What made you choose Lap Band?

Though not the only consideration, cost was a factor for me as well. I was only factoring in ONE surgery though, so the cost looked good. When you factor in all the 2nd and 3rd............sometimes even 4th surgeries that many bandsters have to have you realize what you thought was the cost couldn't be further from the truth. According to the government subpoena of Allergan, they are stating a 50% removal rate at 6 years. Do you want to have your band replaced every 6 years???

Think twice, cut once!

My recovery from RNY was a piece of cake. Research the band all you can!!!

I went with the lapband because "it was minimally invasive". The term sounded good at the time. "It could be removed". I kind of knew about the complications but I had never had any other type of surgery in my life except a C-section. I invisioned a slip being something that could be easily fixed. Excuse my ignorence but I invisioned a band sitting around a piece of PVC pipe. I thought if it slipped, it could just be pulled back down into place, no big deal. Complications didn't sound very scary, especialy since I was tired of fighting with trying to get the weight off on my own, was fed up, and was so excited that I got insurance approval.

My hospital stay was maybe an hour and a half. Took 45 minutes for the surgery, the rest in recovery, and they literally walked me out the door. Follow ups? I had about 10 the first year. They charged my insurance $600 per visit. 8 were fills and 2 unfills.

I stopped losing weight after 6 months. I didn't know that was it. I kept strugglng trying to make it work. In April, I went for a fill. I could eat more than my usual cup but I was PB'ing and sliming a lot more and was having trouble getting liquids down, go figure. I told the PA at the appointment and they made me do a barium swallow. I found out I was dilated. They unfilled me a bit and I cried the whole 2.5 hours drive home (almost). They told me that if the dilation didn't go down, they would have to unfill me all of the way. I was really scared so I called my surgeon's office directly and made an appointment to see him. We talked about doing VSG and he sent me for an EGD. That showed I had a slipped band.

I had revision surgery one month ago to VSG. I am so happy and wish I had known more about it before the band. I honestly had never heard of it. It is everything the band was promised to be except I am not pb'ing, sliming, or regugitating food. With my band, I only lost 6lbs my first month and weighed 265 at the time. I fought for every one of the 65 lbs I lost with it. I gained 18 back waiting for the revision after they unfilled some of my band. Since revision surgery, I am down 22 lbs and hit onderland 4 lbs ago.

Had I known about the sleeve, I think I would have done it first. The minimally invasive hype is over rated. I wanted something that worked. The band was no good to me if I could not keep it as tight as I wanted to give me good restriction. I needed help mainly with over eating at night. The problem with my band was that it was super tight in the mornings when I didn't want to eat anyways, but almost non-existant at night when I needed the support. My band was fickle and would get tight for no reason. I had to drive a long distance for fills and unfills and sometimes I would have to wait weeks just to get an appointment to get in for the fill.

In all honesty, I was scared to have most of my stomach cut out. However, I don't miss it. I can only eat about a half a cup of food at a time but I was only used to eating a cup with the band. I have small bowls and plates I use and that becomes your norm pretty fast. You eat your small amount and are satisfied. I lovedmy band while it was working and I honestly do think it helped better prepare me for the mental aspect of grieving food, but when it stops working after only 6 months and you have complications, it's scary to think about having another surgery. For me, I felt like a failure (again) and wondered if the sleeve would even work. It has been awesome so far. I also know that I am very fortunate not to have had near as many complications as some people have had, and who can't afford to have their bands taken out. Now I see the revision as a blessing because if I didn't have the same insurance, I could have afforded the fills on my own and now I don't have to worry about it.

Good luck with your decision.

So what exactly happens when you have an adjustment? Are you awake for i****ching it happen? Does it hurt? are you sore for some time after an adjustment? Can you do physical things the next day?

 I'm really grateful for all of you that responded with your answers. Thanks.

It's a lot to take in, isn't it? I wish you the best in your research.  I hope you make the choice that's best for you.

 Thank you. LOL I know my post was short it was the 4th of July and I had to go.

I chose it because I thought it was the safest surgery and I probably wouldn't die on the O.R. table...

 I was self pay and it cost me about $16k. I think i had three fills total, all at $200. I lost about 65 pounds in the first year and platued on and off after that until I realized the platues were just my body's way of telling me I had gotten healthy enough to start moving again. I was banded six years ago and I'm still losing weight. I am 12 pounds from my goal and my only real worry is how I'm going to finance a body lift. Running and hiking got me through the last 50 pounds, the band had nothing to do with it. I learned about a year or so in how to cheat and it was total sabotage! I'm just so lucky it's taken me this long to get to goal because I know that I've totally changed my lifestyle and the way I think about exercise. I'm not sure that would've happened had I gone with RNY. 

Lap band was by far the best thing I've ever done.

Good luck!

Least invasive was one of the reason's for me, however what you definatly want to check is what does your surgeon charge for fills... with or without insurance. This was something I did not do. Found out quickly 4 months post op however. My surgeon is $375 for a consultation. It is $850 for an adjustment fill or unfill. Only if the unfill weeks before a fill actually kicks in. Least Invasive I don't think so.. everytime you go in for an adjustment you are opening up your skin with a needle, yes it is just a little ***** however if they don't get it the first time, and have to stick again, well that is just adding up to the chance of infection setting in. My surgery was covered 100% by insurance, as were adjustments afterwards, however, who plans on losing their job 4 months later. Which also means losing insurance, and without a job not being able to pay for COBRA either. It is just now almost 3 years later that I am getting PCIP coverage, to get the noose out and revise.