Hi All

My name is Erin from Florida and I just joined this forum. I'm contemplating wsl at this point because I've gotten to big for my britches so to speak and I could really use some help getting where I need to be. Right now I'm only considering lap band and the sleeve but I'm leaning towards that lap band since I'm in my 20s and can't help but think that I may or may not need some of that stomach one day. I'll be attending a seminar tonight at a local hospital tonight and another seminar at a different hospital tomorrow just so I can choose what place may be best for me. Many of the posts on here have been very informative thankfully and hopefully tonight I'll have a better understanding of the process and know which procedure would be best. I look forward to getting this journey started and getting to know you all.

Happy Monday!!!

Good luck to you! I just had band placement surgery on 9/30 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and will be getting my first fill on 11/11. I can't wait to get this band working. I am so happy to have made the decision to have LAP band.

Congratulations on taking the steps to better health. I am very happy I chose the band and that I knew people that had both surgeries before I made my final decision. Here is why I did not choose the sleeve:

- The 3 people I know that have it have aged 10+ years in the face and neck.

+ People I know with the band look younger.

- 2 people cannot stop losing the weight and are now 20+ pounds under their goal.

+ People I know with the band were able to stop at their goal.

-1 person had to spend 5 weeks in the hospital from complications 2 weeks after having the sleeve procedure. She almost died twice during that time.

+ Besides a port replacement (10 year old band), no one I know has had complications from the band.

- Weight loss is so rapid with the sleeve that you have tons of excess skin.

+ Weight loss with the band is gradual enough for the skin to catch up and not sag.

+ The first place I lost weight with the band was my tummy (liver), face and neck. As a result, I no longer need diabetes medication, I no longer have sleep apnea and I don't snore loudly.

Downsides of the band:

1. Sometimes I would like to eat more food because it tastes good.

2. After a fill, you don't know what if any foods have now become intolerable until you find out the hard way.

3. I use to like drinking Water before or while I was in bed, I can't do that now because I'm tight at night.

4. I use to like eating something around 10:00 am - sometimes you're too tight for food in the morning. Cream of wheat always goes down though.

5. I miss my boobs and my butt. + But I'm in proportion now and my waistline is smaller (11 inches lost) so I but I have a nice figure.

I hope this helps with your decision. But a word of advice: find a surgeon who IS going to put you on a preop diet and perhaps band you with a small fill to kick start the weightloss. A very dear friend of mine didn't have a preop diet and the surgeon compensated by using a LOT of gas during her surgery. At the 5 day mark, she was still in pain from the gas. Mine was gone by day 3 and I got a 3cc fill during the surgery.

Good luck to you! I just had band placement surgery on 9/30 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and will be getting my first fill on 11/11. I can't wait to get this band working. I am so happy to have made the decision to have LAP band.

Thanks Jimi. I wish you the best of luck on your journey.

Congratulations on taking the steps to better health. I am very happy I chose the band and that I knew people that had both surgeries before I made my final decision. Here is why I did not choose the sleeve: - The 3 people I know that have it have aged 10+ years in the face and neck. + People I know with the band look younger. - 2 people cannot stop losing the weight and are now 20+ pounds under their goal. + People I know with the band were able to stop at their goal. -1 person had to spend 5 weeks in the hospital from complications 2 weeks after having the sleeve procedure. She almost died twice during that time. + Besides a port replacement (10 year old band)' date=' no one I know has had complications from the band. - Weight loss is so rapid with the sleeve that you have tons of excess skin. + Weight loss with the band is gradual enough for the skin to catch up and not sag. + The first place I lost weight with the band was my tummy (liver), face and neck. As a result, I no longer need diabetes medication, I no longer have sleep apnea and I don't snore loudly. Downsides of the band: 1. Sometimes I would like to eat more food because it tastes good. 2. After a fill, you don't know what if any foods have now become intolerable until you find out the hard way. 3. I use to like drinking Water before or while I was in bed, I can't do that now because I'm tight at night. 4. I use to like eating something around 10:00 am - sometimes you're too tight for food in the morning. Cream of wheat always goes down though. 5. I miss my boobs and my butt. + But I'm in proportion now and my waistline is smaller (11 inches lost) so I but I have a nice figure. I hope this helps with your decision. But a word of advice: find a surgeon who IS going to put you on a preop diet and perhaps band you with a small fill to kick start the weightloss. A very dear friend of mine didn't have a preop diet and the surgeon compensated by using a LOT of gas during her surgery. At the 5 day mark, she was still in pain from the gas. Mine was gone by day 3 and I got a 3cc fill during the surgery.[/quote']

Thanks PrettyThick1! That listing you put up there of the pros and cons really helps a lot. I look forward to a pre-op diet. I know it will give me the 'practice' I need to be successful down the line.