Does anyone wish they had done the gastric bypass instead? I have know people that have had it and they lost more weight and quicker. I had the lap band because it was less sever...but im starting to wonder if i made the right choice.

I don't think the band is right for everyone. For me personally I believe I made the right decsion (easy to say 14 days post-op right).

Yes it is a FACT you will loss weight faster by going by-pass, there is not the same amount of compliance required with a by-pass as there is with the band.

You have to remember your band is a tool to help you get yourself where you want to be, it's not going to do it for you.

The 2 surgeons I consulted both said the same thing. In order to be successful with the band you have to have a history of successful weightloss. If you have never been able to loss weight on your own in the past then your success rate with the band is not likely to be that high.

My best friend had a band 5yrs ago and is planning to convert to a by-pass in the future, she's a food addict and knows how to eat around her band and cheat. My aunt had a by-pass about 5 yrs ago too....now she tells me she wishes she had had a band because we have the flexibility to have future fills to help keep us on track. Her body has adjusted to the by-pass and now she's gained back about 30-40lbs.

There is no "right" answer for everyone. I hope that you can find peace with your choice and remember that it took you time to become overweight and it's going to take time to get back to a healthy weight.

i believe in what mlfull says i too am happy with the band because with the gastric who is to say where i will be in 5 years. i wouldnt have learned to eat any better just stopped my eating for a few years i wouldnt have excerised because i would have dropped weight so fast. and i keep thinking what would i have gained in 5 years no knowledge on controling my own food issues and no knowledge on how to be healthier. i do believe that everyone is different and that its all a mind set on what they can achieve. everyone can lose weight its just how you lose the weight and how you change your life and how you control and maintain the weight you want to be. in my personal belief (and im not knocking the the gastric or any other wls so please dont get me wrong and its just my opinion) people that take the gastric bypass or gastric sleeve is not learning to better there life they are just stalling the fact and going the easy quick fix way. i understand being 500lbs or 400lbs that mind sets are stressed and they dont believe they can control there weight loss or maintain it but i do believe that anyone out there that puts there mind and thinks positive in any situation will come out understanding it better and succeeding.

I have no doubts that I made the right choice for me by banding . . . but I do agree it is not the right choice for everyone.

It depends on personal issues, eating styles and how well you are willing to adapt to changes in lifestyle. It worked for me because I was a chronic overeater and was constantly hungry. The band corrected the primary issues contributing to obesity. If my issues were different, then the bypass may have been a better choice.

i know my results arent typical...but ive lost 116 pounds in 6 months with the band...which is probably what i would've lost with the bypass...u can lose just as much weight just as fast...banded as u can with the bypass

NO! I don't wish I'd had bypass. If I had wanted bypass I would've done it years ago. There are too many issues down the road. No thank you. Even if I never lose another ounce I don't want bypass.

Bypass has a 20% failure rate, I wouldn't get bypass. But I do regret banding, if I had it all do to do over again I would have gotten the sleeve the first time around.

Thank you all for your replys...I think I have just gotten discouraged lately...but I will get though it!!