Question:
Is gastric banding just effective as rny?
I have been researching different surgery options my insurence covers banding and gastric bypass but I see people lose more weight more effectively with bypass is it possible to lose 100+ lbs with lapband? — monny2400 (posted on July 24, 2006)
July 24, 2006
Hello Trici, I had gastric bypass on 013006 and lost 80lbs so far. I know
people who were just as successful with lab band and others who had either
rny or lap and not loosing as much but I discovered those people due not
follow the rules to well i.e. eating high cal food, cake, cookies etc. It
really is a personal choice. Rny is more perminent then lap band and the
recovery is little longer. If your surgen does both you should be able to
discuss with her or her. Good luck with what ever you decide.
— Tina G.
July 24, 2006
My husband and I researched this also, this is what we found out: Banding
does not allow you to lose nearly the weight that RNY does. It also has a
higher risk of gaining weight back.
— Lost4Ever
July 24, 2006
Hi Trici, I had gastric lap banding done on april 20th of this year. I
have lost 35 lbs and am doing great. My research on this was that many
people have lost 100 plus pounds with the lap band. The greatest thing is
its adjustable, the band can be adjusted for weight loss, you dont get that
with bypass, also bypass is much more risky, you have the mal-absorbtion
issues and you dont have those with the lap band. The recovery time is
much much less than bypass, (only a few days till you are back to new), and
you can keep your band forever and adjust it for the rest of your life as
you need to. The weight comes off slower and your body will adjust much
better to a slower weight loss. The surgeon I went to has numerous
patients that he banded in 2001 and 2002 that were morbidly obese with
weight losses of greater than 100 lbs that have reached their goals and are
keeping the weight off. Its a personal choice but in my opinion the lap
band works great with minimal recovery time much less invasive than bypass
and can be as permanent as you wish it to be. Good luck in whatever you
choose Terry
— nurse911
July 24, 2006
Trici...
You're right, people that have the RNY generally do lose more weight and
they lose it more quickly. However, if you're willing to be agressive in
keeping the band tightened, the potential for weight lose of over a hundred
pounds is there. I have lost 162 lbs. since May 11th 2005. It hasn't been
easy and there were times I had difficulty keeping food down, but I would
do it all over again because I feel so much better with all the weight off.
It's a fine line to get the band adjusted just right for yourself, everyone
is different. I have an awesome doctor who has been just wonderful about
making adjustments to my band. I think I've had it adjusted at least 7 or 8
times since the surgery. I'm really close now to the point I'll probably
keep it at. I hope this has helped you in some way. Good luck in your
journey, it's worth it and I would do it all over again.
Bill B.
— billyblaine01
July 24, 2006
Generally over a 12 month period you will loose about the same amount of
weight, so research shows. With the lap band you do not have the
malabsorbtion that you have with bypass. You will lose more weight the
first 6 months with the bypass, but according to the research after 12
months the lap band people will catch-up but NOT surpass the bypass people.
Lap-band people have to really adhere to the diet regiment that the Dr.
provides you. Also the Lap-Band adjustments are not covered by insurance
after 90 days. I was quoted $150.00 per adjustment and that you will
require 3-5 adjustments after the initial one. You will not need to worry
about dumping or vitamin absorbtion with the lap-band. If you are truly
weak and will not be able to adhere to the diet then I suggest the bypass.
— WMKaisla
July 24, 2006
Well, I have, and so have dozens of Bandsters I know. Just like with
anything else in life, and especially WLS, you get out of it what you are
willing to put into it. The thing about the Band is, there's no coasting.
You have to put in the work from Day 1. I liked that, and it's worked
well for me. And for my money, the adjustability factor can't be beat.
Customizable WLS! :) Good luck whatever you decide.
— Jeanie
July 24, 2006
Trici. I too had wls (rny lapro) on april 24th of this year. I have lost
48#. As you can see, by a previous poster (congrats to you btw :) ) that
everyone loses at different rates. I dont know your age or if you plan on
having kids or not. But the band can be ajusted to your needs when/if you
decide to get pregnant. That was a big factor in my book, as I havent yet
had kids, and I wish to have some someday. Everyone is right on this one.
It is up to you. Yes you will lose faster and probably more weight, with
rny. And yes, you can lose about the same amount of weight with the band.
They are also right about adhering to your diet such to meet those losses
of people who have had rny. Consider this, if you have rny (gastric bypass)
then you might have excess skin in the long run, (also sometimes depending
on how much you excersice and age, weight, and many MANY other factors) and
if you do have excess skin, you might have to have it removed. Via plastic
surgery. With the band, the weight comes of more slowly most of the time)
and you may not have as much excess skin. Research away, and if you have
ANY questions at all, please email me. I am a fountain of info :) If I
cannot answer your question, I can most likely refer you to someone on the
ObesityHelp.com webpage that can help. I wish you all the luck in your
researching! Stephanie
— squeekypete
July 25, 2006
Hi, I work for a surgeon that does both Lapband & Bypass. These people
are wrong! You can lose as much weight from the Lap Band as from the
ByPass. The differance is that you lose it faster faster from the ByPass.
At the end of about 2-3 Years the stats show that they are the same. The
nice thing about Lap Band is that for the rest of your life you can have
fills and adjustments. Bypass is easier to mess up then a LapBand. It is
a personal choice. Don't let somebody else make this decision for you.
Get on the internet and do some research for yourself and decide what is
best for you!
— jk_harris
July 25, 2006
The answer lies within yourself. Do you feel strong enough to succeed
either way? You can out-eat any surgery...I've seen it done with the band,
RNY and the DS. The key is, do you feel you need the extra insurance to
help you lose? Plain fact of the matter is that with the band, you will
have to exert more self control and effort than you will with traditional
RNY. Why? Because with the RNY you have dumping and it's harder to eat
around the surgery. The band, you can eat anything you want, and many
people use that as a way to eat around it. Fills with the band are not
unlimited, and if you get to your limit and find you have little
restriction, you have little you can do about it. Initially I thought I
wanted the band, but couldn't get one due to my hiatal hernia. Now that I
don't have it and I have the RNY, I am very happy this is how it went. I
realize that I need the negative reinforcement to keep me away from too
much sugar because I would push it if I had the band. I realize that now.
As for success, I don't want to start a big debate, but I have seen more
folks who have had the band who failed than the RNY. The reasons usually
fall into their inability to get the band adjusted correctly and their
restriction isn't good. I started out at 325 lbs and I recall 2 women
specifically who had the band around the time I had my surgery. 6 months
down the road I had lost 100 and the one who was the same size as me (with
the same job) had lost 35. The other had lost 15. I recently spoke with
the one who lost 35 to catch up with her and find out what was going on,
and the band for her failed. She is like me in that she needs the big
guns. So you have to ask yourself: Do you push the envelope. Be real and
honest with yourself, because although the band is a LOT more conservative
with risk, it is still surgery and it is still a lot of money and time and
effort to go through. You have to be dedicated and prepared. I have a
friend I know would do fabulously with the band. She has an iron will and
would follow the program with no problems. Me, well, I test my limits too
much. I back off when I find my limits, and that is why I'm able to
maintain and even continue losing after 2.5 years, but I know that I always
have to ride that edge....which would spell disaster for me if I had the
band. So the answer depends on you.
— Dinka Doo
July 25, 2006
According to the seminar I attended, a person can lose that much weight
with the lapband it just takes longer.
— the7thdean
July 25, 2006
Its a interesting topic. For ME if I had choosen the band I wouldnt of lost
as much given my addiction to high calorie liquids like chocolate milk. As
a matter of fact when a bandster said I had a milkshake today I KNEW the
band wasnt for me.... If your diabetic the mal absorbtion of the RNY can
fix or cure or resolve type 2. Best wishes on your choice, its good we have
alternatives
— bob-haller
July 27, 2006
— Virginia N.
August 3, 2006
something to think about. many people get bypass because of the dumping
side effect--they count on it to help them eat right...as many people have
already posted here. here's the rub--not everyone dumps, and often after a
few years our bodies find a way to compensate--and the dumping stops. i
wouldn't count on this particular side effect.
also like to add, i have the band, and a little after a year out i reached
goal. no complications, no problems, no dieting. i pretty much eat what i
want, but because its such small amounts i still manage to stay under 1000
calories a day. and yes, i still have ice cream, candy etc. you can have
those things if you factor them in your daily calorie allowance--this is
what normal people do....and i just wanted to be normal!
good luck to you
— jessicamegan
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