how did you choose between lap band and the gastric sleeve? i was set on the lap band, until i read news reports about the problems people have long term with the band after 5-10 years...now i am worried...can you tell me what was the deciding factor for you? thanks

and....is the reports based on older models of the lap band? and the newer bands not as likely to cause long term problems? just want someone to explain it to me...thanks

For me it was at the LBS/GBS seminar that decided for me. After listening to the pros and cons of the Gastric Bypass for 45 minutes and not really comfortable with what I hearing I decided to go with the Lap Band.

Pros: Less documented complications, no actual cutting of the stomach, no problems with stomach leaking due to dissection and reattachment of intestines, reversable, less evasive surgery and less than 1% mortality rate.

Cons: slower weight loss than the GBS, periodic fills required and No dumping after ingesting sugar.

It was a no brainer after hearing all the complications associated with the GBS. I found out later my Cardiologist would not let me have the GBS because of a pre-exsisting heart condition. My only option was the LBS.

how did you choose between lap band and the gastric sleeve? i was set on the lap band, until i read news reports about the problems people have long term with the band after 5-10 years...now i am worried...can you tell me what was the deciding factor for you? thanks

I don't think I ever believed WLS would help so reversible was appealing to me. I was pretty floored when it did work.

If I had it all to do over again I'd get as sleeve without a doubt. It's essentially like a band with perfect restriction all the time. No fills, unfills, restriction issues, slips, erosion, port pain, port flips, etc.

I wish I would have done as you are and considered the option of a sleeve before surgery.

BTW, **after** the initial 30 days of the procedure complications drop dramatically for sleeves over bands. Your risk for problems is much less with sleeves vs. bands, virtually no follow up care, etc.

As much as I love my band and all it's doing for me, I would have preferred the sleeve. The deciding factor for me was $750 out of pocket for the band and $17,000 out of pocket for the sleeve. My insurance doesn't cover the sleeve.

My DH is 2 years out from his banding and doing very well, so when I went to the surgeon for consultation that's what I planned to pursue. I learned about the sleeve during the consult (he discussed by-pass, sleeve, and gastric banding).

I think I would have been very disappointed had it been the other way, if I'd gone in planning for the sleeve, only to be denied by my insurance. But I was told upfront at the consultation that my insurance only covered by-pass and banding.

Had I been self pay, absolutely would have chosen the sleeve.

I liked the idea of the band being adjustable. Plus, the surgeon offered all of those and his wife had a band, so I figured if that's the one he chose for her, that's the one I'd take. :thumbup:

I told my PCP that I want the band or bypass and he said yes to the band and no to the by pass so I took his recomendation.

I will have to add that I too liked that the band is reversible.

But it would have been nice not to have to pay for fills (insurance doesn't cover them) and not to have to travel over 2 hours for them.

The lady who shared my room in the hospital had by-pass, we had the same surgeon, but she traveled out of the country a lot so he recommended that for her.

I really think it has to be an individual decision with your surgeon considering your lifestyle among other things.

What exactly is a sleeve and what site gives info about it? I am in the process of my six month Medically supervised diet with the intentions of getting the band. I'd like to investigte the sleeve more.

Thanks

My understanding is that the sleeve is where the stomach is stapled top to bottom lengthwise then the excess is cut away. The stomach is shaped like a long sausage and can only hold a specific amount of food.

The cost was about the same for the surgery at the time I had mine. (I think his prices have gone down since he opened his own surgical center.)

This is on Dr. Curry's web page.

Trace W. Curry, M.D. Lap Band, Realize Band, Sleeve Gastrectomy, and Gastric Bypass Surgeon :: Weight Loss Surgery :: Sleeve Gastrectomy

What exactly is a sleeve and what site gives info about it? I am in the process of my six month Medically supervised diet with the intentions of getting the band. I'd like to investigte the sleeve more.

Thanks

Weight-Loss Surgeries Compared

Some aspects of the sleeve did appeal to me, but when you compare a sleeve operation to a lap band operation, you can see that the sleeve is more involved. Plus it's not reversible. I want something where I'm under anesthesia for the shortest possible time, the least possible can go wrong and, if all else fails, I can have it all undone. That means a lap band.

thanks for all of your answers...my doctor does not do the sleeve, and i don't know if my insurance covers it...if it does i think i would rather do the sleeve, just because of the complications that i have read about...and the idea of something being in me is freakin' me out somewhat....but it may be my only option....but i will be doing some more research and prayin....thanks

For me it was being there for my Dad when he had the Gastric Bypass 6 years ago and almost died from it. Also, he never did get to his goal weight and has gained back about 100lbs. He ate around the bypass and has stretched his pouch out and there is nothing he can do about it.

I like the fact that the lapband was less invasive and the fact that it was adjustable. I also liked that it was reversible if needed.

Since I had a complication and know how it feels to have to go back in for surgery, I have thought about the fact if I ever have to go in to have something repaired again. I think that it will be worth it. I finally have something that is helping me lose the weight. It is WONDERFUL!!

I considered bypass and discussed the issue with my surgeon who recommended the band. I'm only 25 and want more babies so the band was the one which would allow pregnancy with the least amount of complication.

That did it for me!

All of the weight loss surgeries have complications. Most of the complications with lap band have more to do with keeping a too-tight fill than with the lap band itself. Most slips, ongoing vomiting etc are related to keeping the band too tight. That's something that you have some control over. We should always be trying to work with the least amount of fill possible that keeps us from being hungry but doesn't have us barfing or having reflux or any other problems.

I didn't really consider the sleeve. It would have met my main criteria for surgery, which was that I didn't want any malabsorptive procedures (bypass, DS). But I also liked the fact that the band does not permanently alter your anatomy, and I liked the adjustability factor. I hope to be pregnant in a couple of years, and I like the fact that my band can be loosened to allow a little more food for a pregnancy. With the sleeve, what you get is what you get. The sleeve can stretch out, just like the pouch in a RnY. I like knowing I'm not just "stuck" with whatever food restriction the sleeve leaves me.

Good luck with your decision making.