Question:
I need a little help whats the best surgery?

I know that the band would work good for me but then the sleeve is somthing also I been thinking about so how long is the hospital stay with the band I heard 1-2day stay n then the sleeve up to 5 days but If I do get the band I would do better I think because I can adjust it to what I need unlike the sleeve so I also have a question after I would lose weight would I need to have like a tummy tuck or remove the lose skin? like I have the 2nd belly like where ur belly button is the line where ur belly splits into 2 also known as the ex baby belly just fat pocket thing w/e I was wondering if that would snap back into its normal stage of being flat belly without any really bad hanging skin? I was just wondering but thanks to all who help    — Emilie B. (posted on January 5, 2010)

January 5, 2010
My research has shown that the band is rarely a good option. It has the highest failure rating of all the procedures currently used today. It is also more likely to cause serious problems with your stomach because slippage can cause scaring. It is not a good option for anyone who has immune system problems (like allergies, fibro myalgia, multiple sclerosis, lupis, and poly myositis because your body can develop a sensitivity to the foreign materials that are placed in the stomach cavity. About the only time I would say that it is a good option would be for a woman who was planning on becoming pregnant soon after her surgery (which is not recommended in any weight loss option). I have had the band for a bit over a year, and have lost over a hundred pounds. At first it was quite easy to lose the weight. Now, I have to work at it, but it is possible. I am quite satisfied with the results that I have had with my surgery. I was in and out of the hospital in 2 days, with a 2 week recovery in my home. My doctor did not want me to drive for 2 weeks because I was going to be drowsy with the medication that he gave me for the pain, but honestly, I did not need the pain medication for more than a few days. Having the sleeve was the best option I could have had. The VSG is THE safest surgical option currently available today. I highly recommend it!
   — hubarlow

January 5, 2010
The four commen procedures in order of average weight loss from lowest to highest are 1. Band 2. Vertical Sleave 3. Rny gastric bypass and 4. Duodenal switch. I agree with Hugh that the sleave is the safest as there are much less malabsorption issues since you still have the use of your pylorus and doudenum. Also the weight loss average for the sleave is only slightly lower than rny. The only advantages the rny has over sleave is the, as yet, poorly understood immediate effect that rny has on diabetes. Current thought is the fact that food is not passing over the duodenum (there are intestinal hormones the medication Januvia was designed to effect these hormones) explains the dramatic and immediate normalization of 70+% of sugars in people undergoing rny. I had rny because my insurance company would not cover vertical sleave. The duodenal switch is being used a lot more now and has the advantage of being able to eat a more "normal" American diet because there is a much greater malabsorption component. Time will tell as more people of lower weights go with this procedure (it used to be reserved primarily for those over 500 pounds) I think people will do fine with this as long as they are really careful at watching their labs. Hope this was helpful, I think people can be successful with any of the procedures as long as they realize there are no miracles and we must learn to eat better and exercise. Kevin
   — hapkidodoc

January 5, 2010
Hi there. I had the VSG surgery about 18 months ago and I must tell you that it is the best gift I have ever given to myself.I started out researching the lap band for almost 2 years, gave it serious thought and had set my mind on the lap band. Until I went to the meeting at my surgeon's office and began really thinking through my options once I had more information about both surgeries. I began thinking of the what if's with the lap band. What if I end up with my body rejecting the lap band or the port were to become absessed? I would have to have an emergency surgery to have it removed. Since I was self pay then I would have 2 surgeries to pay for and not have accomplished anything towards weight loss. Also, my doctor was 2 hours away from my home which meant travel time to obtain each fill and again the what if's?? If they over fill then you will get the foamies or be throwing up, have to drive back and get them to take some out...if they under fill then your appetite won't be controlled as well and you will still feel hungry. Also, each fill is $100.00. My instinct started making me fearful of all of these issues with the lap band. Yes it is the least invasive of all the surgeries but, you don't lose as much weight with it either and at some point you will have to have it removed surgically. So, after talking with my surgeon about my fears, he left the room and told me it was totally my decision. He would do either one but not the gastric bypass because it was too risky considering I wasn't that greatly over weight. I prayed about it and had already seriously that through my options and chose the VSG. I am so thankful that I did. I believe you have to follow what your intuition tells YOU. Read,talk to your surgeon, consider your health issues if any, and make the decision that is best for YOU. We all have our own opinions on here and that is fine. But ultimately, make the decision that is the most healthy for you and the most successful. You will be so glad you did. I'm sure many have the lap band and have been perfectly happy with it. I have lost a total of 80 pounds now and am still losing. My relationship with food has completely changed. But, I went into this with my mind set that I was tired of food having controlled me all of my life. Food NO LONGER controls me. No surgery is going to be long term successful unless you change the way you think about food and weight loss surgery gives you the tools to do this. The rest is up to you. It won't be a magical cure to weight loss no matter which surgery you choose. The magic is YOU. The choices YOU make, the way YOU re-train yourself to think about food. If you want to be successful and keep in control of your weight for the rest of your life! As far as your tummy and loose skin questions? I have exercised faithfully all through this 18 months. I love exercise...I walk 2 to 3 miles each day and do floor exercises. I have a little bit of loose skin on my tummy but then I have great elasticity in my skin. I never got stretch marks with my babies and should have considering how much weight I gained with my pregnancies. But realize that everyone's skin is different. I am 55 years young so age has something to do with it too. The older we are the less elasticity you will have in your skin. Consistent exercise does make a difference but you can't reshape the skin with exercise, just the muscles underneath. I did have breast augmentation last June. When I lost all the weight, I lost my breasts too. What little was left had no muscle tone at all. I feel much better about myself now and am so happy with my new body. I will work at this for the rest of my life. And it's not just about looks...I am healthier than I have been in years and that's the most important thing. To live as healthy as we can be and live as long as we can to enjoy our families. I wish you the best. Oh and I wanted to tell you that I was only in the hospital for 2 days after my VSG and then I was back at work by the 5th day. Of course I have an office job. I am an accountant. So...the down time isn't much more than the lap band. You will do just great. Just make the decision that is best for you. If you have quite a bit to lose I would recommend the VSG. The lap band is a much slower process and you generally don't lose quite as much as with the VSG. Even if you are left with some loose skin issues, that's so much better than being overweight and healthy and think of the strain it puts on our heart on a day to day basis. No one on here can really tell you how your tummy will end up looking because we are all different. Your skin, how much you exercise...etc. so many variables have to do with that. God Bless you!!!!! Jodi
   — Jodi L.

January 6, 2010
I have this website, this is who did my rny 4 yrs ago. This is a comparison chart. I have on my profile, but it is hard to see so: GO TO WWW.LAPSF.COM, ON THE LEFT SIDE BLUE BOX CLICK "WEIGHT LOSS AND REVISIONAL SURGERIES" THEN CLICK "INTRO-WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS", SCROLL DOWN TO WHERE YOU SEE THE PICTURE OF A STOMACH-CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE "SURGERY COMPARISON CHART". PRINT THIS EMAIL SO YOU CAN FOLLOW MY INSTRUCTIONS. This will tell you everything you need to know about each surgery. it is great info. Let me know if you need more info.
   — Kristy

January 7, 2010
If you are thinking the band is a better option "because you can adjust it to what you need" you need to rethink the whole surgery option. This is only a tool, you have to completely rethink how you eat and why you eat. Depending on how much weight you loose you may or may not need a tummy tuck. I went from 290 to 182 and don't feel I need a tummy tuck. I do have some extra skin but not worth the money and pain involved with a fully body lift. Either the sleeve or a RNY would be your best options.
   — rkurquhart

January 7, 2010
Before you make a decision make sure to look at all of the available options. My wife and I did the same thing you did. We researched for a couple of years before we had surgery. We both decided on the Duodenal Switch because it was the best way to combat our health problems and because we felt that it would provide the best long term results for us. Look at all of the surgical forums on this site and read what those who have had the different types of surgery have to say. That with your own research and your doctors input should allow you to find the best solution for you.
   — Mike A.

January 7, 2010
I had the sleeve 4 months ago. The band is only a temporary measure. I wanted a permanent solution. No adjustments required. You may get some hanging skin, depending on how much you exercise and how much fat you have to lose. I figure, I would rather have that than the fat stomach I lused to have.
   — shotseyrudi