I think both types of WLS can be beneficial. As another poster above said, you have to consider the pros and cons of both. The lapband is less invasive and allows each individual to adjust their weight loss accordingly. If the loss slows down, you can adjust it. On the other hand, it also allows more "cheating" from my understanding in that the patient doesn't get ill from eating too much sugar. I know 2 people personally that have had the lapband..one has done wonderfully with it and is very close to goal weight and she is out 2 years. The other person has not lost anything (or lost and gained it all back) because she doesn't follow the eating reccomendations and doesn't exercise. I also know a couple of people who have had the RNY and have done well. In the end, either surgery is a tool to help you get healthier and lose the weight. If you follow the guidlelines, both can work wonders. They aren't an end-all, be-all, instant miracle cure. I think the decision on what type of surgery to have is a personal one and based on lots of research. For me personally, I've gone back and forth over the best choice for me. I like the concept of the lapband (less invasive, easier to remove if something goes wrong, etc), but I feel I need the stricter rules with regards to eating that the RNY offers. I am scheduled for my RNY on June 8th.

Obviously if you are having this surgery you must feel that your weight is a big enough problem to do something about it. What you have to keep in mind is that your hair may or may not grow back, (with me I lost alot at first then it slowed down) but that is not the point. The point is that your hair is not you. They make very beautiful wigs these days. You losing weight is not just about being thin is it? It shouldn't be. It should be about being healthy. Once you are healthy,then you can focus on what you need to do about your appearance. Good luck with your surgery, May God go with you on your journey as he did with me on mine. Ps. If you keep taking your vitamins post surgery your hairloss should be minimal.

Cyndi, I completely understand you being scared. I have MS and I still have MS and until they find a cure I will continue to have MS however,my symptoms are so much better since having bypass surgery. I have lost 108 lbs and feel great!!! I had high blood pressure and high cholesterol and now am not taking any of the medications. Yes Cyndi I lost some of my hair but that was my own fault for not keeping up with my protein, but it is growing back. However, as I said my health is so much better I can't even begin to tell you. I can actually walk up the steps without holding on to the railing. It is not just about being thin. It was about me being on the road to diabetes as was my father who died from complications of diabetes and heart failure and being over 400 lbs. Both of my brothers have diabetes and are over weight, one also has MS too. I wanted to be healthy!!! I wanted to live longer and see my grandchildren grow up. It is definitely not just about being thin. Although it is a great thing too!!!! I just now sent in another picture of myself and I have been checking my profile and it is not posted yet but I have gone from 268 lbs to 160 lbs. I want to lose 30 more lbs. My prayers are with you and your surgeon Cyndi!!! You will be happy! Laura

Wow...you really don't know a thing about the band LOL 1. Fills do wait til after healing and the patient is fully back to solids for a week or two..because the only way to know if you have natural restriction is eating solids. Losing 30lbs in a month is going to be a lot of fluid and lean tissue loss as the body cannot safely process out more than 1.5% of your total body weight per week in FAT. I prefer a safer rate of loss for medical reasons, aka my health long term. 2. If you're not getting labs done at least twice a year, you're begging for trouble with a malabsorptive procedure, especially in the first year. 3. 3-4 years out there is 1% difference in average weight loss between band and RNY....59% and 60% respectively. So statistically the same. The RNY does NOT NOT NOT average 85%...The DS averages 70-80% and has the highest average by at least 10% over the RNY. 4. It cannot deteriorite. Learn chemistry. Solid silicon does not degrade. The band has NOT been in the US only 4 years. It was in the US 2-3 years prior to its approval by the FDA in June 2001. Please do a little research, thanks. FDA approved means, by definition, that it is not experimental. Prior to June 2001 it was investigational, after that approval date, it was approved, not experimental or investigational. *sigh* 5. Why not go with the one that leaves the body in the most intact healthy unaltered state without the concern that 30%+ of RNY patients have of significant bone loss or chronic or pernicious anemia? Again, 3-4 years out, the results are in a statistical dead heat. Why do all the damage for the same result? Losing all the weight...well, dear, most WLS do not "lose all the weight"...WLS isn't about losing "all the weight". Most folks do not make goal. They do, based on averages, get to a much healthier weight. And we ALL do this for medical reasons, or do you think for most folks this is cosmetic??? Nancy

After router-routtering a persons insides, slice, dice, and splice a human organs, after that major surgery, any doctor that tells you to come back in year should have his license yanked.