Hi All I have been looking into the types of surgery and I came upon where the Massachusetts Department of Public Health claims the VBG has been replaced by the LAGB. Is this true? What do you think about it? Is VBG a good option? Thanks, Linda "A procedure called the vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) is seldom used since the LAGB became available in 2001" http://www.mass.gov/dph/betsylehman/faq04.htm

I think the Lap Band was only FDA approved in 2001, so it's been difficult to get insurance approval for it. I had VBG on 3/9/04 and I am down 95lbs. I didn't purposely have the VBG, as I originally was sheduled for RNY, but if I had the choice I probably would have done the lap band since it's reversible and adjustable and works the same way as the VBG. But all procedures have their pros and cons. With the VBG you have staple line disruption and with the lap band there is slippage and corrosion. But on the insurance front, I do think insurance companies are starting to approve the band more, so that's good. With the technology today who knows what's coming around the corner next. Good Luck to you

Hi Linda, I started to have the VBG,RNY for me was never an option.However the surgeon that was going to do the VBG only did open and I could not afford that much recovery time.Lap Band works in the same way as VBG but without the possibility of staple line disruption.Since the surgical technique has been improved there is very little chance of band slippage(band is now stitched in place)and erosion also is very uncommon.I have been banded for 14 months and have lost 112 lbs. Lisa F