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LOL! Here's what that calculator (complete with typos) predicted for me: GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY Your can expect to lose 76 lbs. from gastric bypass surgery. Your new weight will be159 lbs. after gastric bypass surgery. Learn more about gastric bypass GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY Your can expect to lose 65 lbs. from gastric sleeve surgery. Your new weight will be170 lbs. after gastric sleeve surgery. Learn more about gastric sleeve LAP BAND SURGERY Your can expect to lose 54 lbs. from Lap Band surgery. Your new weight will be 181 lbs. after Lap Band surgery. Surprise, surprise, surprise! I've lost 100 pounds after VSG surgery and now weigh 135 pounds. Bam!

Bubbles: Love the name by the way. I self paid for my surgery. I did lots of research about both the banding and bypass and decided the bypass was just too radical for me. If you are looking for a good doctor then contact Inamed directly and they can give you a list of surgeons in your area. The other option is to see if someone on this site is from your neck of the woods and get some feedback from them. I went to Mexico for my surgery. I am using a US surgeon for my follow up care. IF you go the Mexico route then please set up a surgeon for your follow up care close to home before getting the surgery. I can give you my follow up docs info if you like. He is in Ventura, California. I didn't notice where you are located before responding to this post. Good luck on your search for the surgeon.

Hey Jessica - still thinking about you and wishing you well. I went to a seminar by my doctor, and he said that sometimes when he comes across patients with a lot of scarring he has to do an "open" surgery. I don't know if this is only for gastric bypass or if it is also for lap banding, but I'm sure you are not the only person who has this problem. Hopefully, he will offer you an alternative and your journey will just be a little delayed!! Better safe than sorry. Keep us posted. :biggrin: xxoo Terri

I'm being banded on July 27th. Today was my second day of pre op protein. I feel totally full and satisfied with the protein and I'm very surprised that I'm not hungry and obcessing about not being able to eat. Of course, it's only the second day. What I'm noticing on here is that there are definitely two camps of Lap Banders. Some of you sound very upbeat and determined to follow the program and make this work. You seem to be losing weight, not at a fast rate, but steadily. Which is what I want to do, after all I didn't get fat in a month and don't expect to lose it that fast. The second camp seems discouraged and even wishing that they had never had the surgery. I am feeling a bit worried. I don't want to make a mistake, but I really need this to work for me. I decided on the Lap Band after doing a lot of research. I was very uncomfortable with having either the sleeve or bypass because it just seemed very invasive and I didn't like the thought of actually changing the anatomy of my stomache or digestive system. I'm not saying it's not the right decision for others but I felt that it was not right for me. I am totally committed to following the rules, before and after surgery and taking things very slow as I progress through my dietary restrictions: clear liquids, full liquids, puree and soft. I'm reading all that I can and I have purchased the bullet processing machine and I'm practicing pureeing foods and freezing some things in ice cube trays for after surgery.\ I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance. I know it's not an easy fix and I'm praying that I have an easy post op with no complications. Good luck everyone.

Hi Ganas! Thanks for the b-day wishes. My sister says the doctors told her she stretched her pouch most likely through ignorance of the doctors who placed it five years ago in Dallas. Five years ago this was a relatively new procedure and they've learned so much since then. Here's what the doctors think: She's a HUGE diet Coke drinker--we now know that carbonated drinks are a no-no. She was a grazer, rather than the recommended three meals a day--her pouch stayed full and was able to stretch do to being "full" all of the time. From what she tells me, when she got on solids post-op, the grazing was because she didn't feel capable of eating three meals a day. It was easier for her to just eat a bit at a time over the course of a day. She's stopped doing carbonated drinks and eats her three meals a day. She knows that she'll probably have to go in for a revision at some point. She's an Air Force Brat rule-follower-to-the-extreme like me, so, if she'd had this info pre-surgery, even post-op, she would not be in the shape she's in now. Really, she's doing great, and since she's doing marathons it might be a good thing that her pouch is a bit stretched, so that she can get the nutrients she needs to have the energy and endurance for the races. I'm very proud of her. She's my big sis, and I've always looked up to her! I hope this info helps.

You do have another option, a sleeve. Better weight loss and far fewer complications long term than the band and MUCH safer than bypass with no malabsorption.

My friends mom chose the band over bypass. She started at 350 and is now 170. She's done absolutely great with hers. It is frustrating but you'll get there. Good Luck!!

Dr. Bobby Bhasker-Rao in Palm Springs charges a $7k fee (for the lap band, $6.5k for bypass) that is not covered by insurance. He has intensive pre-op and post-op programs and impressive success rate. I guess the issue is to ask what you get for the fee. Good luck.

Argh! LBT ate my post again! Anyway, Shalee and Manatee, I see many people posting that they are having a revision to their PS. Is this covered in the original costs paid or do you have to pay again?

Had yet another followup with the Doc today. He's declared me fit and 'normal'. Personally I'm still disappointed. I look so good right after surgery, and then, without gaining a pound, things get saggy and bloated looking again. Doc and his assistant warned me about unrealistic expectations, and that "people who have cosmetic surgery are the type to be the toughest on themselves." I've never thought of myself as a perfectionist, but maybe in this aspect I am becoming one. I must think on that. There is one slight issue. The Doc didn't want to do much lipo around the port itself, because he was rightfully afraid of damaging it or the tubing. That's left me with an imbalance right to left, where the left side is slightly blobby and convex vs the right which is not. For other reasons, I am going to have to get the band revised yet again. I am going to ask the band doc to put in a low profile port when he goes back in, and place it on the right hand side. That will clear up the space to allow for just a touch of liposuction. Getting there...anyone know anything about pectoral implants? :mad2:

Ditto to what Elcee said - having the sleeve now wouldnt worry me, I've lost half my colon and am doing fine without it, so meh, what's a bit of my stomach I'm not particularly using? You dont get malabsorption with the sleeve, that's bypass. You just have a smaller stomach. Also, it can be attractive to think of having restriction straight away with the sleeve, not finding it so elusive, and not having trouble with random foods. But make no mistake, all bariatric surgeries work best at first, and then you do learn to eat around them, the adjustability of the band is fantastic in that regard. If your sleeve loses its effectiveness, there's no tightening it up! Then again, I had to unfill my band totally for a surgery, have just got retriction back 12 months later and am now looking at an investigative gastroscopy (have bad Iron depletion, and am post menopausal which means a high likelihood of a GI bleed at some point in my guts and my colonoscopy this week was normal) so that means ANOTHER unfill. Groan. I've also endured my colorectal surgeon banging on all year about how skinny I am (I'm really not, I dont think). I'd love to have a sleeve that nobody could make me unfill! I'd love not to have to go back for fills. My band is almost full (only 0.2cc to go) and I dont have anythign like the restriction I had before I unfilled it. A sleeve, once it is done, is DONE. But the band is totally adjustable, totally reversible and it probably makes sense to try it first before you go changing your body irrevocably. In all likelihood, it'll work and be enough for you.

Can't you have 1 piece of dark choc a day? The people I know that had bypass usually allow themselves that.

I have been planning on having the sleeve all along and then I saw the nutritionist today. She recommended that I consider bypass as I have a real problem with binging on sugar. I am not sure. I would love to hear why people chose bypass over sleeve. RIght now my only major health problem is obesity and arthritis. My family history is horrific however, none of us are a normal weight. I feel like I have been working for years just to stay under 250. My father died of a heart attack at 62. He weighed over 500 pounds when he died. I am 52 now and want to be able to stay active into my 70's and 80's so I really want to be sure I make the right choice now.

Thank you all for sharing your stories and successes. I so appreciate the well thought out responses. At our first appointment my surgeon asked if I had thought about which surgery I wanted and agreed with me that the VSG was a good choice. Last week we had birthday cake at the office and I spent the day going by and grabbing a bite. I had to throw the leftover cake away (forget about co-workers) so I would not eat all of it. Sugar and refined carbs are my triggers for binges and uncontrolled eating. The suggestion by the nutritionist to consider bypass has made me really think about my challenges with specific types of food.

I am no nutritionist by any means so I couldn't tell you how to lose weight. Plus, I think everyone is different in how their body reacts to certain types of food and stressers in your life and whether you are male or female. It is proven men tend to lose quicker than women and still be able to eat more, even my doctor will tell you that. So although I can't totally disagree with B52 on some of his theories, you have to find what works best for you and be honest about it. A few weeks ago I lost 4# in one week. Usually I may lose a pound or two. I changed my diet around some that week, because I was slowly dragging throughout the day with no energy. I was having trouble getting my protein totals in for each day, because I couldn't stand drinking a protein shake. Then I decided to switch it up a bit and made homemade tuna, chicken salad, fish and even some turkey that week with almost every meal, even breakfast. Although I went from eating around 500-600 calories to nearly 900 I lost weight and stayed full much longer than I did trying a liquid diet of protein. So in my case adding more protein in the form of food choices is what helped me out. This past week, with finals coming up and working all day I didn't have the time to make all that stuff and did more of the old routine and only lost a half pound, still eating around 700 calories as well as walking a couple miles 4 days a week. But then again I am in this for the long hall. I was told that this was not going to be like bypass surgery and I would lose weight at a slower pace and I am fine with that, because past experience proved that if I tried to rush the process, more than likely I wasn't learning how to do it correctly in the first place. Put too much pressure on yourself to speed it up and your surely to fail somewher along the line when you hit one of those dreaded Plateus they tell us about.

Thank you. I bet you're really anxious. I know I would be. I actually didn't know about the sleeve until the other day when I went to a seminar. I had researched weight loss surgery probably 10 years ago for about a year and then got discouraged when my insurance didn't cover it. Heck my insurance still doesn't cover weight loss surgery but I was able to draw a little bit of money out of my 401k... Not enough to pay for gastric bypass I would still have to finance a little bit unless I have it done in Mexico. I wish you success and happiness in the future with your sleeve. I truly know what this means.

It's supposed to only happen with gastric bypass, but when your body adjusts to eating a healthy diet and you occasionally throw in something sweet, you may get sick. This is quite common. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I was told Highmark BCBS has been covering gastric banding for the last month. But yet once again TODAY I have been denied.They will cover Gastric Banding now But not Lapband what is gasticbanding if not Lapband.They say it is not FDA approved.My doctor said yes it is.I have Plenty of co morbitities. I have had six months of doctor supervised nutrion counseling and a mental evaluation for GAStic Bypass. I dont want GAStric Bypass. Thank's for letting me VENT.:angry Ladysplenda

I don't think Guiness was trying to be rude or judgemental - she never put anyone down - she stated the FACT that with the lapband it is expected that the overweight person would lose 30 to 40% of the amount of weight they needed to lose - it's the same as bypass but we have 2 yrs to do it and bypassers have to do it in one. There are people who do lose 100% of the weight that have to lose but the statistic are that we won't. FACT ladies & Gentleman - it was in the paper work you signed and read at your doctors office. Here is her post - where is she being judgemental - Please point it out to me cuz i am totally missing it. I'm newly banded, but I read a whole lot more than I ever post. I have spent hours and hours this last week doing a lot of reading here. I have read a lot of posts that its obvious that the people recognize that this a just a TOOL to help in weight loss. I have also read many posts where people were banded 2 or more years ago and have only lost 40 lbs. How in the world is that even possible? The physics of weight loss are simple. MORE ENGERY EXPENDED THAN CONSUMED = WEIGHT LOSS... Are their really people undergoing this operation that don't understand this? I am not judging anyone, please don't think this. But its like I see people FREAKING out if they dont feel "their restriction". What that says to me is that we are relying totally on our bands to do the work. For me I feel as if its going to be a lot more "headwork" than anything. I dunno, I could totally freak out if I don't feel it either. I just feel like as if I am scared that I will totally be dependent on the band to do everything when I know from that start that no matter what I have to do my part of eating right and moving my body. I read the results of the studies and its right there in black and white. People with lapband lose only 30-40% of their weight? What they aren't saying is why is this happening? It could be a multitude of things. But I like many others felt this was the best course for me and am committed to do the right things and let the band be my aid. I think it just goes to show that those so called "thorough psych evals" are hogwash. If any this doesnt make sense, forgive me. I tend to ramble when I have a lot of thoughts. Also, not trying to offend anyone. Just food for thought. I think that the reason that not everyone statically doesnt' get to goal weight is that we have an Addiction and they arent always cured even with the band or bypass - we all have hear stories of banders & bypassers who gain ALL their weight back... And yes we do put the hope into this band that - that wont' be us - but how many of us have loss our weight and said "Im never going to put it back on again" and then turned around and put it all back on if not more We can't put our head in to the sand and pretend this isnt fact. is it hitting to close to home. is that why everyone want to jump on her. Am I suppose to be supportive of you eating ten candy bars a day and crying that you aren't lossing weight -H*LL NO... this is all the poor girl was talking about - And I will stand my her on the firing lines Cuz if you get on here and tell me you are eating candy - i am going to be surportive about the what ever is causing you to eat - but as your friend - i am going to tell you - pull those boot straps up and get back on the Band Wagon - cuz drowning your sorrow in food ain't cutting it.. Also some times we need a little slap in the face to wake us up and not go back to our old destructive eating habit. We are FAT and we all got here by sticking fork after fork of food in our mouths and not exercising - Eating high fat - high surgar foods and in large quanities... What we have to change is our brains - it's too bad they can't band them - then we wouldn't be having this discussion...

My doctor is doing the same thing with me. I have a list of things I can choose along with my Protein shakes. I usually do 2 shakes a day and eat from my list the rest of the time. Yes, and drink LOTS of Water. Mine is revision surgery so the liver shrinking is important. I have 13 days to go before surgery--can't wait! From what I have gathered, it does depend on your surgeon. I will have to do a 2 week liquid diet - but during that 2 weeks I can also have some "real" food - I get to choose 6 items from a list they will give me. I was told they do this to help shrink the liver (or the fat around the liver) so it makes it easier for the surgeon to move it out of the way when they do the surgery. It's also a good way to start practicing for how you eat after the surgery.

Well crap. Went in for my fill and he couldn't access my port. He stuck me about 12 times and still couldn't get it. He said I'm going to be really sore later! Not fun since I didn't even get the fill to make the pain worth it. They are checking with my insurance company to see if they will cover a fill under x-ray (I was self-pay for the surgery) and possibly a port revision. He thinks my port might have flipped, in which case he will give me a local and some light sedation then make a small incision and move the port closer to the skin. He's had some patients with a short area between the rib cage and waist, like me, who've had problems with port access. I'm hoping my insurance will cover it all. We'll do the x-ray fill first to see if it has indeed flipped. Dang it! I just want some freakin' restriction. I feel like I paid all this money for nothing right now.

i can relate, this is my biggest fear, i eat fast and i dont always chew thoroughly. i have a friend who just had the bypass and she used to eat as fast as me and she said that it just happens when you have surgery, if you dont chew all the way or you eat to fast you may throw it back up. i am trying to be more aware of how fast im eating but i have conquered it yet. good luck to you andrea

I have not heard of either of these procedures, and wonder why a lapband would be needed with the sleeve surgery. I am a retired nurse, but I've been retired a number of years now and am not up on the newest things out there. I thought Gastric Bypass took quite awhile to complete, but I'm no expert. I think you will be better served by others on here that have more knowledge of present operations. __________________ Originally posted at www.lapbandtalk.com

I enjoyed meeting both of you as well. It's nice to put real faces with names. My husband feels so much better about the whole process and surgery after attending with me last night. Since I am self-pay and a revision, I have a consult with Dr. Nick tomorrow afternoon. I will let you know how it goes. He said last night he thinks I should do this in 2 surgeries, one to remove the band and let the stomach heal and then do the sleeve later. That makes the most since, but of course will not happen as fast as I want it to. Anna

I live in Plano and am scheduled to have the band to sleeve revision on 11-8-09. I'm excited to get the band out as I never lost any weight with it. Dr. Jayaseelan is doing my surgery. He did the original band surgery along with gall stone & hiatel hernia repair.