So I had my initial meeting with my surgeon today, and he told me that he doesn't recommend the lap band surgery at all!! He told me that he removes almost more bands than he puts in, and told me I should consider one of the other 2 surgeries. I have no idea what to do now. I had my heart (and head) set on the band, but now I'm completely thrown for a loop... Can anyone tell me what they would do in this situation? I'm not too keen about getting 1/2 my stomach removed and I'm not even going to contemplate the bypass...HELP!!!

The went to three Drs. The third one said he would do lapband. I had my mind set on lapband and only lapband after researching all three surgeries. Do your research, if you don't want the other surgeries then be determined to find someone that will do the one you want.

Dr #1 said I wouldn't lose enough weight in the first year to be considered a success.

(editted cause I hit "enter" too soon)

Dr #2 said I was too fat for lapband (BMI over 50) and I had to lose weight before they would see me again. I had to see my PCM, get a letter saying I had lost enough to be under BMi of 50.

Dr # 3 specializes in lapband (also found him 3 hours away from home) and agreed to do the surgery.. Surgery date of March 9!! So excited

my dr. tried to talk me out of lab band too - but only because i was a 47 BMI and he had seen the majority of his patients not lose enough on lap band to justify the surgery - my mind was made up though and there was no changing it - i love my dr. but i'll always harbor a little mistrust due to that initial conversation. 8 months and 100+ pounds later we are both thrilled with the results and haven't looked back. BEST OF LUCK TO US ALL ON OUR JOURNEYS!!!!

I was a 46 bmi and I was banded September 2011. My surgeon was against it but with much persuasion gave it to me. I've had a few complications and one setback due to an associate messing up my fills....but I started at 314 and. Now at 267. Slow and steady. I eat right, measure.my portions and exercise. The only.difference I see in my.friends who.net.bypass....is they lost more weight with no work initially. Find a new doctor. Explore their reasoning. The band.does take commitment and work. It's not for everybody but if you are.serious about your loss and willing to work for itkeep searching.till you find a doc who will

I was a bmi of 60 when i had lap band surgery and look how much weight i have lost, his thoughts are very narrow minded... if the commitment is there so will be your results baring any mishaps of course

Research the sleeve. I would've went that way if insurance covered it.

The thing to remember about statistics is that they lie! lol. Or at least misrepresent. The 40% - 50% number is an average. That means it includes people who have lost NO weight or even regained weight as well as people who have lost 100% of their excess weight.

The thing about lap band (which my dr and his staff stressed so often, it was like listening to a broken record) is that the band only works for people who work it. Unlike bypass, you can't rely on the body not absorbing the food to create rapid and dramatic weight loss. You have to follow all the rules and make the right choices in order to succeed with the band. Unfortunately, a lot of drs have just as much fat prejudice as the rest of the world, only their prejudice is in believing that fat people aren't willing or able to make the committment to the band. After all, life with the band is like an assisted diet--not the kind of diet that always failed or made us all miserable, but a healthy diet in the sense of a healthy style of lifelong eating and exercise. Since fat people have "clearly failed" at dieting in the past, many bariatric surgeons want to steer us toward bypass because at least some initial weightloss is more of a "sure thing."

Always remember though, that while bypass patients lose more initially, after 3-5 years, the average amount of weight lost between bandsters and bypassers generally equals out. And plenty of people have gained back their bypass weight, too.

Go with what feels right to you. If that's the band, get a second or third opinion from a surgeon who DOES do a lot of banding. Don't get bulldozed into a surgery you aren't 100% comfortable with. Good luck!

i'm in Maryland, and I =have Kaiser Permanente, does anyone else have Kaiser?

I'm so confused, he also said you only lose about 30-50% of excess weight? Have you guys lost more? I just want to make sure I have the best chance possible.

My Dr quotes the average of 66% of excess weight loss. This is because how much you lose is truly up to you. He said he also quotes losing the 66% within 2 to 2 1/2 years. He was very honest when we talked about goals. He said that he has patients that lose all of their excess weight within a year and some that only lose 50% and at a slower pace. He set my goal at 66% and said when I get there we will talk about the potential of getting to or at least closer to my normal range. He said for some people getting to their normal range isnt really a realistic goal because they dont want to put fourth the type of effort that it may take and that losing half is still great. He forsees me being one of his patients that gets to the normal weight range and doing it a lot faster than average but said we will wont know until further down the line what is really best for me.

Anyways I know that was a bit rambly but the point is that its all dependent on you.

I will say that I talked to many Drs about this, also my insurance and the psychologist all said that this procedure was an amazing choice and much healthier, at least for me, than the alternatives.

Hope that helps!

So I was freaking out big time cause I thought that I could only have the dr. that my insurance selected, but I'm apparently very special and I can pick the surgeon of my choice. I want to thank everyone that responded to my question, and I am going to seek a second opinion and hopefully get a surgery date soon.

Keep you all posted!

Thank you everyone for all of the advice. After my original surgeon told me that he didn't recommend lap band, I went into a spiral for a while and gained about 7 pounds in 3 weeks. I decided that I am going to meet with a different surgeon and get a second opinion and I hope that the outcome of this goes a little better. Please throw some good vibes my way and thanks again.

Nelle