Question:
How do you decide which type of surgery to go for?

I'm trying to decide if I want to have a scar and a 20% chance of a hernia in May, or should I wait a few more months and have it without the scar and a 2% chance of a hernia, not to mention cutting the recovery time in half. Only drawback is I already have an abdominal scar. What do you think? My family thinks I should wait.    — Donna L. (posted on April 6, 2001)

April 6, 2001
Well I am getting a lap band but look at things this way. I was fat a lifetime and certinally would like everything ovr with NOW, but think its better to wait a bit to get what I WANT.
   — bob-haller

April 6, 2001
I had the Lap RNY and was very happy with it because the recovery time was almost nothing I was feeling better in a couple of days after the surgury and there are only 6 tiny cuts to make. I would wait. But everybody does things differently. You have to do what is right for you.
   — vanessa R.

April 6, 2001
Donna, The only thing I can advise is to do lots and lots of research. I am having the DS open because I feel that I am too large to have the lap. It works well for a lot of people and some Surgeons are starting to do it on larger people. I had a friend that had some complications from the lap when it was still(and some say it still is) in the experimental stage. If I was a little bit smaller I might consider the lap because it would be less scarring. It just depends on what is right for you. Your doctor should be able to give you a lot of insight also. There are so many procedures out there. I have researched for 2 years before finally making a decision and deciding on a sugeon. It is a very important decision to make so just make sure it's the right one for YOU. I hope everything works out well. Keep us posted!
   — Kim B.

April 7, 2001
My mind gets blown reading some of these questions! The major concern you should have is regarding the safety of the procedure and how many of each of the procedures has your surgeon done... not which one leaves the smallest scar. If my surgeon was not able to do a lap RNY in his sleep with one arm behind his back, but he could do the Open with such ease... then that would make up my mind for me. Practice makes perfect and it gets proven in the stats time and time again. When a surgeon does the same operation consistently his patient complication and mortality rates are lowered. Let your doctors experience guide you.
   — [Anonymous]