Question:
Is gastric banding just effective as rny?

I have been researching different surgery options my insurence covers banding and gastric bypass but I see people lose more weight more effectively with bypass is it possible to lose 100+ lbs with lapband?    — monny2400 (posted on July 24, 2006)


July 24, 2006
Hello Trici, I had gastric bypass on 013006 and lost 80lbs so far. I know people who were just as successful with lab band and others who had either rny or lap and not loosing as much but I discovered those people due not follow the rules to well i.e. eating high cal food, cake, cookies etc. It really is a personal choice. Rny is more perminent then lap band and the recovery is little longer. If your surgen does both you should be able to discuss with her or her. Good luck with what ever you decide.
   — Tina G.

July 24, 2006
My husband and I researched this also, this is what we found out: Banding does not allow you to lose nearly the weight that RNY does. It also has a higher risk of gaining weight back.
   — Lost4Ever

July 24, 2006
Hi Trici, I had gastric lap banding done on april 20th of this year. I have lost 35 lbs and am doing great. My research on this was that many people have lost 100 plus pounds with the lap band. The greatest thing is its adjustable, the band can be adjusted for weight loss, you dont get that with bypass, also bypass is much more risky, you have the mal-absorbtion issues and you dont have those with the lap band. The recovery time is much much less than bypass, (only a few days till you are back to new), and you can keep your band forever and adjust it for the rest of your life as you need to. The weight comes off slower and your body will adjust much better to a slower weight loss. The surgeon I went to has numerous patients that he banded in 2001 and 2002 that were morbidly obese with weight losses of greater than 100 lbs that have reached their goals and are keeping the weight off. Its a personal choice but in my opinion the lap band works great with minimal recovery time much less invasive than bypass and can be as permanent as you wish it to be. Good luck in whatever you choose Terry
   — nurse911

July 24, 2006
Trici... You're right, people that have the RNY generally do lose more weight and they lose it more quickly. However, if you're willing to be agressive in keeping the band tightened, the potential for weight lose of over a hundred pounds is there. I have lost 162 lbs. since May 11th 2005. It hasn't been easy and there were times I had difficulty keeping food down, but I would do it all over again because I feel so much better with all the weight off. It's a fine line to get the band adjusted just right for yourself, everyone is different. I have an awesome doctor who has been just wonderful about making adjustments to my band. I think I've had it adjusted at least 7 or 8 times since the surgery. I'm really close now to the point I'll probably keep it at. I hope this has helped you in some way. Good luck in your journey, it's worth it and I would do it all over again. Bill B.
   — billyblaine01

July 24, 2006
Generally over a 12 month period you will loose about the same amount of weight, so research shows. With the lap band you do not have the malabsorbtion that you have with bypass. You will lose more weight the first 6 months with the bypass, but according to the research after 12 months the lap band people will catch-up but NOT surpass the bypass people. Lap-band people have to really adhere to the diet regiment that the Dr. provides you. Also the Lap-Band adjustments are not covered by insurance after 90 days. I was quoted $150.00 per adjustment and that you will require 3-5 adjustments after the initial one. You will not need to worry about dumping or vitamin absorbtion with the lap-band. If you are truly weak and will not be able to adhere to the diet then I suggest the bypass.
   — WMKaisla

July 24, 2006
Well, I have, and so have dozens of Bandsters I know. Just like with anything else in life, and especially WLS, you get out of it what you are willing to put into it. The thing about the Band is, there's no coasting. You have to put in the work from Day 1. I liked that, and it's worked well for me. And for my money, the adjustability factor can't be beat. Customizable WLS! :) Good luck whatever you decide.
   — Jeanie

July 24, 2006
Trici. I too had wls (rny lapro) on april 24th of this year. I have lost 48#. As you can see, by a previous poster (congrats to you btw :) ) that everyone loses at different rates. I dont know your age or if you plan on having kids or not. But the band can be ajusted to your needs when/if you decide to get pregnant. That was a big factor in my book, as I havent yet had kids, and I wish to have some someday. Everyone is right on this one. It is up to you. Yes you will lose faster and probably more weight, with rny. And yes, you can lose about the same amount of weight with the band. They are also right about adhering to your diet such to meet those losses of people who have had rny. Consider this, if you have rny (gastric bypass) then you might have excess skin in the long run, (also sometimes depending on how much you excersice and age, weight, and many MANY other factors) and if you do have excess skin, you might have to have it removed. Via plastic surgery. With the band, the weight comes of more slowly most of the time) and you may not have as much excess skin. Research away, and if you have ANY questions at all, please email me. I am a fountain of info :) If I cannot answer your question, I can most likely refer you to someone on the ObesityHelp.com webpage that can help. I wish you all the luck in your researching! Stephanie
   — squeekypete

July 25, 2006
Hi, I work for a surgeon that does both Lapband & Bypass. These people are wrong! You can lose as much weight from the Lap Band as from the ByPass. The differance is that you lose it faster faster from the ByPass. At the end of about 2-3 Years the stats show that they are the same. The nice thing about Lap Band is that for the rest of your life you can have fills and adjustments. Bypass is easier to mess up then a LapBand. It is a personal choice. Don't let somebody else make this decision for you. Get on the internet and do some research for yourself and decide what is best for you!
   — jk_harris

July 25, 2006
The answer lies within yourself. Do you feel strong enough to succeed either way? You can out-eat any surgery...I've seen it done with the band, RNY and the DS. The key is, do you feel you need the extra insurance to help you lose? Plain fact of the matter is that with the band, you will have to exert more self control and effort than you will with traditional RNY. Why? Because with the RNY you have dumping and it's harder to eat around the surgery. The band, you can eat anything you want, and many people use that as a way to eat around it. Fills with the band are not unlimited, and if you get to your limit and find you have little restriction, you have little you can do about it. Initially I thought I wanted the band, but couldn't get one due to my hiatal hernia. Now that I don't have it and I have the RNY, I am very happy this is how it went. I realize that I need the negative reinforcement to keep me away from too much sugar because I would push it if I had the band. I realize that now. As for success, I don't want to start a big debate, but I have seen more folks who have had the band who failed than the RNY. The reasons usually fall into their inability to get the band adjusted correctly and their restriction isn't good. I started out at 325 lbs and I recall 2 women specifically who had the band around the time I had my surgery. 6 months down the road I had lost 100 and the one who was the same size as me (with the same job) had lost 35. The other had lost 15. I recently spoke with the one who lost 35 to catch up with her and find out what was going on, and the band for her failed. She is like me in that she needs the big guns. So you have to ask yourself: Do you push the envelope. Be real and honest with yourself, because although the band is a LOT more conservative with risk, it is still surgery and it is still a lot of money and time and effort to go through. You have to be dedicated and prepared. I have a friend I know would do fabulously with the band. She has an iron will and would follow the program with no problems. Me, well, I test my limits too much. I back off when I find my limits, and that is why I'm able to maintain and even continue losing after 2.5 years, but I know that I always have to ride that edge....which would spell disaster for me if I had the band. So the answer depends on you.
   — Dinka Doo

July 25, 2006
According to the seminar I attended, a person can lose that much weight with the lapband it just takes longer.
   — the7thdean

July 25, 2006
Its a interesting topic. For ME if I had choosen the band I wouldnt of lost as much given my addiction to high calorie liquids like chocolate milk. As a matter of fact when a bandster said I had a milkshake today I KNEW the band wasnt for me.... If your diabetic the mal absorbtion of the RNY can fix or cure or resolve type 2. Best wishes on your choice, its good we have alternatives
   — bob-haller

July 27, 2006

   — Virginia N.

August 3, 2006
something to think about. many people get bypass because of the dumping side effect--they count on it to help them eat right...as many people have already posted here. here's the rub--not everyone dumps, and often after a few years our bodies find a way to compensate--and the dumping stops. i wouldn't count on this particular side effect. also like to add, i have the band, and a little after a year out i reached goal. no complications, no problems, no dieting. i pretty much eat what i want, but because its such small amounts i still manage to stay under 1000 calories a day. and yes, i still have ice cream, candy etc. you can have those things if you factor them in your daily calorie allowance--this is what normal people do....and i just wanted to be normal! good luck to you
   — jessicamegan




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