Just got back from "information night" - wow, that all happened quickly! A friend recommended a local doc and I called the office to see when their next info session was. Surprise, it was tonight! Which worked out great because vacation & work travel has me missing all other sessions this year. I'm glad I didn't have to until 2006 just to get more info!

If I make the decision to do this, let's hope I can beat the average EWL, because even if I lose 55%, I'm still obese, and not THAT far from morbid obesity! (I know, factors influence averages, it's all subjective, etc.) But that's such a weird thought!

This doc mentioned doing sojmething I've never heard of before. During surgery he sews the stomach up around the band to eliminate (or at least very significantly reduce the chances of) slipping and eroding. Is that common practice? I like the sound of it, just hadnt heard of it before.

Yes, that is a common practice for a lapband doctor. you can go out to Brigam and Young Women's Hosptal website and watch a lapband surgery be performed. It is pretty informative. Good luck with your decision.

Yep, that technique is standard practice for banding these days, from what I have gathered. Did you get all your questions answered? I still need to find your other thread with all of your questions on it...give it a tackle.

I'm not agreeing with the Estimated Weight Loss stats. Maybe they are 55% at this point in time, or at least with the test studies, but I think down the road, many many folks will be beating those odds by miles. I plan to. Maybe I won't get to 140? Who knows, but I'll lose more than 55% of the 83 pounds I needed to lose on band day. I'm closing in on 55% now...when I get to 177 I will have lost 55% of my excess weight. I will exceed those statistics, I promise. It might take a while but I'm "dieting" with a purpose now. Falling off the diet wagon doesn't mean gaining it all back plus some anymore. Lately it's just meant a longer plateau.

Anyhow, glad you got to go so soon!