I am in the begginning stages of getting the lap band surgery. My doctor said because of BMI i should get the gastric sleeve. I really want the band because it is safer and I want to loose what gradually. Please help!

Hi tlasane!

As you see, your post is now its own thread! The other thread was very old - and almost none of those people are still around here! so, let's hope you'll get better answers to your Q.

First of all, there are really good reasons to choose the band, and good reasons to choose something else. and a lot of people have good results - why do you believe that the lapband is the best choice for you?

What does the surgeon say about the lap band for you? i haven't heard of any serious problems with the sleeve, but i have seen that a lot of people have good results from it.

If you and your surgeon can't agree on this, you may have to find another surgeon!

I'm going to start by admitting that I am not a huge fan of the band - I make no secret of that. I'm glad it's there as an option for certain folks who can't have other procedures for certain reasons, but I think too many people go into it with the wrong ideas and end up unsuccessful, which is why it is statistically the least successful procedure of any of the most common four procedures available today.

That said, I'm curious as to why you think it is the "safer" option than the sleeve? Yes, the band has the lowest rate of complications during and immediately following surgery than any of the other procedures. However, if you look at the long term instead of just surgery day, it also has the highest rate of re-operation. In the future, the band can slip, leak, disconnect from the port, lose the port, erode the stomach (or, if slipped, erode the esophagus), and cause all kinds of crazy scar tissue growth that makes a second operation much more complex and risky than the first. I've known people both in person and online struggle with a band for years and never lose much weight and finaly try to get a different procedure only for the surgeon to tell them that the band has so much scar tissue that now they have to have TWO additional operations because it will take so long to dig the band out of their stomach that that surgery must be performed alone, and then they can have their revision WLS later.

All surgeries have their possible complications and negative effects, but I think the band is often the one for which those potential complications are frequently overlooked because they are not immediate like they can be with other procedures. Almost everyone knows about possible dumping with the RNY and possible gas/bowel issues with the DS (if they have heard of and considered the DS, at least), but these increasingly common longer-term issues with the band seem to be kept a petty good secret in many (not all, but many) surgeons' offices.

Also, regarding more gradual weight loss with the band, some do, and some don't. Some lose just as much in the very first month as with the other procedures (in the neighborhood of 20-30 pounds), while others may only lose that much in an entire year. What are your reasons for wanting to lose slowly? I'm just curious on that one - me, I wanted the excess weight GONE, and if it could have magically disappeared overnight, I would have been fine with that!

I am not going to bash any WLS and you are going to hear people's opinions of the good, the bad and the ugly.... so my advice to you is to do what your heart tells you to do

Best of luck !!!

Leenie

i thought i would get the band but then i thought that i might be allergic to the band because and latex breaks me out so that is the reason i want to get the gastric bypass that is my reason i am in the last process i am having my stress test tue 17 and wed 18 so i am hoping that is all so i can get a date

How did you conclude that the lap band is safer? I have seen nothing that supports that conclusion whatsoever.

I think she means because there is no cutting of the stomach or intestins... so its "safer" to her.

I.had lapband just a weekago . I needed quick recovery . You do what feels right for you . Talk to another surgeon and gone with the one you feel best with . He will be with.you on this very long journey. good luck .