I met with my Dr. on January 6th and discussed the fact that I wanted lap band surgery. He didn't tell me not to get that surgery, in fact he told me such wonderful things about it. But he says that the surgery works for some and not for others. He knows for sure that gastric and the sleeve work. But I'm 23 years old with NO co-morbities and I know how to eat correctly and when I do exercise, I love it! He's a competent surgeon and teaches other surgeons how to do it! I'm wondering why he would suggest the more serious of the surgeries for me when I'm a very healthy, young person who is capable of doing the work that comes with the band! Help....suggestions, anything!

My original doctor did the same to me except she was pushing the bypass because of my diabetes. I didn't feel comfortable with the other procedures but I did consider having the sleeve but it wasn't covered by my insurance and while I was researching the sleeve one of the things I was researching was if I can make the sleeve stretch out so I definitely knew the procedure wasn't for me. Fortunately I found out about the band with plication and was able to find a doctor located in an area that made it easy for me to go have my surgery (I live in Maryland but had surgery in Florida where my parents live so I'm recovering at their house)

The biggest downside of the band when compared to the other procedures is that you have to do more work in that you have to change the way to eat (more chewing), the process of getting to proper restriction can be long and difficult, and the weight loss rate can be slower.. It's not to say that you can't be successful with it but I'm sure that all your doctor wanted to do was to make sure that you are aware of the other options out there and to consider what their post-op lifestyles are like.

In the end you have to choose the procedure you are most comfortable having and if it is the band go for it

Wow, thank you for responding! I live in Maryland also. He said that he would defiantly do the band, he called himself giving me "other options". It was weird, he was telling me how great the band could be for people, then telling me that results are determined by the person's amount of work they put in! I'm gonna work hard for it! I think he wants me to lose as quickly as bypass and sleeve patients. But I have no health problems and I don't mind taking my time!

Thanks again!

YOU know you can do the work, but remember, your doctor doesn't know you at all! Many doctors prefer the gastric sleeve or bypass for severely morbidly obese patients for whom they feel that very rapid initial weight loss is important, for health reasons. You're young, and you can still exercise. If you want the band, get it. It's your body and your choice. Never forget that.

YOU know you can do the work, but remember, your doctor doesn't know you at all! Many doctors prefer the gastric sleeve or bypass for severely morbidly obese patients for whom they feel that very rapid initial weight loss is important, for health reasons. You're young, and you can still exercise. If you want the band, get it. It's your body and your choice. Never forget that.

Thank you for saying that! I thought my dr. had some sort of bypass quota to meet or something. Knowing that other dr.'s suggest that makes me feel better!

Girl! Go for the surgery that YOU want. Its nice that he put those options out there for you but there are a lot of other MORE serious health risks with those surgeries also. I chose the band because honestly, I have seen NEG NEG NEG about the sleeve and bypass is DANGEROUS from the research I have done. I was banded 8-12-11 and have lost 58 pounds

I found this info whilst surfing the net the other day which gives quite a good comparison of the 2 procedures.

http://www.lapbandsurgery.com/bariatric-surgery-support/gastric-sleeve-vs-lap-band/

Girl! Go for the surgery that YOU want. Its nice that he put those options out there for you but there are a lot of other MORE serious health risks with those surgeries also. I chose the band because honestly, I have seen NEG NEG NEG about the sleeve and bypass is DANGEROUS from the research I have done. I was banded 8-12-11 and have lost 58 pounds

I'm not very fond of the cutting and removing part. He said it was my decision, I'm sticking to the band!

I found this info whilst surfing the net the other day which gives quite a good comparison of the 2 procedures.

http://www.lapbandsu...ve-vs-lap-band/

Thanks, great site!

http://www.thinnertimes.com/weight-loss-surgery/wls-basics/weight-loss-surgery-comparison.html

Above is a chart comparing various WLS procedures. Bypass and sleeve have a higher excess weight loss percentage than banding. They are also a "set it and forget it" procedure, not needing the aftercare that a band needs. On the flip side, they have higher rates of severe complications.

Mine wanted the By-Pass too.

Infact the morning of surgery, he came jumping in the room, and said 'LET ME DO THE BYPASS!" I said NO ! and it better not be done that way when I wake up. He just turned away and said O.K.... and I don't recall seeing him untill the next morning for the Barium Swallow. So yep I was banded.

According to my nurse educator, the sleeve and the bypass produce more rapid weight loss than the band at first, but at the three-year mark the results for all three are about the same.

My Dr. did the same and at first I agreed to it , but I thought more about it and decided it wasn't for me. I am willing to do the work and am not looking fro an easy fix. I am looking for a long term goal. Ready for my journey to start surgery on the 19th! Go with whats best for you!

Congratulations on taking the first step to a new you! With that said, you must do what is right for you. Research all of your options and go into this with an open mind.

My surgeon also encouraged me to do the bypass because it allows for quicker weight loss. I went into this knowing that my band was only a tool and that I would have to learn an entirely new way of eating. It was the best option for me and I would do it again in a heartbeat! With that said, you chose what is best for you! Good luck.

I went in only considering the band and my doctor asked me to research and consider gastric as well. When I inquired about it he said they are both great and was confident I would do well with both but said to consider gastric because of my young age (i'm 29). He said the band is a foreign object in my body and beings as I have such a long life to live they don't know what the band will do to someone's body 40 or 50 years from now and talked about erosion, etc. He mentioned a few other things that I don't recall but the main thing was that there's not enough studies on how it will effect someone over a long period of time. I was not at all comfortable with gastric, way to invasive for me. I left his office agreeing to attend a seminar on gastric. I went to the seminar and left still wanting the band. I was banded 10/04/11 and so far have been very happy with it. No problems at all other than what I knew to expect like being stuck. Which has only happened because i tried to eat something I knew I shouldn't have or too to big of a bite.

Bypass may be quicker, but it's not the healthiest way to go unless you're extremely obese. Your body doesn't get the nutrients it needs and you have to be very careful about what you eat.

I researched all three procedures and, like you, I know how to eat right and I don't mind exercise. I decided that the band was a tool that would help me control my weight without compromising my health - and I'm 56 years old.

In the end, you have to do what YOU are comfortable with. Its your body and you are the person who has to live with the decision - not your surgeon.

Whatever you decide, the people here will support you, encourage you and answer your questions - it feels like family!