Which is the most effective: lap band, gastric bypass or gastric sleeve?

I love this answer, when a patient asked a surgeon this question..

Answer:

YOU ARE

It isn't the surgery that is effective, it is the patient. While the bypass will lose most weight in the first year, followed by the sleeve, then the band- it is an average. What counts most is how you use the tool - I've had patients lose all their weight in a year with all of these operations, and patients who have lost none. The key- change your eating habits, healthy food, small portions

Absolutely TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I see this with my co-workers (I am the only Banded one).

-And 1 has RNY and definately has a Food Obsession . Everyone at works knows you had better save her a piece of whatever comes into work place, even if it makes her sick, she'll eat it. I NEVER see her eat her protein first! Eats alot of crap!!!!!!

-The other one Also RNY and has gained it all back. Not unusual to see her toting a Wendys bag or McD's.

-A friend with a SLEEVE after 18 months is struggling.

-A personal friend of mine lost her Band this past January. But she had put to practice her new lifestyle habits ( healthy eating, exercise, small portions) and I am happy to report she is doing FANTASTIC! Gained 5 pounds, but when she had her Band problems got scarey skinny, so the added 5 pounds looks good on her.

I know I have to fight my demons!!!!!!!! Its ALLLLLL in our HEAD!!!!! We gotta do the work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And definately need the exercise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its about a lifestyle.

Thanks for posting Naomi

prek3

Absolutely true. Wls is, as we all know, a tool. If you won't use the tool the surgery was a waste of time, money, and risk to health.

I made it a priority before I got my band, to use that tool to the best of my ability. I did pretty well, falling into old habits only sometimes. I had my old compulsions bother me enough that when told my band had to be taken out  I was terrified to try it with out a tool. Since I had loved my band so much I felt I would feel the same way about my sleeve. I will love it sooner or later, I think, but it has been a huge adjustment. I am just grateful to have been given two tools and will try to  work this one well. I still seek to go further along in the journey toward a healthful lifestyle. Any wls can help and any wls can fail. It is our choice.

absolutely true. i tell my friends this all the time when they inquire about WLS. they see it as my "fix" and every time it comes up i have to explain it most definitely is not a fix. it's only a tool. only a few have any inkling of what's involved and have seen me struggle with it, especially in the beginning.

Naomi,

When I saw the title of this thread, I thought (not for the first time), that a bomb was about to explode on this forum! But I love that surgeon's answer, and I think it's absolutely true. But....it's an answer that many WLS patients find hard to hear. So maybe if we keep repeating it, over and over, the message will finally get through. One of the big benefits of WLS for me has been the small miracle of feeling empowered in managing my weight and health.

Jean

I AGREE WE ALL ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR USING OUR TOOLS. BUT THE QUESTIONS IS IF YOU DO YOUR PART THEN WHICH ONE IS MOST EFFECTIVE. I HAVE LAPBAND AND IT WORKED FOR A LONG TIME BUT THEN IT STOPPED AND NO MATTER WHAT I DO IT ISN'T WORKING ANYMORE. ITS BEEN UNFILLED AND FILLED. I GOT THE BAND AS A TOOL TO HELP I DO MY PART. I GOT SURGERY BECAUSE DIET AND EXERCISE ALONE DOESN'T WORK FOR ME. SO WHICH ONE IS MORE EFFECTIVE WITH THAT IN MIND?? I THINK THATS THE REAL QUESTION.

ShareBear,

You are right, if your tool DOES NOT WORK, you can't work it! I hear that a lot of lap banders have problems finding restriction after pregnancy, you may want to reach out to the pregnancy board and ask other lap banders of the problems they experienced.

First thing you need to find out if your band is still healthy, meaning no slippage or dilations, if your band no longer works there is usually a problem with it, and you need to get some testing done to find out if there is a a problem.  Otherwise, you may just need a little bit more fill and tweaking, sometimes it takes a while to get back to a good spot if you were unfilled during pregnancy, the sweet spot that you had previously may be at a different level this time around, the stomach is a dynamic moving beast.

Good luck!