Not sure if this is the right spot to discuss this...can anyone give me their opinions between LapBand and Gastric Sleeve?

Two of my friends have been banded, and one my friends had the sleeve done last December. ALL are very happy with their results...so-which one is right for me? HELP?? :confused:

You have to decide which one is best for you. Not every WLS is right for one person. Some do better with the band, some fail, but the same goes for all types of WLS.

Take a look at the pros and cons of both surgeries, and decide which one really suits you best. No one can give you the answer but you, though talking to a WLS may help you to decide.

I've heard that if you have a hard time turning down sugars and carbs that the sleeve is a better choice, but that was just from one source. I think the best thing is to see why people chose the way they did and really think about the differences. If my insurance had paid for the sleeve when I startewd the pre-op program I might have chosen it, although I am happy so far with the band. The sleeve seems to have fewer lifestyle restrictions and possibly (since I don't really know) people with it have to pay less attention to dieting. But it is a more serious and irreversible operation so that would make me think twice. Risks are higher and you are altering your body...kind of an "eeeuw" to me.

The problem I see with this arguement for the sleeve (fewer lifestyle restrictions) is that if you don't change the way you eat then you are more likely to gain back all of the weight that had been lost. I think it would supremely suck if I lost a TON of weight but gained it all back because I chose a tool that allowed me to have fewer lifestyle restrictions.

I've heard that if you have a hard time turning down sugars and carbs that the sleeve is a better choice, but that was just from one source. I think the best thing is to see why people chose the way they did and really think about the differences. If my insurance had paid for the sleeve when I startewd the pre-op program I might have chosen it, although I am happy so far with the band. The sleeve seems to have fewer lifestyle restrictions and possibly (since I don't really know) people with it have to pay less attention to dieting. But it is a more serious and irreversible operation so that would make me think twice. Risks are higher and you are altering your body...kind of an "eeeuw" to me.

I have had the band for 3 yrs. now. It failed after about 15 months. I regained all of my weight back.

I will not let them put this in me again, it's to much of a problem. The sleeve does all of what the band says it's suppose to do.

The area that makes you hungry is removed so you really don't have a problem with hunger. When you have ate enough, your system will hiccup....

That is your sign that it is full. I believe I can live with that.

Keep in mind that down the road the mechanics in this band will fail ! You will have to have a revision, or re-gain the weight.

I originally chose band because my surgeon gave me a pamphlet that showed the statistics for weight loss between the band and sleeve and at the end of the first year, sleeve patients had lost more weight. By the end of the 2nd or 3rd year, it had evened out. Band may yield slower results but it is reversable and is less invasive than sleeve surgery.

Recently, I was considering a revision to the sleeve and found some medical reports that said that the stomach is removed in order to stop it from producing ghrelin, the hunger hormone, *BUT* that about a year or so after removal, the body finds a way to produce that ghrelin and in larger quantities than it had previously. The felt that in the very obese, their weight loss during that year would put them in a position where they would be less likely to overeat due to their 'success' at losing. Uh...what? Don't think so.

What I did find interesting is that both sleevers and bypass patients are getting banded. My guess is because the band puts pressure on the vagus nerves, which in turn suppresses the ghrelin.

Addendum: Almost forgot...talking to several sleeve people who felt the banded were more fortunate because their bands were adjustable. With the sleeve, you get whatever size sleeve they give you and if you have problems, oh well...you're stuck with them.

Not trying to convince you to choose one over the other...just that there are pros and cons to both sides. It's just a case of picking your poison.

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So true

I had the band for 3 yrs and lost all my weight (70 lbs)......after scar tissue billed up due to reflux, throwing up, and problems..... I lost my band. After almost a year I have gained all my weight plus some. I have no choice but to get the sleeve Dec 17. I look at the pros and cons and for both...each person does need to decide what is a best fit for them. For me, having the problems and constent refill/unfill to fix problems, I pray that the sleeve will help me.

For me, I have no will power and I need something to help give me a boost and assist me with will power. Neither are an easy fix, you have to make the lifestyle pain.

Karyn,

Good luck with your sleeve surgery! If you were successful with the band, I know you'll be successful with the sleeve.

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reading this is very helpful because i am in limbo between getting the band and the sleeve and my operation is in february