I chose the Lap Band simply based on my personal physiology. Starvation diets work wonders for me. I lose about 15lbs a month just doing it by myself but with a regular sized stomach that just really sucks and isn't something I can do for long without going crazy with hunger. With LB, I won't have a regular sized stomach. It's the perfect setup. My body rarely goes into starvation mode and when it does, a few days or a week of eating higher calorie calms my body's concern over that or even mixing it up on a more regular basis... 500 cals one day, 1000 the next, 800 the next, etc and just take in a weekly average as opposed to sticking to an exact daily measure.
I'm afraid I would have issues with GB because I already have IBS and a very sensitive intestinal tract. I already have dumping syndrome when it comes to sugar, greasy foods, etc because of that. Does it stop me from eating those things? Not really, I just get strategic and make sure I'll have about 12 hours of 100% access to a bathroom at all times and then I go to town eating the bad food. I don't normally put myself through such torture but when I have to starve all day long (because who knows when I'll get an IBS attack and if I know I won't be close to bathrooms, I won't eat), it's not *uncommon* on such days that I go home and binge.
So, I think I'd be one of those people that would be sickly from it. Plus, I feel like GB is the last resort of the last resorts for me -- both in terms of the procedure and the cost. I can scrounge up $12K. I cannot scrounge up $25K. If I don't lose enough weight with LB, I will consider switching to GB after long talks with GI docs and my WLS surgeon. But I'm confident in the Lap Band that if I work it, it will work for me. I know a guy who lost 340lbs with the Lap Band... That is my ENTIRE body's weight!!! So, it doesn't have to be inferior to GB in overall pounds lost. I've read many other success stories where people have lost 120+ with LB. My aim is 150+ but Gee Whiz, I'd love to just lose 50-100 so I can be able to get up and MOVE again without hurting. I miss hiking.
Bottom line is if I'm not physially hungry, I can control myself and I can lose weight. My problem right now isn't WHAT I eat, it's how much I eat. I eat healthy stuff... but, you know, a whole bag of it won't do me any favors. But I'm constantly hungry, so
I can understand your concern and yes, any doctor will tell you that GB is more risky, but those are risks your brother are going to have to weigh against what he wants for himself. I think you should let your brother decide and speaking as someone who's gotten alot of negative (but sometimes well-meaning) crap from people over the surgery, just be positive and supportive. That'll mean so much more than giving him information off the internet. Unless of course, you plan to use that to give him tips to help him in a positive way.
I've been discouraged time and time again and even put off the surgery for a month or two because people kept telling me I won't lose much with LB and GB is the only way to go. I had a nurse tell me she see's alot of people fail with the LB and switch. But after the initial sinking feeling from the valued words of a medical professional, I started firing off questions like, "Did these patients just not lose extreme amounts of weight at first like with GB and get discouraged and quit or did they actually try it for a few years before deciding it wasn't working out?" and "Did the patients stick to the doctor prescribed diet afterwards, or did they go back to old habits?" and "Did they get proper fills, keep follow up appointments, go to the support groups?" She couldn't answer my questions.
I realize you are FOR the LB, but I'm basically trying to illustrate the idea of where any and all WLS patients come from on this journey. Regardless of the chosen procedure, we all get alot of the same reactions from people and have many of the same experiences.