Hi everyone. I am 5'2" and nearly 200 pounds. Initially I thought I would get the lap band but then started reading about the sleeve. Removing most of your stomach is terrifying, but with the band I will be going for fills and adjustments forever it seems. Is there anyone who can give me an opinion about which might be best for me? Are there more risks with the sleeve? Is the recovery longer? Is the weight loss not as much? I would appreciate any feedback.

My doc said that he very rarely puts in a band these days. it's becoming increasingly less popular since it is high maintenance (compared to other wls) and when you think about it...there is a stinkin' piece of hardware in your body. Also, most if the people I know personally that have the band have gained back so much weight because they just stop getting fills...and then they are like"I don't understand what's happening!"...psh. The sleeve is a great choice

The decision to get the band or the sleeve or RNY depends on what type of eater, exerciser and weight loser you are. If you are extremely overweight and need to get that weight off quickly OR ELSE, RNY is your best option. Consider it the "Rolls Royce" of weight loss surgeries.

If you already work out and aren't much into slider foods (foods that will slide right thru the band like ice cream and Pasta sauces and chocolate) and feel like you just need that resistance to help you drop the weight, then the band might be a good option. Unfortunately most overweight people aren't like that, so they're seeing a high failure rate. After awhile, people figure out how to eat around the band.

To me, the sleeve represents the most natural weight loss method with no malabsorption and (theoretically) no dumping and no foreign objects in the body. Once you're all healed, it's you doing the work. The sleeve is not a gastrointestinal workaround that stops you from absorbing not only calories but Vitamins and minerals. It's not a piece of silicone in your body that regulates how much you can eat. It's all you. The decision to eat well or not eat well starts in your brain and at your mouth.

We all have dieted and exercised, right? And ultimately the battle was too great. We needed help. So NOW when we diet and exercise the weight will actually come off.

Realistically how long should I expect to be out of work with the sleeve? I have a desk job at a bank. Is recovery worse than lap band?

The recovery time is the same. A week or less. My surgery was different , i had so much scar tissue built up from the band and had a hernia repair so it made me more sore than my band..

I will say this, I am on a Lap band complications group .... We all had serious issues with our band.

As far as what would happen if you got stomach cancer down the road, My mom asked my doc just that and he said " what you mean when your 50 or 60 ? IF that were to happen we can still cut half of yoru stomach out and you will be fine ! I looked at it like this , if i DIDNt get the surgery I might not make it to 50 !

I cant stress enough how bad the band is ! if you want to throw up for the rest of your life get the band.

im not trying to be rude but at one point i thought the band would kill me . I went for nearly a year not being able to eat solid foods due to that crap band !

Like everyone else on here i also thought about getting the band, my aunt has the band and has been pretty sucsessful with it so why wouldnt i want to get it? When i went for my consult with the same surgeon my aunt went to he flat out told me he wouldnt recommend the band and that the band has so many complications and that you will be throwing up and coming in for fills all the time. Pretty much changed my mind. I dont have time for that . Plus if im going to be having surgery why not do it right the first time. There are all kinds of risks associated with any wls. Just choose for you and what you think is best for your life.

I wanted the band for 10 years. I went to seminars, researched and told my mom and everyone thought it was a great idea. I never really followed up on getting it done and 10 years slipped by. So, the opportunity presented itself that I could have the surgery self pay and I went in knowing that I wanted the band. I walked into my surgeon's office for my first appointment and said I wanted the band. He asked me if I wanted the band or the sleeve. This was the first time I had heard of the sleeve. He explained the procedure and said that with the band, I could expect to lose 50% excess body weight, but with the sleeve, I could expect to lose 85% EBW. Of course, I liked the numbers for the sleeve, but the thought of it being so permanent scared the beejeezus out of me. What if I wanted to eat like I could before? What if skinny isn't my thing? I had to wrap my head around the fact that this was going to be the new me forever. When I was talking to my surgeon and I said that it was so permanent, my mom said bluntly and matter of factly, "then I guess you don't really want to change your life and lifestyle". Talk about a blow to the gut. She was right. So I made up my mind right then to have the sleeve and haven't looked back. I work from home typing for a 10-hour shift. I was sleeved on a Mon, had my normal 3 days off and was back to work on Friday. the first few days were the worst for me because of the gas, but i have no regrets. I started at 327 on Oct 31 and I am 292 today. Best decision ever.

Like everyone else on here i also thought about getting the band, my aunt has the band and has been pretty sucsessful with it so why wouldnt i want to get it? When i went for my consult with the same surgeon my aunt went to he flat out told me he wouldnt recommend the band and that the band has so many complications and that you will be throwing up and coming in for fills all the time. Pretty much changed my mind. I dont have time for that . Plus if im going to be having surgery why not do it right the first time. There are all kinds of risks associated with any wls. Just choose for you and what you think is best for your life.

It takes a while for people who have the band to realize they have a problem . took me nearly 2 yrs . But when you finally realize its the band who has failed and not you its a huge relief to some point. Alot of band people throw up and think " im eating too much , too fast or not following the rules eating becomes a chore with the band, so you end up starting to eat junk , cause it slides through . So eventually the weight comes back on .

In my case I slipped my band TWICE very badly and built up so much scar tissue had the band been filled again it would have closed off the openign to my stomach .. NOw after having it removed its been 3 weeks nearly post op and I STILL cant eat mushy foods. WILL I ? Yes but its taking me much longer to get there than others who just had the sleeve.

Jennlg2- make sure to do lots of research & ask questions before making your decision. I personally chose the sleeve because I know 2 people who had the band & had nothing but trouble. My friend had to have the band removed because it eroded into her stomach lining & my other friend who had the band said getting fills & risk of slippage or problems is not good. Her band has slipped & she has regained all her weight plus some & has to have surgery to have it removed. Well, needless to say, that was enough convincing for me! I'm not trying to persuade you either way. Just do your research & chose what's best for you

The sleeve works the way the band was SUPPOSE to but does not .

If that make sense ?