Laparascopic vs. Open Banded??? Help!!!!

UGH!!!! I just found out that my doctor that I have been working with since December has decided to not take insurance anymore.  Any my surgery date was set to be August 11th - as of June 20th my surgeon will only do out of network procedures!!!!  So now starts my search for a new surgeon!  I have narrowed it down to 2...Dr. Hans Schmidt and Dr. Nicholas Bertha.  Dr. Schmidt is my first choice since he works out of Hackensack.  But here is my problem....Both surgeons only do laparascopic Byass surgery.  I was set to do Open Banded Bypass surgery.  From what I was told, the success rate on the banded is much greater than the laparascopic!  Can anyone help shed some light on my situation and/or any suggestions???? Please Help, Danielle from NJ

I'm confused by your post.  Are you planning on Bypass or Lap Band.....in either case Laparascopic is state of the art Dr Mike

I am planning on the Bypass.  However, my initial doctor was going to do the open banded bypass surgery.  However since he has since stopped taking insurance I have to switch doctors.  The only doctors I can find that I want to trust only do the Bypass laparascopically.  I have heard that laparascopically is not as successful as the banded.... ???

hi sorry about your surgeon?  what do u mean by open banded?   i had a lap RNY two years ago and have lost 122 pounds successfully. in case case, i think you need to settle on a surgeon first and then discuss with him or her the type of surgery you will have. good luck, sorry about your insurance problems, insurance rules our world and it is sad. be well, jacki

I am pretty sure that Dr. Bertha does a majority of his surgeries laproscopically.  He only does open if he has to.    Personally, I left this decision to my surgeon.

Hey Danielle, I had open RNY and it was a last minute decision based on what my surgeon saw when he started to drill the holes for lap.  Most GBS now perform the lap proceedure.  You have to go with the surgeon you are most comfortable with and it sounds like you made the decision.  I don't know if there are any statistics to back up the open vs. lap.  I have my own personal opinion about it.   The standard answer that is given about open is that the surgeon has a better view of what is going on.  The downside is you are most likely to have an incisional hernia and with any kind of wound there is chance of infections.  With the lap those things above are less likely. I chose to go with my surgeon and I initally didn't even like him but I had faith in the hospital.  I also chose to go to a hospital  as I had a high BMI and was over 50.  I liked the reassurance of having all the specialist right there in case any thing happened.  I am two years out, have lost over 200 lbs.   Good luck, please keep us posted. Jeanne

Hi Danielle, I had Open Banded RNY with Dr. Ducheine in East Orange NJ.  He is a good surgeon.  I recommend that you call him, and see if he takes your Insurance. 973-674-4042.  For everyone that is wondering what Open Banded RNY is the surgeon adds an extra band around your stomach made out of some kind of mesh material, that is permanent.  It is not the lap band, it just fits around the pouch, it doesn't require fills or anything.  The reason for the band it stops the pouch at a certain point not allowing it to be streched out.  So you will only be able to eat a certain amount of food for the rest of your life.  The success rate is fantastic!!!  I had to pay an extra cash fee for this, but I believe it will be well worth it in the long run.  There isn't many surgeons who do this procedure.  My surgeon  had mentioned Dr. Capella in Hackensack also does this procedure.  The patients who have had this added band with in the last 5 years have maintained there weight.  I am very happy that my surgeon does this procedure.  I don't know Dr. Capella's number, but I noticed a lot of people on the boards who have had him as a surgeon.  So am sure someone will give you his number.  I heard he is a very good surgeon too.  Well I pray everything works out for you, let me know if I was able to help you. 

Melissa,

Thank you so much for answering.  Unfortuantely, Capella already IS my doctor, lol, and he is the one no longer taking any insurance!!!!  UGH!!!!

Thanks

Danielle

Hi Danielle, That's funny!!!!  Are you going to check out my surgeon?

Melissa, I'm really not sure.  What hospital does he work out of?  To be completely honest, my husband used to work out of East Orange and it is not my favorite place to go.....so I'm a little uneasy about that....