How do you chose between Lap Band and gastric bypass. I have always wanted the bypass but my PCP wants me to get the lap band.:rolleyes2:

There are many pros and cons between the two, but in a nutshell.....

The bypass is faster but there are more risks and it is permanent.

The band is slower but less risky and reversible. There is also less risk of malnutrition with the band.

Just read as much as you can about both and do what you feel is best for you.

Here is a Bariatric Surgery clinic site that performs both surgeries. It has some good information.

Compare Gastric Bypass Surgery to the LAP-BAND Procedure

For me, I never considered gastric bypass. I did not like the idea of cutting out a significant part of my digestive system. The band is not perfect, but it works for me and is adjustible and removable.

One person wrote into this forum and said her doctor recommended gb over the band because she was young and did she really want to be running for fills and possible a band replacement over the next 50 years? I feel that is unlikely, since at some point you will reach an optimum fill level, and also I expect incredible strides in obesity treatments over the next 20 years that may very well make the lap band AND gb obsolete. With the band I have left myself open to additional advancements in obesity treatments, but if half my digestive system is gone, I would guess my options would be limited.

It's a personal decision that should be based on your body and your personality. A lot of people struggle with the band because it does still take some discipline. On the other hand, I have friends and relatives who had gb and they have regained their weight with it too.

My decision was based upon a couple of things. I am not comfortable with actually having my anatomy changed. While many people get bypass and love it, others have a very hard time. If you get sick(big time sick, like cancer) or seriously injured, heck even if you get pregnant...the band can be unfilled and give you essentially a normal functioning stomach. It is a personal decision but for me it was band all the way.

Hi Nursejenny,

From one nurse to another - I decided on lapband because it was reversable and didn't involve changing or removing part of my anatomy. I also liked that it was adjustable - once you do bypass, that's it. I agree with pearlygirl, I was worried about what happens if you do get cancer (i know maybe a little far-fetched) or have some trauma? I've also heard that the side effects can be a little nasty.

For me, there was only one choice.

Jen

Jen - Must be a nurse thing...I'm also an RN.

I would never have considered having gastric bypass... even with a fairly low mortality rate (but higher then lap band), the side affects were too severe. Dumping? That can't be good! Just the simple thought of having my stomach mutilated and stapled back together in two different pieces made this a NO WAY surgery to me. For some time my medical insurer covered bypass but not lap band and I still would not consider having it done.

Plus, I have a couple of family members that have had bypass and both have gained all their weight back because the pouch stretched out. My friend was told with lap band if the pouch stretches the band can be emptied and given time the stomach will go down below the band and then the band can be refilled... I don't know if that's true, but that is what she was told by someone who has been doing band fills for a long time and who has a band herself.

Hi Nursejenny,

From one nurse to another - I decided on lapband because it was reversable and didn't involve changing or removing part of my anatomy. I also liked that it was adjustable - once you do bypass, that's it. I agree with pearlygirl, I was worried about what happens if you do get cancer (i know maybe a little far-fetched) or have some trauma? I've also heard that the side effects can be a little nasty.

For me, there was only one choice.

Jen

Wasn't too far fetched for me....was a fact! I am a cancer survivor, which is one of the big reasons I chose the band--if I have a recurrance, I know how chemo affected me, and I will be able to do whatever needs to be done to maintain my nutritional needs.

I agree that within our lifetime, new options in weight control will be developed, if not a cure for obesity---with the band, we are open to those options just as if we had never had one. They are currently developing and testing a remote control band. One tightened by remote as opposed to a port and saline. The Dr. will control the restriction still, but it will eliminate the need for poking, thus reducing the risk of infection. If it hits the market, we can have ours changed if we want! The article I read, stated ideally it would be able to be adjusted over the phone, similar to a pace makers calibrations being adjusted over the phone. It will only get better from here---and I want to keep my body in tact to be able to appreciate and utilize any future developements!

And finally---I seriously wanted to be able to eat birthday cake with my grandkids on their special days! I wanted a normal life. One in which I am simply helped control how much I eat on a day to day basis. The band gave me that.

Everyone has their own reasons for choosing the surgery they did. If you seriously research the pros and cons for each, and how they apply to your life----I would bet that the answer becomes apparant to you.

Read all you can, talk to people who have had both surgeries....attend seminars for both----this is your life, put a lot of thought and planning into the choice you make!

Welcome to LBT---hope we can answer any questions you come up with---

Kat

Jen - Must be a nurse thing...I'm also an RN.

Yeah, I had noticed that there were a lot of us on here! I wonder what that says about us :biggrin:. Maybe we just notice more of us.