I'm considering the lap band surgery, but I know 2 people who have had the gastric bypass surgery and gained the weight back. Anyone know the percentage of how many people with the lap band gain the weight back?

I don't think there are good stats on that.

One of the great things about the LapBand is that it's adjustable. Unlike gastric bypass, where the pouch may stretch out over time, if you get loose with the band you add more Fluid and are back to having good restriction.

I think there are 2 factors that people fall prey to and end up not losing well or gaining back some of their weight:

1) Eating around the band: liquid calories in particular, like ice cream, chocolate, milkshakes. Or eating junk food and washing it down by drinking with your meals.

2) Not getting adequate fill in the band. It only works well if it's filled.

So yes, I imagine there are people who gain back all their weight with the band. I myself gained 20 lbs between May 07 and Feb 08 by eating lots of junk food. Pre-band I would have gained a LOT more than that and would not have lost as much as I have, that's for sure.

And now I'm back on track and losing again, completely intent on getting to goal, so my lapse didn't completely de-rail me.

Good luck making your decision! I don't regret my band in the least.

Thanks for the info. It sounds like a much better choice than the bypass. Do your doctors follow you closely so that you don't slip too much before getting the fill? Also, do people ever get the band removed at goal weight, or is that not realistic? Thanks!

No, you shouldn't get the band removed at goal weight. It's meant to be permanent. You would only take it for medical reasons (i.e., some sort of medical emergency).

The band works by controlling hunger and portion size. If you take it out when you reach goal weight, you'll go back to be hungry all the time, start overeating, and gain all your weight back like you have with previous diets. (You being "anyone who gets a band".)