I am pre-banded right now and I find that everytime I try to tell anyone about having gastric banding done they automatically assume gastric bypass. I have an aunt who had gastric bypass done years ago and she ended up having a bad surgery and has had trouble ever since. So I naturally want everyone to know right off the bat that it is not anything like gastric bypass. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to tell friends and family without going right into explaining that this is not bypass?

I had an article from a newspaper that compared Lapbands to GB that I used to show people when I was explaining to them what I was having done. Some people are still confused and can't grasp the difference. Just try to patiently explain to them that they do not cut your stomach at all. Good luck!!

You can go online and get images of banding with descriptions of the procedure and show that to them.

Great ideas!thank you so much for your input. I will print some info today.

I chose to only tell two close friends about banding but others here have given you great information.

I showed people who were confused the brochures and other info about the banding procedure. As I have gone through this past year, they have also learned about it (just as I have!). In fact, a friend of mine is now approved to have her surgery! She observed how things went with me, and felt comfortable going forward herself!

Good luck!

I am pre-banded right now and I find that everytime I try to tell anyone about having gastric banding done they automatically assume gastric bypass. I have an aunt who had gastric bypass done years ago and she ended up having a bad surgery and has had trouble ever since. So I naturally want everyone to know right off the bat that it is not anything like gastric bypass. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to tell friends and family without going right into explaining that this is not bypass?

Yes, I tell everyone I am getting a belt for my stomach!!

I usually put it into lamans terms:

"I have a ring around my stomach. It changed the shape into a hourglass which allows me to feel full on a small amount of food. it was pretty low invasive and I was back running around in a few days."

And if they still need more I usually add the fact I have all of my digestive system still intack, unchanged and functioning except for the shape thing.

Good luck some people will never get it but this is for you not them.