Asking a WLS Graduate that has experience with Lap Band please

Hi, Can you please tell me your experience with Lab Band Surgery? I am torn between RNY (the complications and mortality rates terrify me with that surgery) Lap Band appears "safer" but is it really as effective? Also, can you see a bulge in your tummy area from the band? This is a new idea for me and I would appreciate anyone that can, which has lived the live after Lap Band, to reply to me please.

I am a RNY patient, but have seen a few LapBanders. No, the Band will not show. There is a chance that the port (the mechanism by which saline is added/removed to adjust the band) might show but not likely. Most of us would never have skin so taught that it would occur. As to the LapBand vs RNY, there have been countless arguments/discussions regarding such. It falls largely upon the nature of your eating behaviors. I am quite satisfied with my RNY, having lost 150 pounds in the first 9 months and having maintained that loss for the last 340 months. Nowhere Man/PH/Jay

Darla , I will tell you this , You are the consumer here . And it will pay off in the end for you to continue to search for your answers . I do private preparedness consultations for WLS patients , and I am finding that the ones that are chooseing the Lap Band .. are struggling . The weight is taking forever to come off , and some are experiencing returns to the OR to have the band refitted or it is slipping . Every surgery has it disadvantages , and mortality rates . But I would strongly reccomend that you do your research .. RNY saved my life .. I have lost 200 pounds and am maintaining . I would also suggest to check out each surgeon that interest you . The first thing I asked was his mortal rate .. Also try out Lap Band forum here . Go to forums and search ALL , Best Wishes to you , Natalie

Hi Natalie, Who would have thought.....I have searched for "REAL" people all my life long and it's in this site that I have found where they are. I appreciate the tone of such sincerety and honesty in your reply. I want you to know that I am taking to heart what you said about RNY and I will continue to research, research, research........Thank you for taking the time to respond to my question. Respectfully, Darla

Im working my way towards being banded, so Im not exactly a WLS graduate. More like a freshman. :-p Id suggest joining the yahoo Bandster groups like: Bandsters, Smartbandsters, and Bandstersinsurance. Plus local, age, faith, and ethnic based bandster groups. There are thousands of Lap Band Grads and those in the process in those groups, I am a member of 5 of them. Besides the Yahoo groups, there are Band specific sites like: LapBand.com the offical site that will guide you through the process and give lots of technical info; Band2gether.net and Lapbandtalk.com. are message board sites that are run for and by Bandster grads. Those message sites are much more active and give a broader perspective on this WLS than the ones on OBesityHelp. However OH has helped me find a surgeon in my area and given me many insights on how to approach my insurance provider. Usually when I have a question I cross post it on most of the messageboards and group boards I belong to, including OH. I like a maximum number of responses. Side Note This site has an overwhelming majority of Gastric Bypasser to the # of Bandsters, so expect lots of bias. It is also important to note that the Band is newer than the Bypass so it would be natural that there are more GB grads than Lap Band Grads in general.

Thank you. I appreciate your reply.

I did consider the band at first. I chose the RNY because I did not want the maintenance and I wanted something permanant. Many insurance will not even cover the band so I would check that out before you spend all of your time on research.

Hi Terri, Thank you so much for your insite. I feel I'm reaching the same conclusion you did. Have a wonderful and successful week ahead. Darla

I'm not a fan of the LapBand. I used to think is was a great alternative but after watching so many people struggle with slow weightloss, weight regain and band slippage, band erosion and even band rejection, I've changed my tune. I can tell you that I have senn a huge influx of Lapband patients converting to RNY or even DS. Instead of LapBand, I call it BandAid. Cause that's all it is. It doesn's help those who have severe eating behavioral problems. You can easily out eat the surgery (You can with RNY and DS, but it's a lot harder). I've actually witnessed a Lapbander suck down a large chocolate shake from McDonalds then eat a big mac on top of it, then an hour later eat a learge piece of cheesecake. And this is the person that has come to me and complaiend that she has only lost 13 pounds since her lapband surgery last January. Huh? What the heck are you doing. You can't eat like that anymore. Why spend 12,000 bucks on Lapband and fail to follow your surgical protocols. I think some people think the band is going to "magically" help them loose weight. It doesn't. The main reason is because it may restrict your intake, but not the type of food you intake. With RNY, I can't have high fat, high sugar food. I just can't do it. Knowing that, I avoid them therefore I have changed my behavior. To give Lapbanders some credit, there are some success stories. Kudos to them. But to be honest, they are few and far between. Read the Lapband board. I lurk over there sometimes and people constantly complain that they don't have enough restriction or too much or their band has slipped or they have a port infection etc, etc, etc. For Long term results RNY or DS (Ds is especially good for BMI's over 50) are the way to go. Jane

Hi Jane, Well, your post has helped me reach the conclusion that I will proceed with the route of RNY. I too, want something permenant and view this as life long, knowing I need definate restrictions and the disipline the RNY will offer me for a very good and solid beginning. I know this is a TOOL, no doubt about it. I have been researching this with almost all of my free time for the last few months. So much to learn, so many bad habits to focus on and change. I should know if my insurance will approve this sometime early January. Also, after looking at my insurance policy, AETNA, they are not as PRO Lapband either. Only special cases will be considered for the Lapband. I would imagine it's because RNY has appeared to help more in the long run? Don't really know but even with that, I have made my decision to steer toward RNY. Thank you for your time and you look wonderful by the way. Darla