Thanks so much for all of your replies. I appreciate you taking the time to help me out. What a great board!!!!

Hi, Jen. I just had surgery back in Jan and I've often questioned this myself. As with anything else, it is all dependent on yourself and how your body does with the surgery. Unfortunately, there is no magic way of knowing what the future holds. You make the decision and run with it. That is what I did. I have had no complications, no problems. I do not dump, do not vomit and tolerate everything that I eat. I just get full quickly and stop eating at that point. I have had one episode of vomiting, just this past weekend, from spaghetti...but it was my fault. I ate that one or two extra bites when my body said "no more". Learn the hard way! Best wishes to you on the surgery and the wonderful journey afterwards. Kim -85 pounds

Banded 2 1/2 years ago, down 156 pounds, which is about 73% of my excess weight. No complications. No, the band isn't for everyone...as with any type of WLS out there, stuff can just happen. But you can tip the balance to your side going with a VERY experienced surgeon who doesn't try short cuts (if the post-op eating plan (that you discuss while you're consulting with/interviewing the surgeon) sounds extreme, find another surgeon. It should sound sensible and healthy. Not a starvation diet, not a protein fast, not teeeeeny tiny 2-3 bite portions...sensible. Use all that experience you've gotten from dieting to tell the difference. Very experienced GOOD banding surgeons have significantly lower rates of all types of complications and overall better weight loss results. Does that guarantee anything? No...it just puts the statistics in your favor. For me, I didn't want the risks of what could happen with a malabsorptive procedure down the road. I don't care about this year or next year or even 5 years from now...I care about 20 years from now...I just don't like what I see regarding long-term issues with malabsorption. The elderly don't absorb as well as when they were younger to begin with...wonder why they don't do more studies, especially with the RNY which has been around 40+ years... I finally feel normal around food. That was one of my primary goals...the weight loss hasn't sucked either Nancy

I am over 3 years out ..My aunt is 10 years out .. No complications

The mask I have is is a "profile light, med-small". It looks like a gel padded triangle that fits over my nose with a forehead support and straps:wave: Mary