Hi everyone, my name is Jessica and I have been considering getting weight loss surgery, specifically the lap band. I am still in the researching phase and have read a lot online and several books about it, but I would love to talk to someone or multiple someones who have had the surgery and would be willing to answer some questions. Would anyone be willing to chat with me?

Thank you!

I don't want to sound like a Debbie Downer, but I'm going to tell you my experience with the band. I had the lap band for 2 years and never felt any restriction. After blaming myself and feeling frustrated, I finally revised to the duodenal switch and have lost nearly 80 pounds this past year. For me, the lap band was a total waste of money and energy. Most doctors have quit offering the lap band as a viable weight loss surgery option due to the high number of patients who revise to the gastric sleeve or another weight loss surgery. Only a small percentage of patients are successful with the band. That doesn't mean you won't be successful. You could be one of those patients who drops 100 pounds on the band. I'm just letting you know that most people have limited success or complications (band eroding into their stomach) and would suggest you consider a weight loss surgery that has a higher long term success rate than the band.

32 minutes ago, jess.norcross said:

Hi everyone, my name is Jessica and I have been considering getting weight loss surgery, specifically the lap band. I am still in the researching phase and have read a lot online and several books about it, but I would love to talk to someone or multiple someones who have had the surgery and would be willing to answer some questions. Would anyone be willing to chat with me?

Thank you!

I was banded in 2011, and I wish I wasn't. Sure there are lots of folks with success stories, but there are many more stories of how the band just didn't live up to the hype, in fact 2 of the major manufactures, aren't making parts any more and LOTS of surgeons aren't performing installations because of the high failure rates, low success rates and lack of manufacturer support.

A about 6 years dealing with trying to get the band to work for me, all the depression and issues because it didn't. Getting stuck on foods I shouldn't, etc etc etc. I did lose about 70 lbs, but that was it. Nothing else I did would make that number move any farther. I started to rebound as well a few times.

When I finally had the band removed and revised to the bypass, my band was 100% completely encapsulated in scar tissue and took my surgeon over 3 times longer to remove than it should have, I had no "issues" though... no slippage, no erosion, yet, the band was screwed up, no idea what would have happened if I just left it and continued to deal with all the problems.

Congrats on deciding to take the first step on your WLS journey, I would however strongly caution away from the band.

let me share the facts about a lap band...https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20496124 this study indicates that more than 50% require reoperations with a band and that at the study end only 53% still had the original band.

Most doctors won't do them any more because of the atrocious complication rates. mine permanently damaged my esophagus. the other bariatric surgeries don't have anywhere near those complications and revision rates.

buyer beware. You want anecdotal stories there are more than 3,000 people in the failed lap band facebook group who all tell very similar stories about their experiences with the band.

I dropped weight on the band, then it turned on me and caused reflux/vomiting/choking multiple respiratory infections, illness after illness etc.

many people go through a honeymoon period with it and then it turns into the experience I had or the others on this thread...some sooner others later. I was a huge band advocate in the first few years. now I would not wish one on my worst enemy.

When I started the process, I was interested in the lapband, too. I think I was afraid of having part of my stomach removed with VSG. When I spoke with my doctor, they said they do not do lap band anymore as the results are so poor. I'm so pleased that I went with VSG. I'm down almost 120 pounds and look better than I did when I was in college.
WHile talking to patients is useful, do speak with a surgical team - they will tell you about their experience and results with the procedure.

I had a lap band procedure about 10 years ago. It slipped and it had to be removed. Lost only 50 lbs and threw up everything. Didn't work for me at all. I had a bypass done 6 weeks ago. No real problems. My surgeon won't even do the lap band any more and I totally concur. Too many problems and not enough weight lost with that procedure. No real issues with the bypass. I hope you consider a different surgery. Read about the lap band failures on line and you will see a lot of issues that were not known back when I had mine inserted.