I had my first consult today, where I met with the Dr. and the dietitian. Everything was going great until we got to the part where we discussed what type of surgery was best for me. They both recommended the gastric bypass because they felt that I have a lot of weight to lose and that would be the best fit. I'm 278 - they recommend a 104 lb weight loss.

Here's the thing. I am dead set against gastric bypass, I want the lap band. I cannot wrap my brain around that my organs would be cut apart and after witnessing my aunt, my best friend and a client go through horrible complications with GB, I simply cannot do it. They were such a hard sell though, at one point I was just about to give up on doing any surgery at all. They were saying things like "you'll only be able to lose like 40-50 lbs and you're comfortable with that??" I was asked that more than once. My long term goal is to get pregnant, so they even started talking that up saying, do it for you future baby,etc. They were saying that other drs have had patients with complications but THIS dr. did not have many cases with those problems.

I honestly felt like I was at a car dealership. I was at a point I was almost in tears because I simply DO NOT want to cut my internal organs but they were making such a strong case against lap band.

It ended up where they gave in and said they would support whatever decision I make. I went on to have other tests done after that (chest xray - bloodwork - ekg and also have the barium swallow test Monday), and I am going to do this, but has anyone else had an experience like this?

I could have taken two paths, either don't do either surgery or get the lap band and prove them wrong. I came to the conclusion that maybe they get paid more to do gastric vs. lap band? Thoughts?

I had almost the exact same experience! Very frustrating!!! I am at 370, and my goal weight is 140. I told the surgeon that, and he literally said, "It's not going to happen, babe. The band will get you to 265- bypass will get you to 200. You're not getting close to 140." Needless to say, I am having my consultation with my new surgeon tomorrow! So infuriating. I think this surgeon was pushing the bypass because it is more expensive and there is no aftercare. Like you, I am dead set against the bypass, and I was not going to be talked into it. I am sorry you had the same irritating beginning that I did! Hope things are going well for you now! :confused:

I was about the same weight as you at 269 and my goal is to lose 104lbs. I passed 40-50 lbs about six months ago. It my take another year but I will lose the 104. My surgeon was totally for me having the lapband. Never once did he suggest that I should go with gastric bypass due to the amount of weight I had to lose.

By the way my surgeon is 2 1/2 hours away. A good surgeon is well worth the drive.

While my surgeon didn't pressure me to have the bypass surgery done, he did talk with me about seriously considering it, because of my size. But, like you, I am dead-set against having my insides rearranged. I told him I wanted the lap band, and he agreed to do it. He just wanted to make sure that I was well aware of the advantages and disadvantages of each surgery. But once my decision was made, he's been nothing but supportive.

BTW, my surgeon is well over an hour away.

My surgeon does offer a lot of different WLS options.

During the seminar, he really went through the pros and cons of all of them, and was very honest about how most people do not lose as much with the Band as they do with bypass. However, he was also very clear about the higher risks involved with bypass surgery.

He originally set my goal at -60% of my excess weight, or, at the time, 198 lbs. 60% of excess weight lost is the average for LB patients overall, so that's what he uses to start.

He didn't push me towards bypass at all, and I personally appreciated his candor about all types of surgery options.

Of course, he was happy to revise my goal before surgery when I had only 24 lbs left to get to his original goal! When I showed him in the months leading up to surgery that I was ready to be compliant, and ready to lose weight, he changed my goal to 150 lbs and has given me a lot of flexibility already in my post-op diet guidelines.

I know a couple of his other patients personally outside of our WLS. One bypass and one VSG, and they both also speak highly of his approach.

If you can find a surgeon that is willing to listen to you and work with you, it makes all the difference in the world. Don't let this office pressure you -- it's your body and your decision, for life!