Fear

I have to agree with the sentiments of the above poster. consider all options before you are cut. If you only have 60 lbs to lose,( and that seems strange with a BMI of 42 if ya don't mind me saying), then it is possible4 you don't need the malabsoption.  Restriction only is probably best obtained with the sleeve .Fewer follow-ups to tweek and adjust than the band....

My purpose in posting is just to encourage you to consider all options. Best luck with your decision.

I understand your fear and concern.   Please look at all your options and what your biggest obstacles is currently on losing without WLS.  What comorbidities you have or don't have at this time.

Do you feel malabsorption is a necessity or will restriction be enough for you?  IMO (we all have one) please research the VSG as a viable option for 60 lbs. 

PLEASE DON'T DO THE LAPBAND. I had lap band surgery in December of 2005. I threw up several times a week with no rhyme or reason. I went through 5 1/2 years of sheer torture, never knowing from one meal to the next if I would be able to keep it down (usually that would be a "no"). I initially lost weight but I was so sick I was not living a full life or really any type of life at all. Finally after getting anemic and so weak I could barely get up and go to work, I told my surgeon that it had to be removed. In 2010, I went in and had it removed. I enjoyed the next 6 months of actually getting to eat without throwing up so hard, I would throw up blood. My uncle had VSG in June of 2010 and went from 498 to 330 in a very short period of time. He was truly a food addict and spoke ravingly of the surgery. I knew if he could do it, I could too. By the time my surgery date came around, I had regained all the weight I had lost and was actually the heaviest I had ever been. I started out at 283 at a height of 5'4". Almost a complete square (lol). In 3 short months, I've lost almost 60 lbs and have never regretted the surgery not once. It is the best thing I've ever done. I don't know if everyone has the experience I've had but I've not thrown up because of the sleeve's restriction but I know completely with all the bells and whistles exactly when I've had enough. I can tolerate any foods, just eat a much smaller portion and I am completely satisfied. Good luck with your decision and enjoy life!!!

If your don't want the RNY then so be it, but statistically the Lap-Band is not the answer either:

ASMBS Lap-Band gets low marks!

If you only have 60 to lose consider the VSG. That would be my choice in your position. If your insurance says that VSG is not covered, u can usually appeal and get them to cover it.

Here is my story...Please don't get the band!

I was banded in March of 2009 with high hopes! Within 3 months my port flipped. I was in the office for a fill and all you could here is the needle scraping medal. I was in surgery the flowing Monday for a port revision.    I asked that the surgeon all 1cc to the band while I was under. Over the next few weeks I was gaining weight and felt like a failure. I was ashamed to go back to the doctor. After a few months I put on my big girl britches and went back to the doctor. I found that instead of having 8.5 cc in my band I had only 3.5 cc. What happened to the other 5 cc?    I had to pretty much start all over again with the fills. ½ cc here and ½ cc there!    One summer day I went to a barbeque and had a bite of a burger only to have it stuck! I spent an hour in the bathroom throwing up. I did not feel well for days and went back to see my doctor. He was on vacation so I saw the surgeon on call. He sent me to have an Upper GI with Barium. It showed that the band had moved a bit but nothing bad. He said that I should stay on liquids until I feel better…ummm ok!   I never felt better after that. Some days I could eat and some days I couldn’t even swallow my own spit.    Not only the eating problems but my port area was always sore. I could not wear pants with a band due to the pain that it caused.    After a few more months of not loosing any weight the doctor put me on Byetta. Byetta is a twice daily injection of a medicine that helps control glucose and has been helpful for banded people. Did nothing!   I felt like a failure, all this and for nothing. Soon I got a letter that my doctor was retiring and there would be 2 new doctors taking over the business. I was not happy with this and looked around for a new doctor. I found Dr. Bonanni and I love him.   Dr. Bonanni sent me for an Upper GI with Barium and found that I had a blockage. He removed all of the fluid from the band and I have to say that was amazing. I could eat and even sallow my own spit!    Dr. Bonanni wrote up a report and the office submitted it the insurance company and within a week I had my approval for a revision from the crap band to the sleeve.    I love my sleeve and my surgery was on April 12^th and I’m down 35 pounds! This is something that never happened with the band.   

If you are good at being on a diet and are able to handle restricting the food you eat, then the lap-band will assist you in staying on a diet your whole life.  As others have mentioned, the lap-band tool requires that you eat high protein but then blocks your ability to do so with most of the natural foods it is found in.  Do you love protein shake mixes?  Then perhaps the band could work for you.   However for about 99.9% of us considering WLS, we can NOT stick to a diet...hence us still being over weight and looking for other options. 

If you are looking to only lose around 60 lbs then the RNY is probably too drastic for you, not that I would suggest it even if you were looking to lose 160 lbs.   I would highly advise the VSG (sleeve) over the lap-band.  The VSG is the first half of the DS, so SHOULD you decide that you aren't losing weight or that you want to lose more and you want to throw in that malabsorption factor, you can always have the 2nd half of the surgery. 

PLEASE VISIT THE REVISION BOARD AND SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE SWITCHING FROM- this should give you an idea of what isn't working for everyone.  You will notice VERY few people switching from the VSG to anything other than the full DS, and you won't find anyone with the DS revising to something different.  There's a reason for that.  Keep doing your research and BEST of luck!!

I love to read when people write in ABSOLUTES!!! This is the only ABSOLUTE, and all the experts will agree - no two people will have the same exact results when it comes to their weight loss surgery decisions.  

I known BAND people who had slippages for no reason. I known BAND people who have slippages because of either self induced issues (not following the rules, excessive forceful vomiting; overfilled and refuse to go back to Doctor) or poor workmanship by the Doctor.  

I known BYPASS patients who have never dumped; dumped for a few years; continue to dump years out.  

I know Sleeve patients who do dump, while many don’t.  

I know Band patients who are changing to another procedures.

I know Bypass patients who are having bands onto of their Bypass (BOB). My Doctor’s practice has revised a few bypass patients to sleeve.

I’ve heard of one Sleeve patient who is also having a band in conjunction with thier sleeve.  

All these operations are failures, and all of these operations are success. It depends on (A) the person’s diligence to adhering to the rules (B) a person’s support system – both at home, support groups and Doctor (C) the Doctor Practice – some have great follow-up regiment (D) The Doctor’s skill.

Do a lot of research before deciding what is best for you. You will read pro and cons on all of these operations. Remember, none of these operations will do it FOR you, you need to WORK the operation.   In case anyone cares, I am a REALIZE band patient who is 3+ years out; lost 220 pounds; had only two fills (at 6 month and 1 year) and have not had a complication ….. yet.  Are my results normal, well maybe not according the “statistics"  … but yes, it is normal.

Finally, no matter what procedure you decide to have, know I am here to help. While I may not have the procedure you ultimately choose, I have soooo many WLS friends, I can always reach out for their expertise.

Honesty, I would exercise and lose that 60 lbs.I wouldn't have a permanet surgery for that. Heck, I lost clsoe to 30 lbs before my surgery within 2 mths from diet and exercise alone and after the banding....guess what from diet and exercise alone, I lost another 100+ lbs. Its all about self control and exercise otherwise, neither surgery will be successful and thats just the plain truth about it. However, for 60 lbs...I would go with the band.

 I've had my band for 2 years and followed the rules as I was supposed too.  It was fabulous for the first 7 months I lost 80 pounds.  Then I started with all of the ups and downs trips to the E.R and the surgeon for fills and unfills.  Vomitting not being able to swallow my own saliva.  It was a fabulous tool at first but I sincerely hope that my appeal is granted and can revise to the sleeve which wasn't an option when I had my surgery.  Not saying that all bands fail but even my surgeon says he doesn't recommend them anymore, due to the failure rate.  Do your research and make the right decision for you.  I wish you the best of luck.

My mother had RNY in 1995. Went from 250s to 150s rather quickly, then is now floating around the 170 mark. She still has dumping when intaking any kinds of sugar, hair loss from not being able to maintain protien intake in sufficient quantities. Is she the norm... don't  know.  But it can happen...

I had the Realize in 2010. You see my ticker. Yeah, I have upchucked a few times, but you know what, I knew it was gonna happen as soon as I swallowed, because I was trying to eat something I knew I shouldn't be eating. Am I gonna give up on it and run to my surgeon and plead for a revision? Hell no. I am going to do what I was told to do and use this as a tool, not a crutch. Am I the norm...don't know...

Cousin just is 4 weeks out from VSG. She tried to eat a half of a ritz on Saturday and it got hung for  5 hours. All she can get down is water. Is she the norm...don't know...

You better do all the research on all of them and choose the lesser of what you are willing to deal with on the negative ends of them. Only listen to VALID surgeons advice. Stuff people say on the internet, myself included, is just that. personal experiences that may/may not have gone great or horribly wrong. Me personally, I chose the band because of this: adjustable, removable, non-permanent solution that offered me a slower more controlled weight loss. As my weight has come down, I have been able to maintain muscle mass and definition without having to supplement with much protein shakes (i think I have maybe drank like 3 since surgery).

I eat chicken, I eat ground turkey, I eat Wasa bread cracker pizza concoctions (((yummy yummy by the way))). The trick is with these things is to take the time to learn your band once it goes in and realize that you will not lose the weight as rapidly as a VSG or RNY. 1 or 2 pounds a week (and maintained) is about where I was comfortable at.

Every one of these WLS will come with its own little bag of surprises.