Hell, these people scare me. LOL. Here is what I would take away from these posts if I were exploring options... 

#1 - Remember these are people on the Intranet. Take any advice, complaints, compliments, successes and failures with a grain of salt. You don''t know their situations, their history, their goals, their strengths, weaknesses, health history. People's opinions are built on all of  these and more. Use these posts as research.

#2 - Make sure you can trust your surgeon's advice and guidance. Pose open and direct questions to him/her. If you don;t think he/she is shooting straight, go find another. You need to trust this person and their experience. I know your surgeon is much wiser than me and most likely others on this board. It's their job and reputation at stake. The people here are again just people on the Internet,

#3 - Find a local support group and attend  their meetings. You will find a good cross section of people there that will paint a better picture. There will be successes and failures, those happy and unhappy. You can read a person better in person and be able to paint a better picture.

Best of luck on your choices. As someone said earlier, surgery of any type is a major event. There are risks and rewards. Look out for yourself and follow your heart.

Tom 

I wouldn't wish the band on my worst enemy. My surgeon assured me this would help me lose weight even tho I can't exercise. Well I followed the rules to the T and did what little bit of exercise I could and wow I lost all of 20 lbs the first year. Then it stopped and after 2 years I started getting the reflux and tight band even with no fill. Finally after 3 years I had my band emptied because I couldn't stand the reflux and discomfort eating. I haven't gained all my weight back but it is taking a great deal of work to keep with in the 5 lb range I allowed myself to gain. The farther out I get the harder it is and I can easily see regaining the few lbs I lost. I did all the things I was told to do by my surgeon yet here I am no better off than I started. I get very tired of people referring to it as a tool, it makes me want to take my other tool (a wrench) and smack them on the head with it. Tools break and you have to have the right tool for the job or it won't work! Please reconsider the band it is NOT what the manufacturers say it is!

then again, for most people it is.........

I'm just sayin that there are many more people that are happy with their band than are dissatisfied.

Really?

Where do you get those statistics?

Well Michelle, That actually wasn't a statistic, but I have seen the data in many places.

I'm not trying to erase your experience...If you band go bad,  then it's 100% to you; but many people have a life changed beyond their dreams with the band.

After several years the numbers of weight loss are fairly similar with banding and bypass. There is a wider range of how much weight is lost with the band.

here's an older study, (and I can show you a lot more if you really want.)


J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 1999 Feb;9(1):23-30.

Laparoscopic gastric banding for morbid obesity.

Weiner R, Wagner D, Bockhorn H.

Source

Chirurgische Klinik, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. [email protected]

Abstract

Morbid obesity is a serious disease that is responsible for several comorbid conditions. Body mass indices > 40 require surgical procedures if diet programs fail. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), a more recently introduced gastric restrictive procedure, was designed to be a minimally invasive and reversible operation. 184 patients (164 women, 20 men) with a mean body mass index of 47.8 kg/m2 (range 36-79) were operated on. All patients had been excessively overweight for > 5 years. Each patient was given general anesthesia, and an adjustable LAP-BAND was implanted laparoscopically. The pouch size was 15 ml in all cases; and 3-4 sutures were placed to prevent dislocation. The conversion rate was 0%. The median operating time was 65 min (range 45-190). The mortality was 0%. The mean hospital stay was 5 days (range 4-6). The mean excess weight loss was 16% in 4 weeks, 23% in 3 months, 31% in 6 months, 58% in 1 year, and 87% in 2 years. The patient satisfaction index was 97.6%. Once a surgeon has acquired the necessary laparoscopic surgical experience, LAGB is a feasible, safe, and simple procedure with excellent postoperative results. LAGB does not permanently modify the anatomy of the stomach and maintains the natural continuity of the alimentary tract, while at the same time ensuring a steady weight reduction in morbidly obese patients. The fact that the gastric band can be applied sentenceopically is a significant advantage in this group of high-risk patients, who have less pain, faster postoperative recovery, more rapid return to normal activities, fewer wound infections, fewer hernia problems, and better cosmetic results. The rate of postoperative complications is approximately 9%. In 1.1% of patients, erosion occurred, and in 2.2%, slippage of the band. The rate of port-related complications was 3.2%. Reoperations were necessary in 6.4% of the patients.

(I bolded that one sentance for you)

once again, I'm not saying all bands turn out great, but they do help many, many people.

I am going on 7 years post op, I rarely post here, but I will try to help out

Pros:

1. No complications or hospitalizations
2. Went from a size 26 to size 10
3. No vitamin deficiencies
4. No long term illness with my band
5. Can eat all the foods I ate prior to banding, only difference I cannot eat much
6. I don't get sick from eating food
7. Good health
8. I can always get a fill, if I start to gain weight years out, you can't do this with the Sleeve or RNY.

Cons:

1. For me, the first few years, I had many fills, this was necessary due to my starting weight.
2. Fills can be tricky, sometimes it takes going back and forth to get it right, fills are not an exact science.
3. Fills can get costly, depending on your insurance.
4. Because the band is safer, you have to do more work upfront to lose weight.
5. The band will never restrict candy, chips, greasy foods, cookies and most junk food, you will have to control this, unfortunately this is the downfall to many who fail the band.

PS. I have not had a fill in about 2 years, I am at a comfortable level of restriction which still varies depending on my mood, temperature, higher elevations, etc, there will always be a level of ebb flow with the band, but my restriction is pretty much consistent depending on what I eat.

The only foods that I have a problem with is thick bread and Chinese food, I still cannot eat but about 1 to 1-1/2 cup of food per meal. I am still happy with my band going on 7 years, I still have my original band and all parts and it is still working and restricting my food at nearly 7 years.

Also, remember there are MANY long term bandsters that never post -- we don't need support since we don't have complications, only a few hang around who are not happy with their results or had complications post here to share their dissatisfaction, which is OK, it gives different perspectives on the band, but there are many that are happy like me.

My story is not meant to encourage or discourage you- just simply my story. I have had no complications per sey with the band. However, I found that sweet spot you hear about elusive. I would be hungry, go in for a small fill and then be sick. I was in a good spot for a few weeks at a time, but overall it hasn't been the tool I hoped it would be. All that being said, I was successful in loosing the weight, I think the amount of money I paid for surgery was a huge motivator. I wish I had given "dieting" one more time before I had surgery, I hadn't tried to loose weight in years. Just my experience, everyones seems different.

I've had the lap band since 2009 and I've had times when it's the best thing I've ever done and other times when I've felt like a complete failure. I have lost, regained, lost and regained. I have never reached my goal weight    BUT    I love my band. The best advise I can give you is to buy the book "BANDWAGON"  by Jean McMillan (last name might not be spelled right).
I think everyone who is considering lap band should buy this book and I definately think everyone who has the surgery should either be given one by their surgeon or told to buy it. I bought the book 2 weeks ago by mail and have had it about 1 week. I am reading the book beginning at page one as if I've never had the band. I'm half way thru it and I have to tell you I feel like I'VE WASTED 2 YEARS of having my band because if I would have known what I've learned this past week in the beginning, I know I would be at goal. The book has litterally educated me, motivated me and changed my life with the band.
Please... if you are considering the lap band, get the book. I don't know this woman. I have no reason to tell you this except that the band is a wonderful tool that I self payed for, have no regrets of having it even though I've failed my band by not educating myself correctly and making poor food and exercise choices but  after reading this book I know beyond a shadow of a doubt I can do it now. I just didn't have the knowledge, support and understanding of this tool I have inside of me.

 I suggest you go read the failed surgery, and revisions board here at OH. Also, look up some studies (not that one above that is over a decade old, and had no patients over 2 years out - that is useless). I wish I'd read more before I chose the band. My insurance now has a one WLS per lifetime clause, even if they didn't pay for the first one! I'm screwed, unless I win the lottery.

At least I feel better knowing I'm with the majority in that 60% reoperation rate. GAH.

March 21, 2011
Long-term Outcomes of Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding

Jacques Himpens, MD; Guy-Bernard Cadière, MD, PhD; Michel Bazi, MD; Michael Vouche, MD; Benjamin Cadière, MD; Giovanni Dapri, MD 

Arch Surg. Published online March 21, 2011. doi:10.1001/archsurg.2011.45

Objective  To determine the long-term efficacy and safety of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) for morbid obesity.

Design  Clinical assessment in the surgeon's office in 2009 (12 years after LAGB).

Setting  University obesity center in Brussels, Belgium.

Patients  A total of 151 consecutive patients who had benefited from LAGB between January 1, 1994, and December 31, 1997, were contacted for evaluation.

Intervention  Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

Main Outcome Measures  Mortality rate, number of major and minor complications, number of corrective operations, number of patients who experienced weight loss, evolution of comorbidities, patient satisfaction, and quality of life were evaluated.

Results  The median age of patients was 50 years (range, 28-73 years). The operative mortality rate was zero. Overall, the rate of follow-up was 54.3% (82 of 151 patients). The long-term mortality rate from unrelated causes was 3.7%. Twenty-two percent of patients experienced minor complications, and 39% experienced major complications (28% experienced band erosion). Seventeen percent of patients had their procedure switched to laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Overall, the (intention-to-treat) mean (SD) excess weight loss was 42.8% (33.92%) (range, 24%-143%). Thirty-six patients (51.4%) still had their band, and their mean excess weight loss was 48% (range, 38%-58%). Overall, the satisfaction index was good for 60.3% of patients. The quality-of-life score (using the Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System) was neutral.

Conclusion  Based on a follow-up of 54.3% of patients, LAGB appears to result in a mean excess weight loss of 42.8% after 12 years or longer. Of 78 patients, 47 (60.3%) were satisfied,and the quality-of-life index was neutral. However, because nearly 1 out of 3 patients experienced band erosion, and nearly 50% of the patients required removal of their bands (contributing to a reoperation rate of 60%), LAGB appears to result in relatively poor long-term outcomes.

Author Affiliation: The European School of Laparoscopic Surgery, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Saint Pierre University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.