Hi!...I just found this board today. I have not had surgery yet. Before my insurance will approve surgery I must first go through a 12 month program. This includes meeting with a doctor and nutritionist monthly and then quarterly I have meet to with a psychiatrist and exercise therapist. I have 4 more months to go and then hopefully i will be on my way to surgery. But I still have not decided if I will do gastric or lap-band. Any of your comments on why you chose to do lap-band would be welcomed...thanks

Hi:

I chose lap band because it has alot less risk, and I have a Daughter that counts on me being around.

Good luck with your decision.

Sue

Hi Vzghj3!

Welcome! I was not comfortable with the mortality rate attached to the Bypass. The lap band was much less invasive and I have had such a great experience so far. I also wanted something that could help me for life and I know a few people that have had the bypass and they did really great but gained all the weight back over several years. The lap band just made sense to me. Good luck on your weight loss journey!

I have not been banded yet. But I too choose the lapband over bypass because of the less intrusive method and scientific records of longevity and survival.

I also found in research that after bypass surgery 12 months to 15 months somewhere in between your old appetite hunger feeling starts coming back....and basically it is an endless battle again.

From the research I read the sucess rate for lapband is greater over the 5 year or over factor because the lapband keeps you restricted......which serves as a reminder of your journey and your new experiences and also the band is more sucessful at keeping the hunger away on a longterm basis....

to me...that is exactly what I need to continue to make the best food choices for me...

Hope this helps..!