never meant for long term use. I'm hearing similar stories from a lot of people. It's very sad.

After a lot of feedback, I've decided to go with the VSG.

Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it. I hope things start looking up for you soon.