confused

[Mili85 0]

Hey guys! So I had my consult appt yesterday and I'm so confused. At first I decided to get the lap band procedure. I was worried about the long term effects of it. I spoke to the surgeon yesterday and he said that I should get the VSG because I'm young. I'm only 23 with a bmi of exactly 40. He said if I was to get the lap band I would have to live with a foreign object in my body for the rest of my life. I want to get the VSG but I'm afraid. Its a fairly new procedure and I'm worried about the long term effects it will have. I don't even know if my insurance will cover it, I have oxford. I'm so lost guys. I've been on this website for days now.

[cwalck 1]

Stay on the website. You will get so many replies to this. Everyone here seems so happy with the sleeve and there are many on this site that have had the band and had it removed and then had the sleeve! Stay on here. You will learn a lot. I am getting ready for my surgery within the next 30 days

[Katrina 1]

It is honestly not that new of a surgery. For WL yes but for in general not all that new. Now as a stand alone surgery many people are seeing better results from the sleeve then they would from the band. Nearing the exact same as the RnY, and if time keeps with the pace might even become the new 'gold' standard.

So ask your questions and post your fears, what is freaking you out about it?

[Mili85 0]

Hey katrina,

I'm worried about the complications during surgery.....

[goodlife 3]

Hey katrina,

I'm worried about the complications during surgery.....

What complications do you think there would be with a sleeve surgery that wouldn't be possible with a band surgery?

[Tiffykins 672]

Honestly, I've had both the band and the sleeve.

The band sucked the life right out of me. And, with the sleeve, well life is pretty damn fabulous.

My personal experience with the band was deplorable. And, with rising complication stats on the band, I would seriously reconsider getting a band placed. I don't regret my time with the band (8months), but it was the worse 8 months.

1 in 4 band patients will have to have another surgery to either repair or remove their band within 5 years.

The band has the lowest and slowest weight loss of any of the surgeries.

The maintenance alone is a pain in the butt. Going in for fills and unfills, going back on a liquid diet after a fill because you have no idea how your stomach will react to even just 1cc of Fluid being slipped in there.

Port flipping, moving, and being inaccessible then not being able to get fills or unfills.

The food restrictions with a band are horrific.

The immediate complications with the sleeve occur within the first few weeks following surgery. If you have a competent, and experienced surgeon, the complications should be less than 1%. The long term complications with the band far outweigh the long term complications with the sleeve.

Gastrectomies have been performed decades upon decades for stomach cancer and ulcer patients. This procedure has also been done for years as the first part of the 2 stage Duodenal Switch surgery. The sleeve has 5 year stats, and new research is coming out all the time.

Sadly, the band doesn't last a lifetime. Even the manufacturers only give them 5-10 years so you can pretty much foresee another surgery in your future if you choose a band.

I know I am extremely biased when it comes to the sleeve vs. band discussion. But, I've lived the life with both. I have friends and family in real life that have the band, and they just accept the puking 2-4 times a week, the slow weight loss. Heck, my mom has been in a year long stall with her band, and she can't even get a fill bc she'll puke more than she already does. That's not a great quality of life in my opinion.

Only you can decide which surgery will work for you and your lifestyle. Just go into both with eyes wide-open, and do as much research as you can.

Best wishes, and feel free to post any and all questions, read through some of the revision posts as we have a lot of band to sleeve revisions here that have shared their stories.

[pnw218 14]

Hi Mili,

I was initially going to have the lapband also, mainly because it was reversible and I was so sure that after I lost my weight, I could have it removed. I stumbled across the sleeve option while reading about the lapband, and decided it was a much better choice. I also met a gal locally who had the surgery - and she has gone from a size 22 to a 6 in a year. Totally amazing.

As far as complications go - there is always a risk when you are sedated. If you have never experienced that before, it can be scary. I often will wake up teary but that goes away quickly. People have this surgery everyday and if the complications were high, you would hear about it. What made me the most comfortable was knowing that many had gone before me, traveling to Mexico, having the surgery and flying home a few days later. I figured it just couldn't be that bad and risks were low.

Also with the lapband, I was concerned about having an object in my abdomen and wondered if the port could be seen. The thought of fills also didn't thrill me. Even tho I have had several surgeries and donate blood, I still do not like needles!

Keep doing your research and ask lots of questions so you can be comfortable with your decision. As I slowly tell more people about it, most are supportive (to my face, lol) and only a few grill me. Most of them tho have no idea what it is like to be heavy, only think "bypass" not understanding the difference with the sleeve and think having surgery in Mexico is crazy! Ok. Maybe it is just a little, but it worked!!

Good Luck!!