My mom works with a lady who had lap band done and decided to ask her some questions about how and why she chose lap band and a bunch of other stuff. The lady told her about some horror stories (the lady that got lap band is also a nurse). Anywhoo, now my mom wants me to switch to lap band because the recovery is easier and the risks are lower and you loose weight slower so she thinks I won't cause so much excess skin and losing weight slower is healthier.... She's the one that planted the seed in my head in the first place and now she's taking it back. If I don't have her support I don't know what I will do because I was iffy about GBP in the first place...

I don't know how old you are but if you are iffy about any type of surgery then don't do it. This is a life altering decision not to be taken lightly. And certainly not a decision to be made by anyone but you. Research research research!!!!

By now, I'm sure you know that every type of weight loss surgery comes with it's pros and cons. I originally wanted the LapBand - 100% gonna get it. I loved the idea of being able to remove it whenever I wanted. Then I went and talked to my doctor about it. She told me that LapBand probably wasn't right for me. Because I have over 100 pounds to lose, a surgeon would recommend RNY. So she referred me to my surgeon.

Long story short - after doing extensive research on my own, going to his seminar and having my first initial appointment with him, we both decided that RNY is the way to go. LapBand is usually only professionally recommended when the patient has 50 pounds or less to lose. It takes, on average, about a year or longer to find the "sweet spot" as far as how much saline to fill your band with for the appropriate rate of weight loss. THEN YOU START REALLY LOSING WEIGHT! A year after surgery! For anybody to assume that LapBand is quicker weight loss or easier recovery is totally false. Everybody recovers differently and not everyone follows doctors orders also - which they NEVER admit - and the blame of failure get passed around like a hot potato.

If you are morbidly obese (as I am) there is always going to be excess skin after any kind of weight loss. Slow or fast. It's plain science. Our skin is made to stretch and be pliable but not for extensive periods of time. When it is stretched for extensive periods, we end up with excess skin. There are exercises that can work wonders for tightening back up but the only way to completely "pull it all back together", is plastic surgery post op.

The closer you get to this surgery becoming a reality the more the people around you are going to second guess your decision and try and talk you out of it. It's only because they are concerned. Remember this - there is a HUGE reason why you're considering having bariatric surgery in the first place - your life! To prolong and ensure that the remaining years you have on this planet are healthy and full.

Reasons why I didn't chose lapband:

I don't like the idea of having a foreign implement.

I didn't like the idea of having the fills and maintenance

I didn't like the risk that it could burst or slip.

Reasons why I chose RNY

Less of a chance of esophagus cancer.

Dumping will keep me in check.

Had the best history of success

Better chance of weight loss.

My recovery is still ongoing, but I feel great, I'm 10 days out, and I already feel as though I have more energy. I've had no nausea, I'm walking almost a mile a day, and I can already tell I'm losing weight.

And At the point where you're considering weight loss surgery, all of them are MAJOR abdominal surgery and the recovery time will be about the same.

Each procedure has it's pro's and con's, Do your research and decide what is best for YOU, not us, not your mother's friend, but YOU!

Just remember that it is ultimately your decision in the end, Don't let anyone chose for you.

I'm a failed lap ban who had emergency removal and now has RNY....you have to be confident in your decision....if you need more time then take it! My band and I were never friends. I was a good lap band patient. I lost weight, but I was constantly sick, miserable. Had unexplained chest and shoulder pain the entire time I had the band which was miraculously cured the second I woke up post op from band removal...my recovery from both was very similar, I took a couple extra days after RNY but I'm older and had the time available, pain wise it was not biggie.

People tend to be very polarized when it comes to bariatric surgery, if they've had xxx they will defend it to the death. Their uncle joe had zzz and such and such happened and no you should never do that surgery ever...

Mom means the best and wants what safest...or what she believes is safest. My surgeon is barely doing bands now because of the complication and failure rate. The band is often consider safer because it's removable. What no one mentioned was that in rare cases the band can do so much damage that even after removal other surgeries aren't possible (I know 2 of these unfortunate folks). I had so much inflammation and scarring at the time of my removal that I couldn't be revised to RNY and was sent home to heal for 6 months before my surgeon felt it was safe to do my RNY.

I'm almost 3 months post op from my RNY I feel better than I ever did with my band. I have no pain, I don't get 'stuck' I can eat almost anything just in small amounts.....

Do your research, talk to your doc, sorry to go on and on but people extolling the safety virtues of band freak me out a bit

I agree research reasearch research! I had the band in 06 and lost 120lbs in about a yr and a half which was wonderful i recovered very quickly then in 09 started gaining weight after my dad passed away then in 2010 i got pregnant and took all the fluid out and gained ALL my weight back i was throwing up constantly from morning sickness and after i gave birth it didnt stop food got "stuck " all the time i could eat chips crackers cookies ice cream no problem but salad chicken real food got stuck i ended up going to drs after being scared to face him after gaining it all back and found out i actually had a problem with my band so in april 2012 had it removed and a new band put in because i was too scared to do the bypass immediately after my new band i was constantly sick again always sick everything good got stuck ate junk food all the time because it never bothered me and i gained another almost 30lbs so on april 16th 2013 i had the bypass after TONS of research ....my reasons for chosing it were many but my maim reasons were the weight loss is greater than the sleeve or band ....the rny is considered the gold standard in WLS ......the risks are about the same for the 3 .

....The dumping will help keep me on track....they do not insert any foreign objects like the band or remove any parts like the sleeve....the recovery and pain have been worse then the band but i still am happy i did it its been less than 3 weeks and im not hungry at all ive lost 21lbs so far

Reasons why I didn't chose lapband:

I don't like the idea of having a foreign implement.

I didn't like the idea of having the fills and maintenance

I didn't like the risk that it could burst or slip.

Reasons why I chose RNY

Less of a chance of esophagus cancer.

Dumping will keep me in check.

Had the best history of success

Better chance of weight loss.

Exactly why I'm picking RNY. I need to know I will dump and get sick if I don't follow the rules or I will cheat from time to time. I love ice cream and bread to much to back off on my own. I almost worship those two foods. lol

I've met and got to know a lot of people now who have had RNY done and each one is an awesome success.

I am a Lap Band to RNY revision. I never did great with my band (lost about 45 lbs or so) but then about 8 months out my band was ruptured during a fill. I was bounced around from doc to doc until I was finally told that because of my Diabetes and PCOS that the band would not even be an option for me anymore. So I'm having the broken device removed and the RNY done! I cant wait!! I wanted the RNY 4 years ago but went with Band bc my husband and mom was terrified and talked me out of it. I wish I had stuck to my guns. Research as much as possible, take into account any other metabolic or physical issues you have, then make the choice thats best for you and STICK TO IT! Don't let anyone talk you out of it! Best of luck!

Exactly why I'm picking RNY. I need to know I will dump and get sick if I don't follow the rules or I will cheat from time to time. I love ice cream and bread to much to back off on my own. I almost worship those two foods. lol

I've met and got to know a lot of people now who have had RNY done and each one is an awesome success.

I'm with you! I want that extra protection (dumping) to help me along. My vices are pizza and pasta!

FYI.... Not everyone will dump! But the size of your pouch will greatly limit your intake.

FYI.... Not everyone will dump! But the size of your pouch will greatly limit your intake.

Yeah, I hope I am a dumper so I stay away from things I shouldn't have! Since surgery tho, I've been really good. I had major surgery to lose weight and I don't want to mess with anything. I want to be a huge success like you!

I am a Lap Band to RNY revision. I never did great with my band (lost about 45 lbs or so) but then about 8 months out my band was ruptured during a fill. I was bounced around from doc to doc until I was finally told that because of my Diabetes and PCOS that the band would not even be an option for me anymore. So I'm having the broken device removed and the RNY done! I cant wait!! I wanted the RNY 4 years ago but went with Band bc my husband and mom was terrified and talked me out of it. I wish I had stuck to my guns. Research as much as possible' date=' take into account any other metabolic or physical issues you have, then make the choice thats best for you and STICK TO IT! Don't let anyone talk you out of it! Best of luck![/quote']

I have PCOS as well I was dead set on GBP then this morning we started talking because I'm attending a seminar tomorrow and then she busted out her friends "stories". I am 25 years old and capable of making my own decisions but my mom is my best and some times only friend and her opinion means a lot to me. Plus I'm on her insurance so I still have to have her agree partially

I have PCOS as well I was dead set on GBP then this morning we started talking because I'm attending a seminar tomorrow and then she busted out her friends "stories". I am 25 years old and capable of making my own decisions but my mom is my best and some times only friend and her opinion means a lot to me. Plus I'm on her insurance so I still have to have her agree partially

Maybe do the research together and also let her read some of the stories on here with you

I already experience dumping from having my gallbladder removed and its horrible.. Beyond horrible!! It controls my life in fact. I had to quit my landscaping job to become a stay at home mom

Maybe do the research together and also let her read some of the stories on here with you

Wonderful idea. She's attending the seminar with me!!

Totally agree on research, research, research and then research some more. With that being said your research shouldn't be confined to the lap band forum, the RNY forum, nor the Sleeve forum and please don't get me wrong these are all good sites good information. Check Mayo Clinic, Duke University, Cleveland Clinic, UCLA, and the list goes on as these where the research is being done. I found a good one at WebMD. I thought three years ago I was doing the right thing. Went on the advice of my cardiologist about getting a lap band. Went to the seminar and that doctor convinced me the lap band was the way to go, so I did. It could be taken out, surgery and recovery wasn't as long and I thought there weren't as many problems. Didn't actually do the reseach, and now like a number of us on this site, we will have had or will have to have two surgeries, and some three because what we had done has failed. So do your research. I wish I had.