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Individual results vary, many times based on compliance. I have seen bypass patients regain too, or never get to goal. There is no magic. Not everyone will regain, not everyone will get acid reflux with vsg, not everyone will have vitamin deficiencies or ulcers with bypass - but those issues do happen. There are a lot of success stories long term with both surgeries. I plan on making mine a success. I have had reflux 3 times in 10 months and very mild, fixed with one pepcid.

For me, it wasn't even a question. I had no intention of re-routing my intestines. The recovery has been a breeze for me with lap band. (I'm 6 days out and never taken any pain meds except for the day in the hospital.) I figured if I really don't like it, I'll have it taken out. The only down side is the slower weight loss but that's OK. The pros of Lapband far outweigh the bypass for me personally. Good luck with your decision.

Yes, after bypass your stomach can stretch if you repeatedly stuff yourself. With the band, you can drink high calorie drinks that will keep you from losing weight or you can not go to maintenance appointments (fills). It seems that many people with band still have extra skin but it is better than with bypass. I have friends that want to lose weight fast and say they would not be disciplined enough for band so are having/have had bypass. I choose band b/c safer and can work forever - no gain back but must follow rules. If I can't follow the rules for the band, what makes me think I would follow the rules for bypass? Good luck whatever you decide, I think you have to find the one that is a better fit for you.

I agree with all previous posters as far as the benefits of lap band over gastric bypass - less invasive, no cutting of bodily organs, completely reversible, fewer serious complications, no malabsorption issues, etc. But, one other reason I'm certain I'm making the right choice in getting my band (in TWO days!!!!!) is the stretching of the pouch issue. I just KNOW if I had the bypass, I'd be one of those people who stretch out their pouch and re-gain all the weight. Every time I see pictures of Carnie Wilson these days my heart breaks for her, and I can totally imagine myself in her exact position. I'm excited about the band because there's no expiration on the window of opportunity, so to speak. I imagine a worst case scenario in my banded future where I fall off of the wagon hard and start eating around the band - eating soft, high fat, high calorie foods, or, I imagine that I don't have good restriction and I gain weight from overeating again, from any food.......It gives me comfort to think that at any point, all that's needed to get back up in the saddle and start losing again is to get a fill. Or maybe 2 fills or 4 fills or 10 fills - but the point is, it's never too late to get good restriction and start or re-start the losing process. For me, that's very compelling. It's like a built in do-over button. With the bypass, if your pouch eventually stretches out and you start gaining, you are out of options. You can diet of course, but what I mean is that you are no longer being helped to a large degree by the surgery as a tool. The other main reason I am choosing the band is because I'm desperately trying to get pregnant before my 37 year old body runs out of eggs. With the band, I feel reasonably confident that if I get pregnant in the middle of the losing process, I can stop losing, get unfilled during the pregnancy, and the re-start the losing process after the pregnancy. My research indicates that it is much harder, if not impossible, to stop and start the 'losing zone' after having a bypass.

WOW well.........that does it for me! Geesh.....it's so sad. :tongue2:( Yes, she looks good but she's got some bad problems now!!! I feel lucky since I am in PERFECT health except the fact that I have an extra 140+ pounds on my frame! But I don't want to end up like her, so I guess the "slow" weight loss of the lap band is WAY WAY WAY better then the bypass surgery! :thumbup:)

Got back from our vacation and guess what I gained about 7 lbs while gone. Its really my fault. I just can't seem to not eat. I'm so tired of trying and trying, but I'm so hungry most of the time. I go for a fill tomorrow, I think I will have them see how much is really in there. They said I have 3.9 cc in my band, I just wonder if there really is that much or maybe I have leak. I feel like I have restriction for a few days after a fill then it seems as if I can eat anything Iwant to eat. I really don't have much restriction. I can eat just about everything. I even ate some bread while we were gone. Thats a first since last March. I have to be really careful and eat is slow and chew chew chew. I've thought about have gastric bypass, but I want to give this another chance. I guess I really thought this would be easier than it is. I really thought that I would not be hungry. It dosn't take away the hole that I keep trying to fill with food. I guess I need to work on that and figure out why I'm so hungry or think I'm hungry. Sometimes I so discourged that I just don't know what to do. Well we will see what the have to say tomorrow.

Hi all, this is a good post. I, too, am a God following chic! But a white southern gal that has been raised in a christian home ! I will definitely have to check into that christian post that was listed on the the reply above. I have struggled with this as well, mainly because I have been praying so much about this. In December, I was listening to KLOVE (christian radio station) and they had a guest on the show by the name of Lysa Terkeurst (author) and she has written several books etc....but what caught my attention is the fact that she had just written her book "Made To Crave" that speaks about peoples' addictions to things, but in HER case --weight issues. To hear her talk about her struggles I felt as if she had just crawled into by brain and took my very thoughts and yearly trials and put it to paper. I KNEW God had led me to listen to that station that day. So... I got her book and followed her 6 week webcast that was (like the book) so full of God's word. Very good scriptures to read regarding issues that we battle. So full of truths!! It seems as though, since I have been into this book, I have had an even harder time getting back on my weight loss track, eating healthy, etc.... and I know it's just the devil throwing darts my way. Then I feel guilty for not allowing this to help me. I felt like it's the way I needed to go, but was having such a hard time. I had always been against having WLS and also was too scared. I have followed Weight Watchers for many years now where I have had good losses, only to start bingeing (why, why, why??? I just don't know why) and gain back. I have managed to keep 15 off. (really 45 off total since I once lost some weight on a low carb diet....but gains and losses followed year after year). Anyway, my mom is the one who suggested that I should look into this. She sees me in tears over this weight issue so many times and knows that I have battled it since my childhood. We know at least 7 people who have been banded and lost a lot of weight and would not trade it for anything. Only one person I know of now, can't eat much of anything, but after reading these posts, I really think her band is too tight. The rest are doing well. Most of those that I know go to the same church as me and I have not heard any negative words from anyone there about it. I would not consider it.....I was following Weight Watchers and keeping on going to the gym.....BUT finally my curiosity peaked and I started asking questions about it and found that some of my fears were not as bad as I thought they would be. I have been totally encouraged on these forums and I now know I want and NEED to be banded. I have to wait a few months with new insurance coming through my work, but at least that gives me even more time to read the success stories and get even more mentally ready for this. Like others on this forum, the bypass surgery scares me WAY too bad to ever do it, plus I don't want to give up all sweets FOREVER. I would be knocked into severe depression if that happened. Anyway, many blessings to all of you and may you have much success in your journey.

I'm so happy I found this post! Firstly, because I too 'weighed' (haha) the good and bad with the band and bypass. For me, bypass flat out terrified me! I'm sure there are bypass patients who are happy with their choice and dislike the idea of the band, that's the way it is. My mom got banded in February of this year. Being a born-again Christian, she struggled with the thought of WLS because many people feel it's not natural or necessary. My mom chose to tell only her closest friends (either in the church or at work) and they support her 100%. I do believe God gives surgeons and doctors the abilities and skill to help His people. I am now waiting to hear back from my insurance to see if LapBand surgery will be covered. If and when I get my surgery, I don't feel obligated to tell the world if I don't want to. At this point, I don't talk to certain people about it because they will just try and discourage me and tell me what a bad decision I'm making, I can do it on my own if I just try, etc. But on the other hand, the one person who I thought would not like the idea of WLS is my number 1 supporter! I am 23 and have been overweight since elementary school... I'm ready to start my new healthy life! I would say pray about it. That's what my mom did through her whole pre-op experience. I have to take my advice and start praying about it as well, cause as it gets closer I'm getting more nervous and I want to be at peace about it come surgery day! I hope everything goes well for you!! And congrats to the post op patients on being successful and positive! It's inspiring.

the long term results (i say long term, but really 5 years out) are about the same amount of weight loss. with bypass, you lose faster than with the band, but you can easily regain all of that weight by stretching out your new pouch. with the band, it is adjustable and removable. you HAVE to learn a new way of eating with it that you don't have to learn really with the bypass. the weight loss is slower (1-2 pounds per week) but it's the healthier way to lose in my opinion, plus, it gives your skin a little bit of time to catch up with you. you still might have loose skin, but hopefully you won't look like a deflated bag like most bypasser's eventually look like. plus, you can can get nutrients with the band. there will be things you cannot eat with the bypass, and you will be on suppliments for life, as you can no longer absorb nutrients from food. you have to do what is right for you, but what was right for me was the band. good luck in whatever you choose.

I had a mini gastric bypass on Monday 16th March. Had a rough recovery in hospital after the biggest of my port wounds bled Tuesday night. My surgeon cleaned the blood that pooled under the skin and replaced my staples. I'm horribly bruised and swollen. I'm still struggling to lie down, get comfy or sleep and ny clips are itchy as hell. My question is, how normal is it to want to cry your eyes out after? It's not a pain thing. I am sore and uncomfortable but the crying comes on suddenly and is uncontrollable sometimes. It's been every day since i got home Thursday. I get that I've been through a traumatic experience but anyone else find themselves crying like a baby for no reason?

hello, I have never done this forum thingy b4 !! but here it goes i had sleeve surgery in 2015 at Kaiser went very well .. So point is that i don't have Kaiser any more and i have to get a revision due to acid damage now!! i have IEHP insurance can anyone suggest a good bypass surgeon ???? PLEASE HELP!!

Hi, I'm pre-op, 660 pounds - getting the sleeve in June/July sometime -not sure yet. I think as far as concerns go - I chose the sleeve because for one - Bands are a waste of money they have a pretty high failure rate from what I've read online and I've done a lot of research for the past 4 years. I didn't choose this lightly. Secondly, I don't really want dumping syndrome, and as far as I know most cases Sleeve patients don't really get that. Thirdly - absorption - I don't want to have to take 3x the medicine a normal person takes when I get older. People 65+ take a lot of medicine to maintain their health - vitamins, Cholesterol Medicine, Heart Medicine, Diabetes, whatever comes up - not being able to absorb the meds is going to be an issue down the line that I really don't want to deal with. Fourthly - it may be somewhat new for weight loss - but it's been highly successful and just looking at this forum you can see all the great results, and not too many negative ones. I also did research before, and I can't tell you now, but I do know I read somewhere that the mortality rate for Sleeve is less than for Gastric Bypass. Lastly, I personally just think I can maintain a healthier lifestyle with Gastric Sleeve because I will get a lot more nutrients that I need, and stand a less likely chance of malnourishment. Thank to removal of Ghrelin part of stomach, I will also have less cravings - which the people on this forum have told me is true, most of them have said they don't want the trigger foods they once did. These are MY reasons, don't necessarily make them yours - but I think that if you see why I personally am choosing this surgery, you might think of something you didn't that might help you to make up your mind.

I am scheduled for bypass on 9/16/13. I am so totally thrilled to be approved. However, I feel like an emotional basket case. I am crying at the drop of a hat! Is it possible that the wall I have built around myself with food is already crumbling? Has anyone else gone through this pre surgery?

Sleeve or bypass? I still can't make my mind up.

What really matters is comorbidities associated with being fat. If your liver is fine, if you don't have advancing diabetes to a point where you take insulin, have some type of heart condition, etc., I don't see the urgency to get an RNY done. Even with me I had 3 surgeons (my surgeon in particular who, after speaking to many people who work with him, noted he LOVES the RNY) all convince me to go sleeve mainly because my liver fibrosis stage 3 and diabetes (which are definitely a big health risk) were very much under control and quickly improving. Post-op the VSG gives you more freedom without the RNY side-effects, plus the inherent risk to both the RNY surgery, which is greater than VSG, and the risk/complications later on if you require any major surgery in that area, should always be taken into consideration. People in the private industry who push certain surgeries may be doing so for their own benefit and not yours. If your surgeon recommends bypass get a list of why and possibly get a second opinion. If it's based on general assumptions rather than your personal conditions (if any) then it's doubtful that's much of a necessity. Bypass is supposed to be for people with more serious issues necessitating the increased risk of complications. That's why for people aged 50+ I see it's very much more often RNY. Keep in mind too that any good surgeon will offer a follow-up on a VSG so that in the case it doesn't work out as planned an RNY is still an option. This is the case with me.. am offered RNY after 1 year if I don't like the way the VSG is going.

So, I met with my surgeon for the first time today and everything went ok except that he said he would rather do the bypass surgery instead of the sleeve. He said it's ultimately my choice, that he will do either for me but that because of how much weight I need to lose he suggests the bypass. I have been doing a lot of research about the two and honestly I don't want to do the bypass. The sleeve seems like a better fit for me and I don't really care what the statistics say because I am not a statistic. I am just me. I know the sleeve isn't going to magically take away all my problems, it's a tool. A tool that is going to help lead me towards a better, healthier me. Sorry for the rant. It's just been an emotional few days. Did anyone else get prescribed anti depressants before surgery? I've never taken them before and they are not required. Not sure if I'm going to take them or not.

My surgeon didn't suggest bypass, rather I told him why I won't have it. He was ok with it. Ultimately, you know it's your choice. Go with your gut, your intuition, the facts you have for you. I'm pretty sure your surgeon will be on board with you no matter what you decide. Oh, and I have acid reflux now too, I am not a stat either. ?

Following this thread because I have severe GERD as well and my doctor proposed this as an alternative treatment. I’m 4.5 years post op. I have an endoscopy next Tuesday to see what the damage is. I have been looking into different options aside from bypass because i don’t want to Frankenstein my intestines up more. There is a device called a LINX, that I’m going to ask my doctor about, and one other option that I forget the name of, that can be done before doing gastric bypass. I only weigh 140 pounds, down from 357 so I DO NOT want Gastric Bypass since regain has not been an issue for me. I have the same concerns that I will become malnourished if I have the bypass because I am way below goal weight

Success with weight loss is dependent on getting the upper hand with your relationship with food. There is a psychology behind eating patterns which have taken WLS patients into the realm of obesity. Though I am not a physician, I do feel that you would benefit to see a nutritionist to devise a healthier eating plan. As a psychology professional, I can say that the other part to your equation is to reign in on your choices of food, and accept that we must adjust our beliefs about food. We must revise our thinking to "eat to live" rather than "live to eat" if we want long term success with weight loss and maintenance. I have found it useful to use sipping Water or other no calorie drinks and distraction to keep my thoughts away from feelings of hunger. And I also use "self talk" and ask myself prior to eating anything which I know I should not have, do I really want this, or would I prefer to continue to move towards my weight loss goal? The band is around your stomach, not your mind. You have an incredibly self empowering tool to use for weight loss... Best wishes....

Hi everyO had a revision to a bypass and I am currently 5wls post op and my stomach has a dent under the large incision as well as a line across my stomach. What does this mean? Has this happened to anyone else? Should I be concerned?picture for reference

According to the internet: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. Treatment recommendations for NAFLD are aimed towards weight reduction, thereby reducing insulin resistance. Unfortunately, lifestyle modifications have not yielded long-term success, while durable weight loss is routinely achieved with bariatric surgery. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/763056 So what this summary says it that lifestyle modifications such as dieting and exercise have not yielded long-term success but bariatric surgery has. Another article says: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a progressive disease with potential evolution to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Another article says: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease. It encompasses a spectrum of conditions associated with lipid deposition in hepatocytes. It ranges from steatosis (simple fatty liver), to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH–fatty changes with inflammation and hepatocellular injury or fibrosis), to advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. Studies suggest that although simple fatty liver is a benign condition, NASH can progress to fibrosis and lead to end-stage liver disease. The disease is mostly silent and is often discovered through incidentally elevated liver enzyme levels. It is strongly associated with obesity and insulin resistance and is currently considered by many as the hepatic component of the metabolic syndrome. NASH cirrhosis is now one of the leading indications for liver transplantation in the United States. I underwent RNY gastric bypass surgery because my health was deteriorating rapidly. I dieted and exercised and still could not shed the pounds but instead continued to gain the weight. I had the surgery to correct my health conditions. The surgery corrected a number of my health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, acid reflux (GERD). It even corrected my asthma condition. If your focus is to become healthy and live a long productive life, then I would suggest the surgery. I dropped 120 pounds after surgery and my BMI went to normal. Weight loss was just a little gravy on top of health improvements. One of the factors that enter into the equation is cost. The operation is expensive and therefore it is important to have insurance that covers the operation. Therefore the guideline requirements from your insurance policy will dictate how easy it is to obtain this surgery. Many insurance policies are written very similar, so this will give you an idea: Surgical treatment of obesity (bariatric surgery) is covered only if: - eligible enrollee is 18 of age or over - clinical records support a body mass index of 40 or greater (or 35-40 when there is at least one co-morbidity related to obesity). Applicable co-morbid conditions include the following: * Type II diabetes mellitus (by American Diabetes Association diagnostic criteria). * Refractory hypertension (defined as blood pressure of 140 mmHg systolic and or 90 mmHg diastolic) despite medical treatment with maximal dose of three antihypertensive medications. * Refractory hyperlipidemia (acceptable levels of lipids unachievable with diet and maximum doses of lipid lowering medications). * Obesity–induced cardiomyopathy. * Clinically significant obstructive sleep apnea. * Severe arthropathy of the spine and or weight bearing joints (when obesity prohibits appropriate surgical management of joint dysfunction treatable but for obesity). - Documentation of failure to lower the body mass index within the last 12 months through a medically supervised program of diet and exercise of at least 6 months duration. So if your health insurance policy was similar to mine, you would not be able to qualify because of age; but the moment you turned 18, you would get a green light because your BMI is over 40. So the best advise I can give you is to dig out your health insurance policy and read the fine print.

Which surgery did you do? From what I understand Bypass patients are more likely to have that problem. Even then though, it seems like a crap shoot and the dice land differently for everybody. I think you just got lucky/unlucky depending on how you feel about it.

Wow, I'm so sorry to hear what you're going through. How long have you had your band? How many times did it slip? What will you revise to? Sorry for all the questions, but I'm genuinely interested. We never know when going into this, what may happen down the road.

I had the bypass with hiatal hernia repair and the pain reduced after about a week. The energy was lacking for a couple of weeks.

The symptoms you had were the ones I had when I found out my band had slipped and caused a hiatal hernia. I had to have a very painful and long band revision and hiatal hernia repair as well as tons of scar tissue removed. My slippage was caused by a fill that was too tight that caused the band to slip. I had horrible reflux that woke me up at night. These were my only symptoms and I could still eat so I though nothing of it until it got to the point I was waking up choking on it. I went in and boom there is was on the xray. What followed was weeks of misery and pain. So don't take it lightly as I don't anymore.