Question:
Need to loose 200lbs which is more effective Lapband or Gastric bypass?
I know they both are good but which is better when you need to loose that much weight? And to keep it off! — michv (posted on August 24, 2007)
August 24, 2007
i personally think lap band cause I've got about 240 to loose if i wanna
weigh 130..and im gonna go with that surgery.an i am 19.
— Kimberly F.
August 24, 2007
RNY allows less absorbtion of calories and is recommended more often due to
it's success rate! Lap Band is much slower weight loss and has a greater
chance of failure due to all the different things that can go wrong with
it! Slippage for one. Also you have to live with a "port" in
order to fill it every 3 months! EW!! Greater risk of infections, etc.
Laproscopic RNY is the ultimate route!
— LouAB
August 24, 2007
I truly believe that RNY is the way to go!
— KathigME
August 24, 2007
I think you need to talk to a surgeon, go to an information session, and
read these boards (there's an RNY forum and a Lap Band forum). Each surgery
is right for different people, and it has to be a personal decision.
There are many factors. I don't agree with the person who posted the
opinion that more things can go wrong with Lap Band - from everything I've
read and heard, there are far more complication problems with RNY given
that they cut your stomach and colon and sew them back together - you can
have all kinds of problems because of the cutting, leaking, staples, etc.
You also have to be 100% committed to taking vitamin supplements for the
rest of your life because without the top part of your colon, you're at
risk for vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
The Lap Band has a lower complication rate because it doesn't cut any
organs. Yes, there is a port, but you hardly feel it. And everything that
you take in will be absorbed, so you only have to take 1 vitamin a day, not
2 or 3.
With RNY you also can get dumping syndrome, where you will get flushed and
either throw up and/or get the runs if you eat something with too much
sugar or fat. That doesn't typically happen with Lap Band.
Weight loss is much slower with Lap Band for various reasons. First, you
don't get the feeling of restriction (getting full) right away - most
patients have to get the band filled several times before feeling full.
Second, with RNY, you aren't absorbing all of the calories that you take in
because the top part of your colon is gone.
You can regain your weight with either surgery, and you can fail with
either surgery - it depends on you and how disciplined you will be and how
much support you get.
I went for a fill yesterday and there was a man in the waiting room who had
lost 200 pounds with his band - it is possible, but you've got to be a
partner with your surgeon and your procedure.
My surgeon's web site has this little comparison chart between the 2
surgeries:
http://www.chrias.com/default.asp?contentID=547
I also suggest you find a support group in your area and listen to the
discussion and ask questions of people in real life. They'll also give you
opinion of surgeons in your area.
Good luck to you!
Beth
— Beth F.
August 24, 2007
Hands down, RNY is the gold standard for wls....the risks for complications
and deaths are extremely low and it's far more restrictive than lapband. I
had RNY and lost 90 lbs but I would choose it again in a heartbeat!
Whatever method you decide on, make sure you start exercising now and get
your body into the best physical shape possible. With 200 lbs to lose you
will have skin issues so toning your body is so important. Start walking
on a treadmill or elliptical, use small hand weights, do exercise videos as
much as possible. No one can decide for you which type of surgery to have
but if you want to lose quickly and not revert back to your old eating
habits you should consider RNY.
— Sheri A.
August 24, 2007
Malabsorbtion is your friend and you only get this with bypass. Lapband
pretty much lets you eat anything you want as long as it fits. It took
about 20mos for me to lose 200lbs with a starting weight around 350lbs.
People that have ALOT to lose seem to be encouraged to have bypass.
Goodluck whatever your choice is.
— tazthewiz23
August 24, 2007
For me lapband was the answer (so far, only time will tell). But it's hard
to know. I read so many stories of people regaining their weight with RNY
or losing hair or worse. I wasn't comfortable altering my body so
drastically, and then if it didn't work, then what? Lapband works more
slowly and I'm inclined to think it will stay off better that way. Either
way, the person doing the work is the patient, the surgery only helps. I
still needed to change my lifestyle and my way of eating and
thinking/obssessing about food. This is a tough decision and you can never
be 100% certain about which will work for you. Each of is is different. I
guess the thing that comforted me, was that if lapband did NOT work, I
could alway have it removed and go for the other surgery. But so far I'm
VERY happy with my choice.
— Debra R.
August 25, 2007
I believe that you and your physician can determine what is right for you.
I decided that the lap-band is better for me. Both surgeries have
complications. Yes You will have a port with the lap-band but, with gastric
bypass your risk of malabsorption syndrome is very high. This decision is
very individualized. Good Luck!!!!!
— Shauna247
August 25, 2007
It is a decission that each person needs to make for themself. For me I
went with the bypass due to the fact that I felt the lap band would not do
what I needed for a lifetime. Best of luck. I am 3 months out and have lost
46 pounds since the operation and a total of 69 pounds since starting the
process.
— Alvernlaw
August 25, 2007
**Roux-en-Y** hands down!! There is no dumping syndrome with Lap Band, as
there is for RNY, and avoidance of dumping is what has kept me on track to
successful weight loss after surgery. It's NOT the greatly reduced pouch
size -- pouches can be stretched over time. Also RNY does not require
periodic visits to a doctor to get "fills". What a 'pain' (and
expense) that must be. That band is also a foreign, man-made, artificial
object inside your body. Are there enough long term studies that show that
the band will not be rejected at some point in the years ahead? Go for the
gold -- go RNY!
— [Deactivated Member]
August 25, 2007
I agree with lap RNY - I have lost over 150# in 16 mos. Donna
— dabby
August 25, 2007
I recommend you talk with your surgeon, find out the pros and cons of each
and make your decision from there. I personally chose RNY over LapBand for
my own personal reasons. In my opinion RNY is the way to go. However,
each person is different and that's a decision you need to make for
yourself.
— AngelaC.
August 25, 2007
I didn't see anyone recomend looking into the BPD/DS here, which surprises
me with 200# to lose. I have a distal RNY, so the pouch part of an RNY,
with the malabsorption of the DS. Not too many of these are done any more,
but I LIKE it. The thing you have to look at is your eating style. If you
are a sugar eating grazer, you can't lose it all with ANY surgery. If you
are a grazer OR a sugar eater, the band will not work for you. RNY should
help with both of those. If you are strictly volume, and don't dabble in
sugars much, the band MIGHT work for you. But remember that it is ONLY
restriction and is fairly easy to out eat. You can eat around any surgery,
of course, but when you are deciding, sometimes the surgeon chooses based
on reasons that are not necessarily about YOU. So, you need to be armed
with the info about yourself, like your eating style, your willingness to
diet (band) or eat sensibly (bypass) and be honest with yourself.
— vitalady
August 25, 2007
RNY definitely--- my goal is to lose 204 lbs and I am almost 8 months out
and already lost 162 lbs!
— airbear762000
August 26, 2007
There is no set answer to your question. Which surgery is better is
dependent on many different factors. You should make an appointment with a
surgeon who performs both surgeries - s/he will be the best person to
advise you.
I would like to comment on the folks who are "trashing" one
surgery or the other. I know many people who are total success stories
with the RNY and just as many who are successful with the lapband. I
personally chose the band primarily because I wanted the least invasive
surgery. I have lost over 100% of my excess weight and maintained that
weight loss. It has been over 4 1/2 years since my surgery. I know weigh
about 127 pounds.
One last comment. The port for the band is not a big deal. It sits under
the skin and is not noticiable in most folks. In me (since I am so small
now) it is noticiable if you know what you are looking for. Also, the
person who said you must get a fill every three months is incorrect. You
get a fill every 4-6 weeks until the band is properly adjusted. I have not
had an adjustment in about 2 years or so.
I hope this helps and good luck with your surgery.
— VickiStevens
August 26, 2007
Ultimately the decision will be yours, i don't think there is a
"right" answer to this question, but it's great that you are open
to different opinions ! First things first **ANY SURGERY HAS RISKS &
COMPLICATIONS**
The RNY is more evasive and a permanent surgery, you will have a more rapid
weightloss w/ this surgery. however you will have to commit to taking
vitamins for the rest of your life. It is not neccesarily true that fatty
foods will cause diahhrea or sugar will make you dump because they do
neither for me. I had open RNY 16 months ago am @ goal -125 lbs / my reason
for choosing this surgery was because i wanted a more rapid weightloss and
i am a grazer (snacker) so i wanted that full feeling which RNY does for
me; I know several people who have been very successful w/ the lapband as
well, all people respond differently to these surgeries. Sure typically a
bander loses slower but i know a few banders that have lost in upwards of
45+ lbs in a months period. It all depends on your commitment after either
surgery.one thing to note with the band is that it is a reversible
procedure. Talk to your surgeon, attend support groups and research as much
as possible to find what's right for you ! This is a huge life changing
decision take your time and do what's best for you~best of luck alway's
— tiffany E.
August 26, 2007
I'd say conduct research; speak with people on various boards; research the
bypass organization that you want to perform the surgery; and speak to a
surgeon that has performed a large number of both surgeries with a large
amount of success --then make an informed decision.
I didn't investigate a lot about lap -- basically because I didn't want to
take a year to lose the amount of weight I've lost with lap RNY. I'm 6
months out and have lost a little over 80 lbs. I'm about 12 lbs from
reaching my goal of weighing 200 pounds by my 47th birthday -- which is
next month.
Continued blessing with whatever direction you choose.
— the7thdean
August 26, 2007
Hi: I need to lose about 150 to be 150, but my surgeon and I dicussed it
and decided that the lap band was best for me due to having other medical
conditions. This is something you need to dicuss with your surgeon and
decide which is the best one for you, especially if you have chronic health
conditions.
— Wendy R.
August 26, 2007
I would like to comment on the comment about--you will have skin issues,
start toning your body. There is no way to prevent your skin from sagging
and hanging there--I was 22 years old and had the worst skin problems ever
(and had it removed), my surgeon and plastic surgeon both assured me there
was NOTHING I could to do to rid myself of the skin--the reason--Once skin
has stretched so far it loses its elasticity and can not go back, it is not
like being pregnant for 9 months and going back to normal (which you are
never normal after that either I have found out!). Just don't work
yourself to death and then think you have done something wrong to allow
yourself to have excess skin. Anyone losing 200+ pounds is going to have
it. (I lost over 200, then had 10+ pounds of skin removed from my body).
— GAYLE CARMACK-LYONS
August 26, 2007
I have not had the surgery yet but my surgeon said in his seminar that lap
band is a gradual weight loss and gastric bypass happens more rapidly. I
am considering the gastic bc of my diabetes.
— Crystal H.
August 27, 2007
Please check out the DS before you make your final decision. I gained 40
pounds with the RnY and many other have gained. It is not the sure-all
perfect surgery some profess it to be. With the DS you have a more normal
stomach, no dumping, no blind stomach, and you can eat more food and still
lose weight. Yes, you still have to be on vitamin supplements for life, but
that is the easy part. All of it is easy, just follow the rules. Get lab
work every few months, take vitamins, limit carbs and sweets, but you don't
have to completely eliminate them. Read my profile for more info on why the
DS is the best. I am looking to have a revision to a DS. Why go through it
again when you can do it right the first time with the DS.
— KRWaters
August 27, 2007
Hi -- I would suggest, as others have, that you attend an information
session before making your decision. I would look for a doctor who
actively does the Lapband, RNY and the Duodenal Switch (at the least).
He/she will give you the most accurate and unbiased information. I had the
Duodenal Switch and have been very happy with the results. Feel free to
check out my profile.
Caroline
— caro
August 28, 2007
For me - Lap Band was the answer - I wanted to make sure that the changes
for me - this time - were forever !!! But I also wanted to be able to eat
whatever - weight loss for me has been slow - compared to gastric bypass
but I was only off work for about 4 days and was up and moving around in
about a day. My surgeon was great and I feel great already. I know the
weight is coming off - totally 25.5 pounds since June 2007 but lap band was
for me !!!!!! I need to loose about 100 pounds and am planning on it
taking about 1 year - I hope to be right on target.
Diana
— dianag
September 24, 2007
RNY. There are myths about the lapband. If you eat right and make good
choices the RNY will be great. The lapband, they just adjust it. I know
some friends that did it, and have gone back to get the RNY. The insurance
only pays for one adjustment after the surgery. I mean who has $800-900 per
adjustment? Talk to your doctor he/she will give you more info. Good luck.
— D. goza
Click Here to Return