i'm asking out of curiousity and also weighing my options.

aside from the fact that GB is usually more costly than LapBand, what reasons would you NOT do the gastric bypass for? when i did my consultation, the MD said that most of his clients tell him that they want the band because it's "less invasive". he said that that really should not be a main reason because both require cutting your body or however he put it.

i'm thinking, because of my current *predicament, i may have to choose between the two now.

the main reasons about GB that's discouraging me is:

BAD GAS!!! i know people that have done the GB and when they pass gas....:speechles

and then the too many restrictions....(dumping syndrome) which could also be a good thing because it would make weight-loss faster.

what reasons would you NOT do the GB?

Hello, this is an ages old question here, there are many many threads that ask Band Vs. Bypass? or Why not Bypass? The search function on the blue toolbar will garner you even more than I am about to list, but here are some links to other threads that have asked this question, I hope these help. Sometimes it's good to read what others have written at different times:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=32584&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=32079&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=30997&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=31480&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=31341&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=29259&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=28724&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=28690&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=27483&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=25642&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=25022&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=23454&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=23760&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=21480&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=20624&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=18165&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=16868&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=16350&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.phpt=15378&highlight=bypass

cool. thanks faith! :-)

Well, here are some of the reasons I've chosen the band over bypass:

1. 
   
2. 1/10 (at least) the risk of dying
   
3. Stomach is not cut, intestines are not rearranged
   
4. Most complications are not severe
   
5. Most severe complications can be rectified by unfilling or removing the band
   
6. Surgery is easily reversed if needed
   
7. No dumping syndrome
   
8. No malabsorption
   
9. Not required to take supplements for life
   
10. Adjustable, so no "window of opportunity" for weight loss
    
11. Weight loss is slower, reducing need for plastic surgery later on due to excess skin

the #1 reason I chose the band is the super high mortality rate of bypass. I'm sorry but 1 in 200 is NOT acceptable! That percentage doesn't even take into account those who end up on cholostemy bags for life because they cannot conrtol their bowels at all. I have known people that these things have happened to. Their are major complications that can occur anywhere from immediately to 2-3 or more years down the line that they never seem to tell you about. I have learned about many of them from friends who have experienced them. I know the odds from their doctors.

those are also reasons why i dont want GB.

i never considered it because it scares me, although i personally know people that have done it. and i dont like taking any kind of meds so i definitely dont want to HAVE TO take it for the rest of my life you know?

but when the idea of the band came to me, i was actually very optimistic about it. i just dont like the idea that my insides are gonna get cut up. the band seems much better for me. i feel that the weightloss seems much more natural and gradual and you can "hide" it. as in you won't loss too mcuh weight at a time.and there will be less embarrassments from eating the wrong things in public. i dont know if this happens to everyone that has had GB, but this happened "initially" to a person very close to me that has done it. she would run around and rush to the bathroom to go throw up frequently.

Wow!! Thanks All! Band It Is For Me!!!!!!!

We have one of each (RNY and Lapband) in our house!!

I did not qualify for RNY. We have both done well. Secretly Im envious of his RNY. It wont slip, cant lose it, more forgiving of bad choices since it has malabsorptive component, no stuck or PB, and now that he is past 6mos (5 yrs) his chances of complications goes way down. If I ever lose my band I WILL have a gastric sleeve or other procedure- IM NOT GOING back to fat!!

Dont let people scare you. This is a lapband support board not RNY. Alot of people make judgements and statements that I have not found to be true of a pt with RNY. NEVER generalize with either- they both have pros and cons. PERSONAL CHOICE- Good Luck!!

Also, there is NO way to look at the inside of the stomach after a bypass other than cutting it open. So if you have stomach problems a gastroscopy (tv camera going down the throat) will not be possible. The first surgeon I saw refuses to do bypasses for this very reason.

Peace Out

T~:hippie:

thanks gottabethin.........i was also trying to see an RYN forum and compare the opinions and comments of LapBanders and RYN'ers. however, i've still be skeptical about GB for myself. i know results are different for different people. do you know he experiences very serious and painful side effects (like dumping syndrome) from his surgery?

I am pretty sure you can do RNY after banding, if banding doesn't work for you.

Yes, you can.

And you can band a RNY if (or when, for some folks) it fails.

thanks gottabethin.........i was also trying to see an RYN forum and compare the opinions and comments of LapBanders and RYN'ers. however, i've still be skeptical about GB for myself. i know results are different for different people. do you know he experiences very serious and painful side effects (like dumping syndrome) from his surgery?

Some might say he is lucky, but from our experience and we know more than 15 GBP pts and NONE of them have had dumping. His only long term supplements are MVI with Fe and B12 sublingual. He eats everything and has NO Problems!!! DH would NOT have been a good candidate for band- He will not abide by the rules. His surgeon told him he would have dumping with sugar- so when he was able he tried it- Too bad he doesnt have dumping!! He has lost 250# and is now 5-6 yrs out and has maintained it well and eats any and everything!

Complications are higher- REMEMBER these are the the worst surgical candidates in the world for ANY surgery. They are death waiting to happen whether it is tonsillectomy or major surgery!! This is a life saving move why else would someone do such drastic changes!!

It truly is a personal decision if you can live with the rules of either and getting thru the post op on either is the most critical thing.

Hello, this is an ages old question here, there are many many threads that ask Band Vs. Bypass? or Why not Bypass? The search function on the blue toolbar will garner you even more than I am about to list, but here are some links to other threads that have asked this question, I hope these help. Sometimes it's good to read what others have written at different times:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/lap-band-vs-t32584.html?t=32584&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/lapband-vs-gastric-t32079.html?t=32079&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/gastric-bypass-vrs-t30997.html?t=30997&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/band-pass-mini-t31480.html?t=31480&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/advantages-bypass-t31341.html?t=31341&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/waiting-date-ny-t29259.html?t=29259&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/band-vs-bypass-t28724.html?t=28724&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/getting-pressured-do-t28690.html?t=28690&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/lap-band-vs-t27483.html?t=27483&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/lap-vs-bypass-t25642.html?t=25642&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/lapband-bypass-t25022.html?t=25022&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/band-vs-gastric-t23454.html?t=23454&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/banding-versus-bypass-t23760.html?t=23760&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/anyone-wish-they-t21480.html?t=21480&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/band-v-bypass-t20624.html?t=20624&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/band-bypass-t18165.html?t=18165&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/hellllllp-finalizing-decision-t16868.html?t=16868&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/gastric-bypass-lap-t16350.html?t=16350&highlight=bypass

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/band-v-bypass-t15378.html?t=15378&highlight=bypass

Faith...

You are too funny!

I am pretty sure you can do RNY after banding, if banding doesn't work for you.

It can be done but if you look at the stats for revision surgery (what you are referring to) very few bandsters have bypass revision but quite a few bypass folks have a revision for banding.

I can't imagine anyone in their right mind having bypass if they have a choice.