Vsg vs. Lapland... Any opinions.

 I am BMI 36 with co morbidities and am trying to decide which surgery is best for me. My father had the sleeve and is very happy, and my bff had the lap band and struggles with it but thinks I am crazy for even contemplating such a drastic surgery as the sleeve when I 'only' need to loose 90 pounds. What surgeries have worked the best for you and would you do it again?

Lots of opinions. Everybody has one :)

The stats on the sleeve for weight lost and regain are better than the lapband, and you don't have to worry about having a foreign object in your body that might slip at any time, or worse, erode into your stomach down the line. Plus the endless fills and unfills.

I actually think you answered your own question when you said your father is happy with his sleeve but your bff struggles with the lapband. Maybe bff just doesn't want you doing better?

Lots of lap banders NEVER lose even close to 90 pounds, let alone keep it off. 90 pounds is not an "only" kind of weight loss. It might be different if you "only" had 20 or 30 pounds to lose. 90 is the difference between normal BMI and morbid obesity, as you clearly already know.

Why does bff see the sleeve as drastic? It's just your own fully functioning stomach only smaller. It's done as a  lap surgery just like the band.

If I had to choose between the band and the sleeve, it would be the sleeve all the way. But only YOU can make that decision. Read everything you can get your hands on about the complications and success rates of any surgery you're considering.

I have a DS so I cannot speak directly to the sleeve only,  except that I have one as part of my surgery. I would not trade my surgery for any other, but if I had to choose between the lapband and the sleeve, it would be a no brainer. I see lots of people with a sleeve who do very well. I see lots of lap banders who do not. Look around the boards. Check out the revisions board in particular.

Good luck with your decision.

Sleeve.

but if your insurance won't pay for one, mine won't, then consider RNY which most will cover.  I lost 106 and have been thrilled with my RNY.

Sleeve. While this is a very personal decision, for myself, there is no way I would have a foreign body placed around my stomach, especially with the growing acknowledgment of the many complications that occur after several years (slipping, eroding through the stomach, for starters). For me this was a no-brainer, and I've been very pleased with my sleeve.

With the sleeve (and DS), the levels of ghrelin are dramatically reduced which helps reduce the sense of hunger, which the band does not address. And, of course, the RNY is the tried and true method known for years.

Oh, then there are the required adjustments of the band with fills and unfills. Keep this in mind when thinking of overall cost.

Which ever surgery you chose, research thoroughly, and do not fall for the 'reversible' selling point of the band. There are many on this board who have shared their poor outcomes with the band.

Welcome aboard! 

What are your eating demons?

Do you eat one big meal a day and don't snack? The band may be fine if it doesn't erode or slip.

Addicted to sugar and want negative reinforcement not to eat sugar and fat...and need help with overeating? The RNY may be enough.

Are you a grazer and pick and nibble all the time? You may do better with a DS.

Not sure but you're otherwise healthy and can exercise--just need help to control your hunger and volume? The sleeve may be fine.

--gina

 I know very few happy banders.  I thought I wanted one until I started hanging out at lapbandtalk dot com and saw how much people struggled.  As soon as I heard of the sleeve, I knew it was the surgery for me.  In two years, I've only seen my surgeon for regular check ups.  I've not had any complications.  Back to work on day seven.  The band folks were going for fill.  Unfill, ,revision.

You may have 90 to shed today but has your weight gone up in the last few years?  How successful have you been with maintenance in the past? The sleeve makes it so much easier to be successful.  It takes work, but any weight loss plan does.

 While stomach cutting sounds drastic, I figured a heart attack or stroke sounded even more drastic.

Keep asking questions.  You're in the right place.  Welcome!

I really try to avoid which surgery is best as it is such a personal decision. However, I have read a ton and would really not recommend the lap band due to many complications and many people needing to seek revision due to this and lack of weight loss. I initially thought of the band due to having a low BMI....but with research chose RNY. Sleeve wasnt an option on my insurance. You may want to check with your insurance company as many will do ONE WLS surgery and if the band failed, insurance may not pay for a revision. Many bandsters later chose a sleeve and I think the sleeve will eventually replace the band all together.

I wish you the best of luck with this decision. Many of us do not feel that ANY WLS is wrong when a lightweight in the WLS world.

Good luck!

~~Jennifer

 Thank you for all of the advice. I am constantly hungry, never feel full, and eat a lot of everything. I can loose 10-20 lbs dieting, but always regain it and more. Sugar, carbs, and dairy are mu weaknesses. I have yoyo dieted for as long as I can remember starting at 9 when my doctor told me I was over using a muscle... My jaw muscle! I am drawn to the sleeve as it helps with the hunger aspect and doesn't mess with absorption. 

So good to see that you are here and asking questions! Like Price said...sometimes insurance will be your limiting factor. My surgeon thought I was a great candidate for Sleeve, but insurance covered lapband or RNY. After talking with my surgeon (who isn't a fan of the band even though he does them) I went with the RNY and haven't regretted my decision.  I will be at the one year mark next month. I was shooting for 90 pound loss, but currently at 78 pounds and couldn't be happier! 

Hard to believe what a difference a year has made....this decision has changed my life for the better in so many ways. Remember that you don't have to go through this alone, this lightweight board has been such a blessing....positive and constructive feedback with no one ever judging. I love that!!

Best wishes to you in your decision!

 I chose the sleeve because when I went to the doctor's office and saw the band I freaked...i didn't want that thing in my body..also I think...not sure...but eventually bands have to come out...for some reason or other...but I may be wrong..there are usually complications of some sort with them...lots of maintenance...and the sleeve is permanent...and 90 pounds is not a small amount of weight to loose. Don't minimize it just because the insurance companies do and the clothing manufacturers make clothes out of stretchy material so we can fool ourselves into thinking we are not obese..
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