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I was scared to have gastric bypass but now wish I had. If I have to get my band removed, I was leaning towards the sleeve but have bad acid reflux so that is out. I will go with GB if I don't have success with my band once I get filled again.

@@Ligaleagle86 how has your weight loss been? I have heard that most revision people loose weight slower than if they would have gone right into bypass. I only lost about 5 pounds a month with the band. I too had horrible reflux. The kind that would wake you up at night gagging. I HATE this band and cannot wait to remove it. At the same time I am scared that the bypass won't work either.

I had the band to bypass revision 5 weeks ago and so far it has been great! My band had slipped and I was having bad reflux and gained back a bunch of weight. The surgeon removed ALOT of scar tissue from the band and had to remove part of my stomach but I healing well and losing weight on track. I was just told at my last appointment that I am loosing faster than most revision patients. I should have done the bypass in the beginning. Good Luck!

I had the band in 2011, revision in 2013, and converted to sleeve in 2015. I lost 85 pounds with the band, but gained back 35 of that (started close to 300) I have lost much more with the sleeve than I ever did with the band. Good luck with your journey.

Rhonda, Your decision should be made between you and your surgeon and some self-reflection. I am 4 mos out now and feel great with my decision and my weight loss. That said, my surgeon was very clear with me that if I could not commit to regular exercise I would probably lose 20-40# tops! I am in the gym 5-7days every week since a month after surgery. For me, I had lost weight before I considered surgery. I know I can lose it and have the right mindset to succeed and keep it off. Also, I had made many lifestyle changes prior to surgery. I am young and otherwise very healthy aside from a back injury. At this point, I didn't feel I needed to go the more drastic route of RNY. I like that I am responsible for my weight loss. I have some restriction now, but I still have more control over my choices than bypass patients do. In 4 mos postop and a little over a year since starting this process I am now down almost 90# and down 6 dress sizes. So it can be done, but takes A LOT of dedication. If you are able and willing to commit to regular cardio and strength training as well as make the changes in your diet, then the band may be right for you. However, choosing the bypass is a great option as well. You will lose weight faster, but there are other possible complications and longer recovery. You can dump post bypass but not post band. With either surgery, vomiting and PB'ing can happen. Since bypass is malabsorptive, you can have Vitamin and mineral deficits, but these issues can happen after the band too, if you make poor choices. Also, do not look at the band as reversible because it should not be removed except in the extreme case of severe complications. The band is placed to help you manage your weight over time. Just because you lose X pounds doesn't mean then the band can come out. Both surgeries are major abdominal procedures and are permanent except in the rare case. RNY is more drastic and requires a lot of cutting and stapling while the band involves some internal sutures around the device. Both surgeries have been proven to be safe and effective. Remember, RNY is still considered the gold standard for WLS. In the end, both surgeries require you to exercise in order to keep the weight off. The bypass just shortens the weight loss phase. I know many people who have chosen both surgeries and each has been successful and healthy. The choice is yours, but I encourage you to be honest with yourself- your comittment, expectations, and lifestyle. Talk to your surgeon and others who have had surgery. Best of luck! I'm sure you'll come to the right decision for you. I wouldn't change my decision for anything!!

REVERSIBLE! the main reason, the second is it seems that gastric bypass is so intrusive. They reroute your intestines and make you a little tummy. I am very happy and satisfied with my choice. Armed with the knowledge that it was not something that will just happen and that I have to contribute to the weight loss has helped me become a better person. I am forced to make better food choices or I wont lose. I am also exercising and feel like a new man. The best of luck in your decision, to me it was a no brainer!

This is such a favorite topic on this board! I don't think that there is a right or wrong answer. For me, I have known people with bypass who regained. My doctor liked the band for me because of my age, my BMI and because I would like to have kids in the future. Personally, I liked the fact that it is adjustable and less invasive. I understood that there is a small percentage of people that it does not work for but I figured I could always try another surgery if this less invasive one did not work for me. My doctor described it as a tool but one that is less powerful then the other options. I was ok with that because I wanted to try to change eating and exercise on my own - I have found it to be very powerful and I don't really even have great restriction yet. Good luck!

I had my UGI done last month the radiologist is very good, he has done about 8 of these on me sicne I was first banded four years ago. He told me and showed me during one of the swallows that my esophagus was having spasms at each swallow, he also told and showed me tha the esophagus was very narrow and even the barium was not going through like it should, he said I had reflux built up in my esophagus, causing it to be greatly dialated. He said that he felt removing some of the fluid might help but it will not fix the problem. I also have a hital hernia where at or how large who knows because I don't and was never told, the hernia was discovered a few weeks ago and well it was found on last years UGI and now I am being told of this. My band was diagnosed as mechanical failure for this is a re occurring problem with me and the Dr. treated me by only removing fills and then re filling me, over and over again. I am now waiting on insurance approval to have revision surgery to RNY

That does sound great!!!...traveling always made my band mad): which was no bueno because I travel a lot for work! I have an overseas work trip/then vacation in a month which will have me about 7 weeks out from bypass. Hopefully will go as well for me!

Found out Thursday my band had slipped. Found out Friday I'd be having surgery this Wednesday to have it removed with my choice of replacement (the nurse originally said he'd be putting in another band but after all the issues I've had I told her I'd go with nothing before I had another band and magically it became my choice!). If I have no serious damage once he's inside he will do RNY at that time, if there's anything that needs to heal I will be closed up and come back in 6-12 months for the RNY. I've had 5 days to prep and learn everything I can about pre and post op diets and have spent the weekend nesting and trying to get everything ready for the next 6 weeks or so. I'm frantic!!!!! Although a 5 day liquid diet is soooo much better than the 2 weeks long misery before! Wish me luck Wednesday and keep your fingers crossed that there will be no complications and I can go straight to bypass!!!!

I didn't have a revision, but this surgery has changed my life. Since surgery I am no longer on insulin, high blood pressure meds or high cholesterol meds. It has saved my life. I was scared too, and there are no guarantees, but this tool really works. I eat pretty much what I want still, I just don't want as much. I don't know if you have co-morbidities or not, but they were the deciding factor for me. Good luck and let us know what you decide. We'll support your decision either way.

Some questions: What is your BMI? How much weight do you want to lose? What is your goal weight? How have you tried to lose weight in the past? Have you consulted with your family doctor? Sorry for the questions, it's just that you are so young and you don't look obese in your photo, you look adorable. It's possible to look at lap band surgery as a quick fix but it is just a tool and you still have to do the work. I am newly banded but have been reading these boards for months and I know the veterans will say the same thing. I'm not saying that you are wrong at all - I'm just wanting to hear more of your story. As to naysayers - get them to research it themselves! Perhaps download a pamphlet from TLBC to show them. They may have it confused with the gastric bypass, which is much more risky and changes your anatomy forever. Personally I have so far only told friends but not family - and I'm 44! lol I figure maybe I will tell them later, maybe not. Friends are my best supporters anyway. I'm glad you posted - all the best!

I'm having the same thoughts as well. My food funerals were all at at favorite restaurants. FYI I just started a bypass FB group. My bypass surgery is June 3rd. I know many of you are sleevers though. Let me know if you'd like more information about joining. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this site and will continue to be an active member too! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I know this is posted on here time and time again but I'm so frustrated. I'm getting ready for a cross country move. I really imagined that by this time I'd be in the 230s. I have stalled out for the last 3 or 4 weeks and am so frustrated about it. I keep going in between 248 and 251. I don't know if this is maintenance because im only a bit over 4 months post op from gastric bypass. I have definitely increased my calories but am eating in a deficit. My BMR is around 1900 and I'm eating in between 1000 and 1300 a day plus exercise. I have been slacking in water and have not been having protein shakes at all because I'm getting a decent amount through solid food and don't want the extra cals. How do I get past this? I'm going to stay off the scale until the end of next week but I'm still feeling really down and bad about myself. I feel like a disgusting fat mess honestly. I haven't had these feelings since pre op and I just need to vent about it. I was experiencing a period of mania a week ago for a good 2 weeks straight (I'm bipolar) and missed some of my meds. I think I might be crashing and going through a depressive state. It's not super bad but the weight loss stall is making me have a lot of negative self image and feelings of failure. Should I just get back on liquids for a week or something? I'm losing my mind and getting depressed as hell. I'm taking my meds regularly again. I really only missed like 3 or 4 days and I take a small dosage. So I'm hoping to even back out soon but the stall is messing with my brain and confidence. What do you do? Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Also - Kiwi - my surgeon highly favored the sleeve. I asked him why, and he explained that besides it being easier to do than bypass, it kind of took the control from the patient. It's becoming the most successful WLS as far as quickness of weight loss and longer term results. He felt that the band patient had to be in the right frame of mind. Out of his 10 post-ops, 2 were well ahead of expectations, 5 were right on track, and 3 were not doing well at all with weight loss. I assured him that my mind was set on the band and that mentally, I was ready. He thought for my starting body type (I started at 243 lbs) that the band would be alright. I get no greater pleasure than going in for every follow-up/fill and proving to him that I'm totally ROCKING this Lap Band!! He's always full of positive compliments for me and my progress.

Your story could be my very own. I ended up moving from lapbandtalk to verticalsleevetalk and getting a sleeve. Couldn't be happier. BTW, according to Dr Aceves nurse, they do just as many band to sleeve revisions as they do sleeves...

Sounds like many good reasons to me! As for me, I have a few health problems but nothing serious yet. But my emotional health has been horrible. And I think your emotional health is just as important as your physical health. I've lost 50, 60, 70 lbs. at different times in my life. It would take forever and always be a painful journey watching everyone around me eat and drink whatever they wanted and never exercise but still be thin. The last couple of years I thought I was going through a mid-life crisis....that's if women go through them...I don't know. I wanted to lose the weight but was so depressed about doing it. I didn't want to go through it again. Lose and then gain back what you lost plus an extra 20-40 lbs. on top of that. I WAS DONE!!! My husband has always said, "you know how to lose weight, you've done it before and you felt great." I told him about a month ago, that I wasn't going to try anymore ... that it was a battle that I would never win. That's when he suggested having this surgery or the bypass done. I was in total shock because a little over a year ago, I was approved to do the lap band and he said absolutely not....and I just kind of started going down hill from there. He's very supportive but just didn't feel like the lap band was a safe option (and I'm thankful he felt that way...I think I would have regretted it.) plus a man he worked with had it done and never lost a pound. I thought my husband was completely against any kind of surgery. He's even tried to diet with me....we would both fail at it! So, I'm not really sure what made him decide he was okay with this but I'm so thankful!

My doctor doesn't base decisions regarding whether I need fill only on my loss. It's only one part of the equation. Why? Because if I eat the way he recommends, I will lose whether I have restriction or not. He takes into account how I feel, as well. It really is important to consider hunger in addition to loss. hair loss really isn't due to rapid weight loss. It's due to an interruption of the hair growth cycle by trauma. In this case, the trauma is anesthesia and surgery. They interrupt the growth cycle, and the evidence becomes apparent a few months later. It happens for most of us, regardless of how much we lose, whether we eat enough Protein, and so on. As "insurance," it's not a bad idea to ensure that you do get adequate protein and Fluid, as well as Biotin and zinc. Using a shampoo/condition system like Nioxin can help, too. But mostly, these things just let us reassure ourselves we're doing what we need to do to prevent undue loss; our bodies still go through the changes, and ultimately recover, and hair growth resumes as normal. ETA: My loss is slowing now, but I consistently lost 10 pounds a month for the first 8 months I was banded. Now I lose that in 6-8 weeks or so. Because my doctor gives banding patients the same dietary guidelines as his bypass patients, this does not surprise him at all--it's what he likes to see. (Banding rates are slower because we don't have the malabsorption that bypass patients do, but your loss doesn't strike me as outrageously fast.) Your loss is not what one would expect at the year mark for bypass. It makes me wonder how much experience the practitioner who does your fills has with either procedure.

During my graduating year in High School (1977) I got the biggest kick out of the TV commercial featuring the winners of the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes. The two mild mannered, plainly dressed, farm folk declared (with more drawl and twang than Gomer Pile) “What luck! We Mays are in luck. We have just won a million dollars! Our lives will never be the same!” Yep, they are lucky, I thought. I am a May too, so how come I’m not so lucky? Though many spend a considerable amount of time, effort, and energy entering sweepstakes – hoping to get ‘lucky,’ I have adopted a different philosophy. “The harder you work the luckier you get!” Time and time again that has proven to be the case. Following my weight-loss surgery in 1995, I recall mustering up the nerve to call a few of my friends to tell them what I had done. The first call I made was to a long time nurse friend. I will forever remember her immediate reply after I told her where I was and that I had just had a gastric bypass. “You are so lucky!” she exclaimed. “Lucky?” I replied. “What do you mean lucky?” I have spent my entire life fighting my weight and finally, finally, I had the courage to make this gigantic commitment. It took great thought, planning, preparation, prayer, not to mention a support of my family, and a 2nd mortgage to do this. Luck had nothing to do with it!” The first year was a dream come true. The weight seemed to fall off. I lost 125 pounds. No complications, no bumps, and very little effort on my part. Wow was I lucky! I would find myself eating something I shouldn’t. Or skipping a few days of exercise only to weigh in to find that I lost another pound! “Dodged a bullet this week; Man I am so lucky!” I thought. And then…. I found that the next month, was not so lucky. I learned by experience that I was not invincible, and that maintaining my weight loss requires much more than luck. It requires dedication, commitment, thought, focus, and constant effort. Indeed I found, that in weight issues too, the harder I work, the luckier I am. It has been over 19 years now and my weight continues to fluctuate up and down 20 pounds or so. Interesting, when I work hard at it, I lose - when I don’t, I gain. Go figure. It seems that this weight management thing will always require effort. Throughout your journey, you too, will have ups and downs, good days and bad days. We have a remarkable tool, but we will always reap what we sow. As you work to reach and maintain your weight-loss goals, remember to stay committed to your Success Habits, stay in tune with your body, work hard; and oh, good luck!

Abstract Vertical sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive surgical technique that involves resection of a significant portion of the stomach by means of stapling the greater curvature. This procedure is rapidly gaining popularity and acceptance as a primary bariatric procedure with good results on weight loss. The other restrictive bariatric procedure is the adjustable gastric band. As the results on the vertical sleeve gastrectomy and the adjustable gastric band vary, there is still a gap that can be fulfilled by another procedure. The authors present an alternative procedure that is under investigation that can be as restrictive as sleeve gastrectomy with no staple line or prostheses. This procedure is called laparoscopic greater curvature plication, which is similar to vertical gastric banding, but without the need for gastric resection. The stomach is reduced by dissecting the greater omentum and short gastric vessels, as in vertical sleeve gastrectomy, then the greater curvature is invaginated using multiple rows of nonabsorbable suture over bougie to ensure a patent lumen. This article includes the background, method, initial results, and a brief discussion on this new procedure. Introduction Traditionally, the primary mechanisms through which bariatric surgery achieves its outcomes are believed to be the mechanical restriction of food intake, reduction in the absorption of ingested foods, or a combination of both.[1,2] Adjustable gastric banding (AGB) and vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) are restrictive approaches commonly used in bariatric practice.[5,6] Although these procedures have proven to be good therapeutic options for some patients, they are not without significant complications, such as erosion or slippage of the gastric band or gastric leaks in VSG.[3,4,7,13,14] Leaks in VSG pose a particularly difficult challenge when they occur near the angle of His, potentially generating severe clinical conditions that require reoperation and may even cause death.[4] Since 2006, the authors have been evaluating the safety and initial results of the laparoscopic greater curvature plication (LGCP™), a restrictive bariatric surgical technique that has the potential to eliminate the complications associated with AGB and VSG by creating restriction without the use of an implant and without gastric resection and staple. Methods Using the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) inclusion criteria for bariatric surgery (patients with a body mass imdex >40kg/m[2] or BMI over 35kg/m[2] with at least one comorbidity), all patients underwent a multidisciplinary evaluation (endocrinologist, cardiologist, psychologist, and nutritionist), blood tests, abdominal ultrasonography, and upper endoscopy to establish baseline. The study design was a prospective, noncomparative case series that received approval from the local ethics committee with patients signing informed consent. From January 2007 to March 2010, 62 patients (44 female) were submitted to LGCP. Mean age was 33.5 years (ranging from 23 to 48 years) and mean BMI was 41kg/m2 (ranging from 35 to 46kg/m[2]). Technique Patients were placed under general anesthesia in supine positions. A Five-trocar port technique, similar to Nissen fundoplication, was used. Trocar placement was one 10mm trocar above and slightly to the right of the umbilicus for the 30-degree laparoscope; one 10mm trocar in the upper right quadrant (URQ); one 5mm trocar also in the URQ below the 10mm trocar at the axilary line; one 5mm trocar below the xiphoid appendices; and one 5mm trocar in the upper left quadrant (ULQ). The procedure began with angle of His dissection and removal of the fat pad, followed by careful dissection of the gastric greater curvature using the Harmonic™ scalpel (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio), opening the greater omentum at the transition between the gastric antrum and gastric body. Once access to the posterior wall was achieved, the greater curvature vessels were dissected distally up to the pylorus and proximally up to the angle of His. Posterior gastric adhesions were also dissected to allow optimal freedom for creating a greater curvature flap. Gastric plication created by imbrication of the greater curvature over a 32-Fr bougie applying a first row of extramucosal interrupted stitches of 2-0 Ethibond™ (Ethicon, Inc. Somerville, New Jersey) sutures. This row guided two subsequent rows created with extramucosal running suture lines of 2-0 Prolene™ (Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, New Jersey). In the final aspect, the stomach was shaped like a sleeve gastrectomy but slightly larger. Leak tests were performed with methylene blue in all cases. No drains were left. Patients were discharged as soon as they accepted a liquid diet without vomiting. They also received a prescription of daily proton-pump inhibitor (PPI; single dose) for 60 days. Ondasentron and hyoscine (anti-spasmodic) were prescribed for seven days. The postoperative diet was a customized liquid diet for two weeks, with progressive return to solid foods in a stepwise fashion. Dietary restrictions were removed after 4 to 6 weeks, depending on patient adherence. Follow-up visits for the assessment of safety and weight loss were scheduled for 1 week and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months in the postoperative period. Endoscopic evaluations were scheduled for 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Results All procedures were performed laparoscopically without conversions. Mean operative time was 55 minutes (40–110 minutes). Mean hospital stay was 36 hours (24 to 96 hours). On average, patients returned to normal activities seven days (4–13 days) following surgery. Mean percentage of excess weight loss (EWL) was calculated to be 20 percent at one month, 32 percent at three months, 48 percent at six months, 60 percent at 12 months, 62 percent at 18 months, and 61 percent at 24 months. No intraoperative complications were documented. All patients had lost at least 10 percent of total body weight. In the first postoperative week, however, nausea, vomiting, and sialorrhea in occurred in 22, 14, and 33 percent of patients, respectively. In all cases, these symptoms were resolved within two weeks. There has been no record of weight regain in any patient to date. Postoperative upper endoscopy and radiologic evaluation were performed on 12 patients at one and six months and in seven patients at up to 12 months. Qualitatively, the upper endoscopies suggest that the initial greater curvature fold is smaller at six months when compared with the initial fold size at one month, but appears unchanged at 12 months. Mild esophagitis (Grade A of Los Angeles classification) occurred in four patients at one month postoperatively; these patients were symptomatic (nausea, vomiting, and sialorrhea) and were kept on PPI, following the standard protocol. The six-month endoscopic evaluation identified no lesions or symptoms. Lumen size appeared stable (e.g., no dilation) based on upper gastrointestinal (GI) radiologic series performed on these patients at one and six months Discussion Reducing stomach capacity to promote mechanical restriction to food intake is one of the traditionally accepted mechanisms used in bariatric procedures to promote weight loss. There are at least two surgical procedures that appear to rely on this principle in current clinical practice, AGB and VSG. AGB achieves around 50 percent EWL, but unsatisfactory weight loss occurs in more than 20 percent of patients with failure rate requiring surgical revision in up to 25 percent of patients.[7] VSG as a primary bariatric procedure shows medium-term results to be adequate (>60% EWL), with improvements in comorbidities.[4,14] These promising results are associated with some complications, however, such as esophagites, stenosis, fistulas, and gastric leaks near the angle of His. These leaks and fistulas are reported in nearly one percent of cases and can be very difficult to treat.[4,14] LGCP is notably similar to a VSG in that it generates a gastric tube and eliminates the greater curvature, but does so without gastric resection. Initial clinical reports by Talebpour and Amoli[10] and Sales[11] demonstrate satisfactory weight loss up to three years. Brethauer et al12 reported increased weight loss in patients receiving LGCP when compared to plication of the anterior surface. The present series, compared to findings reported in some series involving AGB, has the lowest early complication rates among all bariatric procedures. Even with no major complications to report in the present series, Talebpour and Amoli[10] report one case of a gastric leak associated with a more aggressive version of LGCP, which they attributed to excessive vomiting in the early postoperative period. Adverse events described by patients were minor, lasting up to two weeks. These events may be related to the restriction induced by the invagination of the greater curvature and/or edema caused by venous stasis. Qualitative endoscopic findings suggest that the greater curvature fold gets smaller. This may be related with the resolution of the initial edema, although the radiological findings did not reveal significant dilation of the LGCP at six months. The percent EWL achieved a satisfactory 61 percent at 24 months in eight patients, with all patients achieving at least a 10-percent loss of initial weight. This can be favorably compared with results from VSG. This series is limited by the low number of patients, the simple study design, lack of a control group, the noninclusion of patients with BMI >50kg/m[2], and the incomplete follow-up period. This limits the broader acceptance of these results. These limitations limit the broader acceptance of these results. In order to better study this procedure, an international multicentric trial with centers in the United States, Chez Repuplic, and Brazil was designed (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01077193). LGCP seems to be feasible, safe, and effective in the short term as a promising bariatric procedure on this initial series Acknowledgment Experimental evaluation was provided by Fusco et al8,9 that had published two articles about gastric plication on anterior wall and greater curvature of wistar rats achieving good results in weight loss analogy and significant better results of the greater curvature group. Recent clinical experience with variations of this technique has been described by few surgical groups. The authors’ initial experience was sent to the journal Obesity Surgery and was accepted for publication. More actualized data are described in this present paper. Original source can be fund here.

I came home from the hospital on Friday after gastric bypass revision from lapband on Tuesday and I had gained 19#'s. I know that it is from all the fluids given to me while in the hospital, but it still feels like a set back. I was very swollen and that has gone down and I have lost 17 of the 19#'s. but it looks like at my one week f/u on Thursday I will probably just barely be below weight day of surgery? Did anyone else experience this.?

When I had my surgery, there was one other case and he was a VSG also (not a revision). His mother was banded by Dr. A. one year ago and she was with him. They drove from CA and were allowed to leave right after the last leak test and removal of the drain. I was told they would contact my sister when I was out of surgery... they did not. Clearly THIS is something they need to improve on. Beside this, I found nothing to complain about.

I all I'm finding some comfort reading your stories. I am due for bypass surgery next week and am a little bit afraid. X

Hi Mozza, yes it's inevitable. Weight loss leads to hair loss in most people, but not all. I had the sleeve 2 1/2 years ago and at about 4 months out I started losing hair by the handfull. I was quite upset but knew it was coming. I just cut my hair shorter so it wasn't as noticeable. Once I started adding more fat to my diet the hair grew back and thickened up. It's just a temporary problem and you will soon be over it. I promise, the weight loss is worth the hair loss. I will be having a revision to bypass in a couple of months and I will go through this again and though I dread it, I know it is a temporary thing and well worth the problem.May I ask why you are having a revision to bypass? I am pre op and still deciding between bypass and sleeve. Sent from my SM-G925T using the BariatricPal App

Hi Mozza, yes it's inevitable. Weight loss leads to hair loss in most people, but not all. I had the sleeve 2 1/2 years ago and at about 4 months out I started losing hair by the handfull. I was quite upset but knew it was coming. I just cut my hair shorter so it wasn't as noticeable. Once I started adding more fat to my diet the hair grew back and thickened up. It's just a temporary problem and you will soon be over it. I promise, the weight loss is worth the hair loss. I will be having a revision to bypass in a couple of months and I will go through this again and though I dread it, I know it is a temporary thing and well worth the problem.May I ask why you are having a revision to bypass? I am pre op and still deciding between bypass and sleeve. Sent from my SM-G925T using the BariatricPal App Yes, pls share, audaciousmarie? Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App