Are you deciding between Lap-Band and RNY?? Read This...

If you are weighing the Pro's and Con's between Lap-Band and RNY, check out my results. Lap Band Installed January 30, 2007 Checked in to Hospital at 7:00am, on my way home at 3:00pm Starting weight 389.0 Today's weight 306.8 82.2# Gone forever in 3 months Starting waistline 60" Current waistline 48" 12" Gone forever in 3 months Starting BMI 57.44 Current BMI 45.30 Dropped 12.14 points from Body Mass forever Energy levels unlike anything I can remember, Osteo Arthiritis pain in my knees subsided to the point that I don't require pain meds... These are my results in 3 months... Your results may vary, but for my experiance.... Lap-Band!!

Thanks for the opinion I am actually trying to decide whether to do the Lap RNY or Lap Band and reading your post furthered my  journey towards the band.

Thanks!  I am going to get the Lap Band as soon as the insurance gets back with the approval.  I guess I was still around 60/40 for the band over rny until I met with the surgeon.  He believes either will work great for me, but that the lap band is a great surgery.  Lap band success stories from guy's really do help. On the regular board it is mostly women and they seem to lose slower.  Quite a few of them only have bmi's around 40.  And let's be honest they face a few different problems than we do.  I am about 54 bmi and want to get it down a couple of notches before the surgery. 

Sorry dude, you are still in the honeymoon stage.  I had to laugh when you said the words "gone forever"!!  It is just not true with lap band.  If you look at the numbers you will see a huge percentage of lap banders returning to their old weights.  For many, they loose some but not as much as RNY.  Lap banders learn very quickly how to cheat on their diets.  That is a known fact.  RNY if you cheat, you get sick to your stomach.  RNYers for the most part loose their hunger pains, lap banders don't.  Lap banders have to get adjustments all the time.  Good luck if you doctor quits or retires.  Try and find a Dr. to do the adjustments, it can be done but not every easy.  Some people have to travel hundreds of miles for adjustments.  Both are not without their problems, but for the majority of people RNY is the way to go.  I would also go to support groups with both there, see how they look...My 2 cents  Brian 

Let's not get into an "us vs. them" debate on this board. There is way too much of that on the OH boards in general and I would like to safe from that here. Just my thoughts. The band was right for me and I have been very successful with it, but the truth is that 5 years out Lap Band and RNY have virtually the same success rates. Its a personal choice of how you want to get there.

Neil, Thanks for the voice of reason! I was just sitting here debating how I wanted to respond to stop the flame wars that appeared to be erupting. All I intended to do was present my opinion based on my limited experience. I too agree that statistics show that at 3-5 years out there is virtually no difference between bandsters that use their tool correctly, or RNY's that do likewise. Everyone chooses what is correct for them. I chose the Band due to its much lower mortality rate from surgery, as well as the procedure is more easily reversable in the event of medical necessity down the road. I was not interested in the ultra quick weight loss that RNYers experience in the beginning as I want to give my skin maximum recovery time. I am in my decision for the long haul. I didn't opt for a magical operation to make weight dissapear, I opted for the best tool that I felt I could get maximum benifit from. I applaud those who chose RNY and have had great long term success, it just wasn't the correct tool for me.  Bottom line, everyone has to make their own decisions. All we (As WLS patients) can do is offer our positive viewpoints on why we made our personal decisions, and not trash other procedures just because they were not our surgery of choice. Against some other's opinions... my results are forever... I am not going back to the old lifestyle that put me in the position to require WLS. I would never offer negative criticism to anyone on this board for the decisions that they make, and was quite shocked to see negative criticism leveled at me. My initial post was stating my opinions, and I stick by them. My advise to others is, present your positive results so others can make an informed decision. They can find all of the negative on every WLS available with any search engine. We don't need that here in the locker room. Just my 2 cents worth.

No problem. I think its good that we are all passionate about our own WLS. Its what drives us to success. No harm, no foul  As you can see, I am a huge band advocate. SOunds like your doing great. Keep it up.

Oh yeah......  Well my Doudenal switch is way better than your Lap Band or RNY. Just ask me... I'll tell ya. And..... My Dad can beat up your Dad