Weight Loss Surgery - WLS LAP vs OPEN

Thanks to Chrisg9149 & BevMel & Suzanne & Bella & Jippypop for their replies.
I am doing a lot of research on WLS right now on the internet and buying books etc.
I hear that not everyone can be a Candidate fo LAP surgery.
Some of the reasons I heard are if you are too heavy or have had previous abdominal surgery you may not be a candidate for LAP.
Does anyone know anything else about requirements for LAP surgery. I also have a very large hernia which would add to the problem. Thanks I appreciate the support and information on these boards

you'll have to talk with your doctor about lap vs open. most docs only do one, not the other, and the 'being too heavy' often applies to the weight that the OR table will hold... the hospital where i had my surgery had a 500 pound load limit on the table.. it wasn't a problem with the lap instruments or the surgeon's ability!

i've known several people who've had hernias who also had lap.. and some that had open.

good luck!!!

Pookie88

i was fortunate i went to clinic that offers both there are several
factors deciding which can be done

one is scar tissue if you had a surgery in the lap area which would make obstruction an issue an open would be done
the weight limit was about 400lbs they could do lap if you are built
right i am barrel chested and the lab operation took 4 hrs but he was sure that he could do it when you are built like me he said that they would try lap but the instruments are just so long so it my chest would not give him enough room then they would do open also pre surgery they felt i had an enlarge liver so that the chance of working with the lap tools was going to be hard so they put me on a 900 calorie liquid and 300 calorie food diet so that internal organs could shrink

good news is that they were able to do it lap and i had lost 38 lbs going into surgery

also my surgeons fix other things while they are in there like remove a bad gallbadder or even fix hernias

remember ask alot of questions
later
bevmel