Fact or Fiction?

I had a person come to me asking about WLS. They are leaning toward a lap-band, which is certainly their prerogative. However, their rationale may be based upon a false or, at best, a shaky premise. Here's their reason: A RNY causes one to lose weight too rapidly. A lap-band will have the same net results over the long haul, and by losing (yea I could have typed loosing but I didn't because I know the difference) slower, they will be less likely to need PS down the road. Apart from the veracity of their assumption of long-term equivalence, does a slower loss rate actually translate into a lesser need for PS? Since many of you have been down the PS road, do you think that you would have benefited by a slower loss curve? Nowhere Man/PH/Jay

Fiction, I know many lap banders that have had to have PS. The only difference in the surgey and RNY is the malabsorption. They both are restritive and the banders do not have to worry so much about dumping. Banders usually do lose slower but has nothing to do with skin issues....... Darlene

Definitely fiction. AND, according to my surgeon, who now does both, RNY has a much better long-term success rate. Patty

Jay--I really have no research to back up my thoughts but that never stopped me before so I'll throw this out...I think that slower loss probably helps with the skin--especially for someone young or someone who has not been MO for a really long time. I noticed that sometimes it took my skin a little while to catch up while I was losing (note spelling)weight (the skin on my face is really where I noticed it). That being said--I don't think that just by choosing the lap band someone will avoid the need for plastics. Nothing can be done with skin that is already damaged. I'm not convinced that would be a good reason to choose the lap-band. BTW--you and I may have had this discussion before--but I really think the lap-band is a great option for people. I understand that it takes more "effort" which isn't necessarily a bad thing considering eventually the RNY requires "effort" too. I think the idea of being able to adjust the restriction over time makes sense. Good luck to your friend in their decision making.

Fact..lap band loss is slower. The rest of the stuff....fiction. I do believe as many others...once the skin has been stretched beyond its normal elastisty range for a period of time there is no bringing it back no matter how slow you go...think of your skin like a rubber band. You stretch it too far too many times it breaks. Even if you don't stretch it out as far each time it is still stressed enough that it breaks. I originally wanted lap band. I choose RNY because I knew I would not be happy with the slow lose from lap band. Although the RNY was no quick fix either. I always thought if I could accept the slower rate of loss I would have stayed on the path and had the lap band done. Its my inpatience with things that got in the way! Lots of luck going to your friend and their decision. Its a hard one that is for sure but when you know its right in your head...then its right no matter what you others think right?

I have heard of it...whether it is true or not is another story entirely. I can only speak from my own experience...I have always been 'big'...even in Kindergarten and just continued to get bigger. I lost 70+ pounds over nine months during my first pregnancy (pre-op) and trust me when I say that there were issues with extra skin then, as well; and, I was almost seven years younger at that time. I imagine that for *some* who may have not been overweight for a significant amount of time and are fairly young, the chance of not needing reconstructive surgery following a slower weight loss *may* be a possibility. Then again, I've seen some Lap Banders lose weight almost as quickly as those that have had RNY, some even faster...then there are the non-ops that lose weight and still need reconstructive surgery. If your friend is basing his/her WLS type decision on this issue alone, he/she may be sorely disappointed down the road. ~~Sherry

G'morning Jay - Based on my reality, age (45) and the amount of weight I had to "loose" (just for you Jay!) 230 pounds ....it didnt matter HOW fast or slow I lost it, there was no way in Hades this skin was ever gonna bounce back. You can't stretch out the abdominal area like I did (since I carried most of it there) for approximately 30 years and then expect it to shrink back. Kinda like a balloon - once it's been blown up, it NEVER regains it's original tight/firm/smaller shape! lol - so based on nothing but Lei-Logic? It's fiction! Enjoy your day - (goooooooooooo SEAHAWKS) Lei

"Base on my reality"? Now there's an oxymoron for ya! As a kind of general response to all, I largely. I just wanted to see if that was what others were thinking. Our company is covered by AETNA, and they cracked the door on the LapBand w/ a policy bulletin update on 01/27/2006. Under some cir****tances, they will now cover LapBands, sort of. I shall pass along your best wishes, but also the concern that their thinking may not pass muster w/reality. J

Hey there you cutey-patootey! You didn't finish your thought process..... "I largely....." ? Based on the rest of your comments, it appears you agree. Im sure the SEAHAWKS [soon to be win] just has ya' frazzled.

I have a new laptop and the touch pad and I are still getting acquainted. Occasionally the cursor gets bumped around with my ham-handedness. And yes, I am in agreement with what was written. I just think it unwise to ask for for opinions and state one's in the same breath. To do so is to invite debate from the get-go. Instead, let everyone get their ideas out and then let the melee ensue. J (do you have your Steeler black ready to wear when your Seahawks are dead and buried somewhere in the third quarter?)