Bypass or Lapband

So up until yesterday I had my decision set on bypass, and today I am lost.....  Yesterday I visited with the Medical Director, Nut, and Psyc and all three seemed to push the Lap Band over the bypass.  I had not even research the Lap Band because that was not an option that I was looking at, and now it is.  Anyone have any advice on  which to chose?

I really don't have any advice on how to choose. I want the lap band , but my insurance will only pay for the bypass. The weight loss on lap band is much slower-which is actually aomething I liked about it. I think for me it would be better because I have been succesful with diet plans that focus on reducing your oveall intake of food, my problem is I was always hungry, and I think the lap band would help me with this. Also I do not yet have any co-morbidities. My surgeon told me that for people with diabetes that the bypass is the best because in many cases it cures the diabetes, whereas the lap-band does not. For the lap-band it is minimally invasive, and I have heard it is an out patient proecedure. I really wish my insurance would pay for it.  I would just suggest that you research both, and talk to people who have had both (there are forums for both surguries on this site) discuss it with your surgeon, and then just go with your gut. Good Luck!

I'm always going to recommend the lap-band and here's why.  It's less invasive.  You lose slower so your skin doesn't get as loose (because it gives your body a chance to adjust, where RNY you lose so fast, your body just gets extra skin with no where for it to go).  You won't have to deal with malabsortion and malnutrition like you will with RNY.  With RNY, you stretch out your stomach and can gain it all back.  With band, that can't happen - you just keep tightening the band and you're good for life or until you hit maintenance.  The only thing better about RNY is that you lose it faster.  You really do.  But that wasn't a good enough reason for me to pass up all the other pro's of lap-band.  Hang out on the lap-band board for a little while and ask some questions.  I'm on that board all the time.  PM me if you have any Q's.  

Exactly!!!... Although its up to you to make the choice  As with any surgery there are many pros and cons to each...  You know what would be best for you! I choose lapband for all the reasons above. It just seemed like the better choice

Thank you to everyone for their great insight!!  Let me explain this situation a bit more of what was told to me yesterday.... I am a Kaiser of Northern California patient.  With that, Kaiser covers and does both RNY and Lap Band.  Now, Kaiser has only started doing the Lap Band in February of this year, before that only RNY was covered by them. Now when I spoke to the Medical Director of the Bariatrics department she asked me why I wanted Bypass..   Being that I had not even looked into the band, that was one reason.  Another was that I don't know how I feel about having the band in my body. Due to my body size, successful weight loss since orientation, and age she recommended that I have the band.  One reason being the vitamins that have to be taken by RNY patients for the rest of their lives.  She said if I was forty she would recommend RNY, but since I am twenty can I see myself taking the vitamins for the next 40 to 60 years?  But if I am not mistaken, you still have to take vitamins with the band too... The Nut really said the same thing as the MD. The Psyc said that right now, with the RNY, the success rate is 50% at ten years out, and that the other 50% has regained almost all body weight back.

I just realized we are only 2 hours apart...... Anyway,  That is why I chose lap band as well... They told me that I would be taking vitamins the rest of my life and I am only 22..  The reason why I want WLS is to get off all my pills, although vitamins arent a "medicine"  it is still a pill that I will be taking everyday. ONCE I started pursuing the lap band, my Nut reccommended taking a special Post bariatric vitamin, 4 times a day!!!  She said its not ness. for me, BUT it would be best.  So, i have been taking it now and its not all that bad...  Since I cant have MILK I have low low calcium levels, now its pretty normal... Kick ass! So, again its all up to you what you would perfer... Having a forgien object in you doesnt sound that appealing,  but remember if it doesn't work out later down the road, it can be taken out.

There is another option, if you're willing to fight for it... The Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy; now, I don't know if Kaiser has EVER approved it, but many insurances are.  With any surgery there are side effects; and for me, the scary ones I've heard of about the Lap-Band (erosion, causing severe infections, sliming, projectile burping) and the RNY (strictures, obstructions, malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies) just turned me off. So I'm going with the VSG and I'm fighting for it. It seems to be an easier surgery, with less complications, and with weight loss comparable to that of the RNY.  It also doesn't have the rerouting that goes with the RNY, which made me happy. Don't mess with my guts more than you have to, is my motto. :o) Also with the LapBand, it takes constant, FOREVER, maintenance.  You will have to get fills, unfills, etc. If you change insurances, will the new insurance cover fills on your band? If you move, will you be able to find a doctor AND insurance that will help you maintain the band? Are you prepared to deal with the possibility of slippage, the port flipping, and even worse, erosion of the band into your stomach lining, and the severe repercussions of that? These are things that I don't think they tell you when you're in the programs. I'm not trying to talk you out of the band; just giving you things to think about. You should read these two profiles of banders who had erosions and now have the VSG and are incredibly happy with the change: Womble, AKA Kylie and Debrat262 That's not to say that the band and the RNY aren't appropriate for some people, but for  me and my situation, they were not options. As for loose skin, it's been suggested that whether you lose fast or slow, genetics, age, and how long you've been obese and how fast you gained the weight have more to do with how loose your skin will be after weight loss.

I was going to suggest VSG as well, but meg beat me to it!

I am 2 days postop, and feeling really well.

Many people think they have only 2 options, but really there are more options out there. Do your research! Good luck!