So I've just had my first consultation with the dr and he said I should have the sleeve instead. He reckons with 30kg to lose I would be better with that option and not the band. He said I might lose 15 - 20kg with the band and it allows you to lose 40-50% of excess weight. That most have it out in 3 - 5 years then get the sleeve. I have a feeling he is pushing the sleeve as I am self pay and its 45,000aed so twice that of the band; but still.

Can I lose on a lapband, would I be wasting me time? I've come away so confused and doubtful on something I was so positive about....

Any advice would be so welcome!

X

Deciding which surgery to have can be daunting. I was ALL over the map, and was initially scheduled for the bypass. I freaked out 10 days prior and cancelled it. I settled on the lap band with plication…..and at 8.5 months out, I'm thrilled with my decision.

When making your decision, keep in mind that weight is lost AND gained with all of the surgeries. No matter which, it all boils down to patient compliance. There are so many people who have lost tons of weight with the band; more than 200 pounds! You have to choose what YOU can live with, even if the doctor is pushing you in another direction. The sleeve isn't a perfect answer either, but if that is the one you can live with, then it's the best answer for you. My sister works with a woman who had the sleeve, and she's gained a lot of weight back. She grazes on junk all day long, so no mater how small our stomachs are, if we're so inclined, we can figure out ways of eating past it. I'm not telling you this to sway you in either direction, only that we can gain weight back with any of the surgeries. For me, I made a decision that I could no longer live the way I was, and the band was going to work. The surgeries are tools, and if we're compliant, we're successful.

I wish you the best with your decision. It can make you crazy! All I can say is do all of your research, and leave no stone unturned. Information is your best friend, so you can make the best choice for you . Good luck!

Sleeve is a good option, but so is the band.

Your Surgeon is lying though, most banders do not have theirs removed after 3-5 years. Most banders don't ever have theirs removed and average weight loss is closer to 60% of the excess weight.

Weight loss will be slower with the band, and it will require more after care from the Dr.

Complication risks are higher with the sleeve

Both are going to require substantial changes in your life style and you can screw either of them up.

I was self pay, I chose the band. Do your research, get numbers not stories. Choose the one that is right for you and get a different surgeon if you go with the band. One that has a good aftercare program.

because of my high BMI, my dr wanted me to have bypass. my ins did not approve sleeve and i wanted the lapband..the dr had major doubt in his eyes as to if (i would lose weight)..he told me that unless i changed what i ate and began to exercise, no WLS would help me.....

here i am 18 months later, 150 pounds...yep, you can lose on the lap band.

My advice to you is to seek out and speak to a few other surgeons and get more opinions. Especially since you are self pay they are working for YOU.

Do lots of research there is also a study being done now which is the band with plication which mimics the sleeve procedure without removing the stomach. it folds it in upon itself and sutures it to be a smaller stomach.

Research research research there are lots of options out there, do your homework before you make a decision and when you do make sure it's what YOU are comfortable with.

My best advice is to thoroughly research both procedures and do what is best for you.

Btw, I too was originally told I couldn't lose enough weight with the Lap Band. My BMI was 72 and I had over 260 pounds (117kg) to lose. I knew I wanted the Lap Band, not the other surgeries, so I found a new surgeon that supported my decision.

I have lost over 230 pounds (114kg) in less than 20 months with the help of my Lap Band- which is about 89% of my excess weight. I'm still losing, too. (though slower as I get close to goal)

My point? Don't listen to the BS that you can only lose a certain amount of weight. How much you lose, or don't lose, is 100% up to YOU.

Best wishes

Don't listen to the BS that you can only lose a certain amount of weight. How much you lose, or don't lose, is 100% up to YOU.

This is what I believe as well.

Only YOU can decide what will work best for you!

I just wanted to say that when I sat in my consultation appointment, I was asked what my goal weight would be with the surgery (I was 296lbs at the time). I said I'd like to be 175 within 2 years of surgery. She sort of laughed, and said I needed a more realistic goal, and based on my weight should expect to lose about 40lbs the first year, and 20lbs the following. Well, I reached my initial goal weight of 175lbs in under 9 months.

With any of the surgeries, you'll get back whatever you put into it.

Wishing you the best of luck with your decision!

Thank you all so much, your advice is really encouraging. I am definitely all still about the band, I think its the right one for me. I can control it which is more than a sleeve, the idea of having my stomache removed really freaks me out, its so permenant.

The Doctor, I like, he is nice I just think because I am paying for this myself of course he is going to push the procedure that is the most expensive, I understand that. It was just the comments he was making about not losing much that confused me as I have been reading so many successful and positive stories on this forum. It made me actually doubt if having a lapband would not work for me, but it literally has to. I truly don't mind how long it takes to come off, as long as it comes off but most importantly stays off. I am such a stubborn and determined person that I am positive I would make a band successful.

He gave me a reference for one of the patients he has that had it done recently, so I am going to drop her a call to ask her how it has gone for her and the results she is seeing.

Thanks again for all your advice, without this forum, I would have no idea what I am doing. I'll keep doing the research but I am sure the band is for me

xx

The thing is, if you read the long range stats, turns out, Lap Band is comparable with other surgeries as far as weight lost. Yes, people who have RNY and the sleeve can loose more weight, faster, in the short term but when you go out a few years... Hello! Here is our little silicone friend, hanging tough, doing the job and producing results. That was one big reason why I chose the Lap Band. Not just short term but going out long term. I need this baby to keep on keeping on for me.

You got some great advice here and some great encouragement. You can never do enough research to decide which WLS is better for you.

I do honestly believe in the saying "you get out of it what you put into it". Like others have said above it does require a lot of aftercare and you have to be willing to follow through or you could just wind up being your own worst enemy. For me I liked the aftercare because it always keeps me actively involved with my band and it motivates me.

I also agree with the others calling BS on your Doctor. My Doctor was a huge supporter of my decision to go for the band and did not once try to sway me in another direction but did warn me of the constant need to follow up as well as slower weight loss.

I started out with a BMI of 78. I was 488lbs at my consult and 450 on surgery day. Monday will be my 20th month anniversary and as of today I've lost 227lbs post op. Whoever says you cannot lose a large amount of weight with the band clearly has not met me!! I am not trying to brag and I have no agenda to sell you any type of WLS BUT don't believe the "You can't lose weight with the band" crap.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

You're all so encouraging and I am loving the positivity. Truly. Some of the numbers you are all quoting as weight lost is phenomenal, I can only hope to be half as successful as you have been. I've done it and confirmed with the DR that the lap-band is the one for me. It was my first instinct and my gut feeling and I have to trust that. He is going to contact me at the weekend with a date and then I just need to get the rest organised.

This is so, so exciting. It will probably be the best investment I can make for my long-term future health. Roll on 2014 now, New Year, new achievements.

DP
xx

This is a decision that should be based on research, not how much you like or don't like your doctor. And not, IMHO, on anecdotal evidence ("it worked for me" or "it didn't work for me").

Here's a 2011 Consumer Reports article that says 25% of lap-bands (at that time) were removed.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2011/02/think-twice-about-lap-band-surgery-for-weight-loss/index.htm

Excerpted from that article:

The firm’s own website reports a study that followed 299 people for three years after the surgery. Twenty-five percent of them had a second operation to remove the band.

That’s a lot of dissatisfied customers. Imagine if 25 percent of people who owned Toyotas were so dissatisfied that they called up their dealers and asked them to come and take their cars out of their driveways.

That’s not all. Nine percent needed a second operation to fix problems with the band. Nine percent needed an additional procedure to fix a leaking or twisted access port, a design issue that the manufacturer says has been improved. Four people had the band erode into their stomachs.

Less serious side effects are also common. Half the people who had the procedure reported nausea and vomiting. Thirty-four percent suffered from gastroesophageal reflux, 24 percent of people experienced band slippage (which might stem from excessive vomiting), and 14 percent developed stomach blockages.

This is a decision that should be based on research, not how much you like or don't like your doctor. And not, IMHO, on anecdotal evidence ("it worked for me" or "it didn't work for me").

Here's a 2011 Consumer Reports article that says 25% of lap-bands (at that time) were removed.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2011/02/think-twice-about-lap-band-surgery-for-weight-loss/index.htm

Excerpted from that article:

The firm’s own website reports a study that followed 299 people for three years after the surgery. Twenty-five percent of them had a second operation to remove the band.

That’s a lot of dissatisfied customers. Imagine if 25 percent of people who owned Toyotas were so dissatisfied that they called up their dealers and asked them to come and take their cars out of their driveways.

That’s not all. Nine percent needed a second operation to fix problems with the band. Nine percent needed an additional procedure to fix a leaking or twisted access port, a design issue that the manufacturer says has been improved. Four people had the band erode into their stomachs.

Less serious side effects are also common. Half the people who had the procedure reported nausea and vomiting. Thirty-four percent suffered from gastroesophageal reflux, 24 percent of people experienced band slippage (which might stem from excessive vomiting), and 14 percent developed stomach blockages.

This could be said for the sleeve as well as the bypass. I'm all for stats but check them and share them for all procedures before posting a negative comment. There are pros and cons to all WLS.

The simple truth is that this poster and anyone who is deciding on something so life altering, should decide what is best for HER/HIM. They should read all the stats and do all the research but they should also weigh heavily on the advice of doctors that KNOW them and their medical history. Statistics are cold hard facts, when your making a life decision you should always get your doctors opinions and advice as well as getting advice and opinions from people who have undergone and are living with the surgery.

I my humble opinion that is THE ONLY way to come to a sound decision that you will never regret.

This is a decision that should be based on research, not how much you like or don't like your doctor. And not, IMHO, on anecdotal evidence ("it worked for me" or "it didn't work for me").

Here's a 2011 Consumer Reports article that says 25% of lap-bands (at that time) were removed.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2011/02/think-twice-about-lap-band-surgery-for-weight-loss/index.htm

Excerpted from that article:

The firm’s own website reports a study that followed 299 people for three years after the surgery. Twenty-five percent of them had a second operation to remove the band.

That’s a lot of dissatisfied customers. Imagine if 25 percent of people who owned Toyotas were so dissatisfied that they called up their dealers and asked them to come and take their cars out of their driveways.

That’s not all. Nine percent needed a second operation to fix problems with the band. Nine percent needed an additional procedure to fix a leaking or twisted access port, a design issue that the manufacturer says has been improved. Four people had the band erode into their stomachs.

Less serious side effects are also common. Half the people who had the procedure reported nausea and vomiting. Thirty-four percent suffered from gastroesophageal reflux, 24 percent of people experienced band slippage (which might stem from excessive vomiting), and 14 percent developed stomach blockages.

The problem is, that study doesn't take patient compliance into consideration. In the biggest, most comprehensive study done on the band, they show that only 5% of complications are by no fault of the patient. The rest are due to patient or doctor error, not because of the band.

Bottom line: If you follow the rules and are compliant with your doctor, you only have a 5% chance of ever having a serious problem.

http://www.futurity.org/weight-stays-off-long-after-lap-band-surgery/

Regardless of what surgery you choose I encourage you to practice your new health habits before the surgery. Try and start an exercise routine no matter how small and practice drinking less (or not at all) during meals, start choosing food based on what you'll be eating after your WLS. The earlier you start practicing those habits the easier they'll be after the surgery.