Question:
too much weight loss

I am wanting to have the Lap-band done. Is there a such thing as loosing too much weight they can stop it at a point right or wrong? I am 5"2 and weight 215-219 pounds I'm only trying to loose like 90 pounds..    — Lilmeme (posted on July 20, 2007)

July 20, 2007
Losing too much weight is generally not a problem. But, the band is adjustable. If you are losing too much weight, some of the saline can be taken back out to allow you to get more food in.
   — VickiStevens

July 21, 2007
Hi Lee, thanks for writing. Lap Band is easy to control the amount of weight you lose, if you lose well. What I mean by that is the lap band can be tightened so that your digestion of food in your small pouch slows down, so you are supposed to be full longer (head hunger aside), and when you lose the weight you want, then they can remove some of the fluid and open that hole so that you can eat more. That assumes that you have not developed eating issues that cause you to starve yourselve or binge and purge. Under normal circumstances it is a good way to control your weight. The thing about lap band vs rny is that there is no mal absorption to aid you in losing weight. It can cause you to lose slower or be discouraged when you expect the surgery to "work", when you need to realize that you need to "work". No matter which surgery you choose, it is always about diet and exercise, not surgery. The surgery is just a tool. The Lap Band is like a screwdriver, you twist and turn the screwdriver with your hand, and the lap band to fill with small amounts of food, and your body manually loses the weight with diet and exercise, just like before you had surgery,manually. RNY is like an electric screwdriver. It does some of the work for you , AS LONG AS YOU USE IT RIGHT. It causes mal absorption of food and calories, but if you have a good balance of protein, water AND exercise, it will do some of the work for you. It is harder to stop the weight loss, but I only had 90 pounds to lose, and lost 120. I have kept off 120 and am glad for the entire loss with rny. I don't think I could have accomplished the same thing with lap band. People think lap band has less complications, but I don't think that is true at all. It does not sever the stomach, or have leaks, but it does imbed into the stomach and for some people it just does not work. One woman who had lap band wanted to convert to rny, but the scarring was so bad that she could not convert the surgery. Lap Band can be a great surgery, just know that it takes a good bit of work to use the tool, and you have to be up for that. Both surgeries have head issues that we need to conquer like head hunger and obesessive thoughts of food and such. There is a lot to consider. I am not trying to sway your choice of surgery, just want you to be sure of what you are getting into. No matter which surgery you choose you can lose 90 pounds, but it will not be easy, not even a little, and many people don't lose much at all or even regain all their weight over the years if they don't exercise their pouch rules, which are simple, protein, water AND exercise. Take care, and I wish you well. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

July 21, 2007
HI I HAD THE LAPBAND DONE OVER A YEAR AGO. AND I ONLY LOST 35 POUNDS. I ONLY HAVE TO LOSE 100 POUNDS
   — mittens

July 22, 2007
If your concern is reversibility, then Lap Band is probably the best option for you. As one person stated, you may get a higher loss with RNY but if you just aren't up for that, then I'd suggest going to some seminars or meetings about the lap band so that you can fully educate yourself on the risks and benefits.
   — mrsidknee

July 22, 2007
Very few people have troubles with getting underweight either the RNY or lap band will do. Either surgery can be out eaten:( For example most RNYers average 75% loss. The band can be loosened or you can eat high calorie liquids to stall and even reverse the loss
   — bob-haller