This is my ONLY reason for not promoting the Lap Band

  You are exactly right. 

I have told everyone that works with me, that wanted to get the LapBand after seeing my weightloss to NOT do it.  The MAIN reason is that we don't have any bariatric surgeons around here.  I have to travel 4 hours one way to see my doc and get a fill.  If I am having problems, I put it off because I have to take the entire day off of work, spend the gas money, etc.  

Albuqueruque FINALLY got a LapBand surgeon a couple of years ago, but it's with another insurance provider than what I have. 

If getting in to see your surgeon is a pain, if coming up with the money to keep up with your band is a problem, then please DO NOT get a LapBand. 

I am revising to the VSG because my band and I aren't getting along most of the time.  I am glad you have a better relationship with yours and are making good choices!!

Thanks Melly. Yes so far so good.  Best of luck on your upcoming surgery.

When I was a year out my surgeon said at my office visit.  Oh I am going into private practice just around the corner in Beverly Hills.  You will be coming with me - yes.  I said as long as you take my insurance I'll be there.  LOL

So about 3 months go past and I am due for a check up.  I call his new office and was told that he is not in network and that I will have to pay $$ for the visit.  I thought well that is just crap and I started to make some inquires locally.  Absolutely no doctor would take me on as a patient because I had my surgery with someone else.  This made me so mad because I thought " what is the point of having the lap band if I cannot get the aftercare that I need.  Long story short I call the hospital where I had the surgery and was told " once a patient of Ceders you are a patient for life"  Yah !!

So the funny thing is that my fills are covered 100% at ceders and my office visit with my surgeon are covered , but if he does a fill I need to pay.  So it is off to Ceders for me.   This is an all day event as well.  It is a 2 hour drive to LA.  15 minutes to find parking and a walk up to the office to get checked in.  Then down to the ground floor walk over  to the imaging center, and wait up to 1 hour for the fill, then the walk back to the car and a 2.5 hour drive home in traffic.  But because I don't have any out of pocket I Will do this.  Funny how money is a big factor in what I will do in my life lol

I am extremely lucky that my kids are grown, and I have a pretty fantastic boss that allows me as much time off as I need.  If I did not have this flexibility in my life it would be a real pain fitting in the after care, and I can see how some people would put it off because they just don't have the time to spare.

You are oh so right about insurance and there is no guarantee that someone else won't change your insurance on you. That's what happened to me at 1 yr. out, my insurance was changed to a different co. and the bariatric coverage was dropped. So I was stuck with $225 for each fill and unfill!!! Being retired and on a limited income there was nothing I could do but stop getting fills and unfills. Then I statrted having issues with the band tightening so my only recourse was to get completely emptied. You never know what is going to change in your life whether you want it to or not!

Hislady, this is my point exactly.  I just hate hearing stories on here that people have been having warning signs for years , and just let it go on. 9 times out of 10 it is usually because they have had a change in insurance.  Insurance coverage has to be a major factor in all the WLS choices.  But the other surgeries are a permanent change to the anatomy, and if things go wrong you really don't have a choice about getting the problem seen to  asap.  Lapbanders seem to put there health down the bottom of the to do list.  I am exactly the same.  If it means food on the table and the power bill being paid, you better believe that my needs will come last.

I just don't think people give the maintenance side of  the lap band serious enough thought.  If you cannot get your band adjusted it really is just a piece of silicon around your tummy , and not doing the job it is designed to do.

When you have great insurance coverage like me, I never think twice about keeping appointments and getting the care I need. 

But money talks.  My husband and I make pretty good money, but would what I would call  the working poor.  Life just keeps getting more expensive and the bills just won't stop. 

And we did not win the Lotto last night , so it is back to work for both of us on Monday to keep paying the bills.

I was listening to someone who had GOP talk about the price of their supplements and how they need to develop cheaper ones because its something they have to take every day for the rest of their lives. I guess there will be "maintenance" issues with both surgeries.

You bring up a good point.  With the Lapband we are only required to take ( I can only speak for myself on this) a multi vitamin & Calcium with Vit D daily.  For most people this is very affordable.  It cost me around $16.00 for the 2 and it usually last me 6 - 8 weeks. That is it.  I have been adding a B12 daily for the last 2 weeks and have notice a difference in my attention span.  This is good as I need this lol

The other surgeries require vitamin supplements as well.  I am sure I read on here the average daily supplement regime for the DS is 22 supplements a day, which I think someone said was around $50.00 a month.  I would be one of those who would put a household bill before supplements any day.

When I have my annual physical with my PCP my lab work is just for the normal stuff ( ie: sugar, cholesterol, etc)  My annual lab panel my barriatric Dr requests is huge, as it test all my vitamin levels as well as other stuff.  The last one I had, billed my insurance over $3500.00.  Without insurance I am sure I just would not have this done and keep telling myself "your fine you don't need that"