Hi All!

I haven't been banded yet (will be on 1/15/08!) and I was wondering if any of your doctors were more of a "fan" of Gastric Bypass over the LAP Band? Mine seems to be more in favor of GP b/c of the success rate. He didn't pressure me either way, but I was just curious if any of your Dr's had the same opinion?

My doc didn't pressure one way or the other (of course, I started out too low for a bypass, anyway). I went to an informational seminar that he did and he talked about bypass and lapband and the two other people there were candidates for bypass. But he didn't sway one way or the other. He gave statistics for both and pretty much left it up to everybody.

He did explain that some doctors are more comfortable with bypass because of the numbers, but also because it's so common in the U.S. and the most widely performed. He also mentioned something about a gastric band way back years ago that held the same promises as Lapband, but failed miserably and kind of scared some of the older docs away from gastric banding. Makes sense to me.

Mine was not biased either way, at least not for me. I know a few patients that had originally wanted a band but because of behaviors or health issues decided with the doctor to go the other way and get a bypass.

Nope. In fact I had originally started the process of trying to get approved for a bypass 5 years ago. I had a baby instead, and then went back to seem the doctor after she was born. He said he would NOT do a bypass on me. He is pretty much doing bands exclusively because he feels they are so much safer. He will do bypasses in extreme circumstances, but as a rule, no.

FWIW, he did bypasses for many, many years before he started doing the band. He isn't opposed to the surgery, just feels the band is safer and gets the same results.

Actually my Surgeon favor the band over gastric bypass.. He doesn't even do the GB.. (Im not sure if he ever did them but he now works from a place called DayOne Health and all they do is the band.

He actually told me why i shouldnt go with GB, and how Lapband was a better fit for me.

At the pre-op surgical visit, my surgeon DID encourage me to go the bypass route: because of my history of acid reflux.

He said acid reflux is enhanced with the band and if that happened, his only alternative for me would be a "sleeve".

But at my age, I opted for the less invasive surgery and guess what? I have had NO acid reflux in almost eight weeks! Of course, I also haven't had my triggers: tomato products and chocolate!!

I love my band and could not imagine going the bypass route! (Did you know that the early bypass patients are now having their livers fail??? Learned that from my brother the doctor!)

Mine was biased for RnY. He had it himself.. and he mentioned if his daughter needed WLS he would give her RnY. There was 14 of us in the room, I was the only one wanting the band. But after the seminar, about 5 of the ladies said they wish they could get the band, but insurance doesn't cover it (a month later BCBS of AL did cover it, but I think we all had surgery by then).. I thought that was a bum way to be forced to choose, via your insurance.

My insurance made it easy.. they cover it, but not in my policy!

When he weighed pros & cons, he definitely was trying to sway everyone to RnY, but he didn't tell me he thought I was wrong for wanting the band. He just thought RnY was more successful.

My doctor wasn't in favor of any weightloss surgery. But He gave me a referal anyway. He thinks I should just diet and excerise.

My insurance company will only pay for GB, but my primary care physician was THRILLED I was having lapband instead. He is hoping my insurance company will eventually cover it, but told me not to wait for that "one day". He's even running my bloodwork to just give me peace of mind.

My surgeon didn't try to sway me one way or the other. I always preferred the band over RnY, having taken care of a lot of post-RnY patients in the ICU. I've seen a lot of very late complications (>5 years post op) to RnY that I wanted to avoid. But initially, my insurance only covered RnY. My surgeon said either surgery would be fine for me, although with about 75 lbs to lose, RnY might be a bit much. My surgeon left the practice not long after my surgery to go back to Canada, where his family was. But the whole practice, which at the time had 3 surgeons, did about as many bands as GB, and is a Center of Excellence, so they have lots of success with both surgeries.

I was going to have RnY if that was all my insurance would cover, but fortunately they did end up covering my band.

My surgeon was pushing for the Bypass surgery because I was 389 lbs and he figured the success rate was better. I guess it looks better for his stats when his patients loose more. Well now 7 months out I weigh 244 so pfffft to him and his bypass. I have a friend who was the exact same weight as me and had bypass a week after I had my surgery. Well I have lost more than him and he is having nutrition problems. We went out and he was complaining about how so many foods he can't eat now. I am happy I stuck to my guns. Just remember work your band to its fullest and you will lose the weight !

My PCP was completely against WLS altogether.. She actually told my surgeon that she just doesn't believe in it. He asked if there is any medical reason why a shouldn't and she couldn't give him a good enough reason so he Went ahead and gave me the ok..

My PCP gave me a lot of problems about his at first so i'm happy that my surgeon step in and stuck up for me...

8mths later and almost 68lbs lighter, I'm thrilled. And ironically mY PCP is thrilled with my results and happy that i did get the surgery.:faint:

Hi Julie. My doctor use to do 70% RYN and 30% lapband. In 1 and 1/2 years he is now doing 70% lapband and 30% RYN. Sounds just the opposite of your doctor. Lapband rocks!

I asked my doc flat out which surgery should I have and he said "If you were my wife you would be having the band." That was the end of that. I have had my band for 6+months now and I LOVE IT. For the first time in my life I look good, feel good, and have control. It is a great feeling.

My surgeon pushed for GB, he said that he can better control the out come of his patient's success if they do that GB and not Lapband.

The man has an ego.

But on the other hand, he calls me his rock star and said I'm the perfect personality type for the lapband, after the fact.

He still contends that 90% of people who need WLS will do better with GB than lapband.

My doc was all for it, although she did try to convince me to lose the weight on my own. That was 18 months ago...now that she has seen me doing not so well, she is as anxious as me!

Brandy