He said with my BMI of 56 (weight 325 at 5' 4") I might only lose 70 lbs and would still be very obese. I don't like the idea of my insides being messed with - I need encouragement and support that I can stick with the Lap Band surgery and lose more than that.

I have a BMI of 63 and I am getting Lap-band. I've read about lots of LARGE people losing 100+ lbs and even a few over 200+. I think the lap-band is what you make it. It's a tool and there is no reason you can't lose all the weight you want with it. Don't let him discourage you...if you are motivated to stick to the band rules there is no limit to you're success.

They tried to tell me the same thing. I started out weighing 377 (I'm 5'3) before surgery. The day of my lapband surgery I weighed 345. I'm not even 3 months out of surgery and I'm down 86 pounds (119 total). Now my surgeon says I'm the poster child for the lapband. lol.

Don't get me wrong, it's really hard work, but change is always difficult... at first :ohmy:

My friend was 391 after her pre-op diet. After two years, she has lost 168 pounds and counting. She lost the first 130 the first year!

If that is the ONLY reason for recommending the DS instead of banding, I'd take the doc to task. ANY surgery works only as well as you work the surgery. You can regain the weight lost with any surgery, stall out and not lose what you need to lose.

The AVERAGE statistic for lap band is to lose 50-60% of the weight you need to lose. That means there are many who lose well more than half and plenty who fail their band and don't lose much at all or regain their weight. Most of us would tell you that it's up to you how successful you will be.

But analyze your eating; your diet successes and failures. And talk about that with the surgeon. Are you a snacker by habit? Then something other than the band might be better for you. Or are you one of those people (like me) who can be very successful at losing weight, but absolutely terrible at keeping it off. The band is good for us because we are very good at working with our bands ... and our bands help hold our feet to the fire when the temptation/desire to give up comes knocking.

Bottom line....DO YOUR RESEARCH.

I say if ou are focused & dedicated to your goal of losing weight- you will be fine. I was 318 and 5'3 1/2 when I had surgery on 3/30/09. I'm down to 219.2 as of a couple of days ago. I hit the gym & watch calories & try to make healthy choices.

I chose lap-band b/c I didn't like the complication risks w/ the others. Even though, my surgeon's partner said "dont chose a weightloss surgery based on complications, choose the best one for you." My surgeon never questioned lap-band for me, he was supportive. Maybe you should look into a new surgeon if you can't get this one to come around? Good luck to you! :thumbup:

I agree that a new choice of surgeon may be appropriate if the one you are considering is insistent on something specific. Get a second opinion for sure.