Met with surgeon, need to make a decision please help me!!!

I would also like to add that some doctors just plain don't believe in lapband. In my surgeons practice, there are two surgeons. He does lapband and the other one only does gastric bypass. They were both at the seminar and I could just tell that the one that only does bypass is really against lapband. I think it has to do with the success rates. With bypass, you WILL lose weight. With lapband, you have to WORK.

Also, doctors make more $$ on bypass than they do lapband. The fee is higher. Keep that in mind. The economy is bad and that's effecting EVERYONE. I'm sure less people now are having bariatric surgery due to financial cir****tances. Even insured people. I had to wait for months just to save up my portion ($4500).

 I am at 235 just starting as well.  I AM oversweight, but with no complications, I just think that the bypass is so drastic for what I am looking for!  It really scares me... My surgeon thinks the bypass is better,  and I was starting to wonder if he was swaying me for the $$$  who knows?  I like to exersize, actually I have been dailiy now for about 3 months... I have changed my eating habits and I believe with the band as my support, I can reach goal, whether it be 6 months, a year or longer!  I don't like the thought of malnutrition, dumping, and sagging skin.. .It scares me.  I am only 36 and what will it be like later down the line... thanks for your input, everyone has given me some great advise and I feel even more comfortable choosing the band!!!  THANK YOU EVERYONE!  YOUR SUPPORT IS WONDERFUL, CONGRATS ON ALL YOUR SUCCESSES!!!

I have the band best choice I ever made.
I have lost 165 pounds in 14 months.
And yes I have made good food choices and bad. not good all the time but I try you do not have to be perfect. But there a rules you follow. Good Luck.
Laureen

I'm less than 9 months out and I have lost 121 pounds with the band.  The band is like any other WLS, it's depends on the effort you put in it as to how much you lose and how good you do.  I went to a seminar and heard the same thing from her doctor.  I looked at her and told her that if someone had said that to me before I had the surgery, I wouldn't have had it.  It seems like he wants you to have the gastric bypass.  At least, that's the way I read it.  I'm 5'10", I started out weighing 337 pounds on April 17 2008, I now weigh 216 and I want to get to under 170 pounds-and I will too. 

Laura

I don't understand why your doctor is trying to sway you towards Gastric but I am personally a fan of the band.  The complications from Gastric are a lot more risky.

I have talked to tons of people that have had both surgeries and I have seen success and failures on both sides.  The one common factor that I have seen with the sucess stories is the realization that this is a lifelong commitment and not a magic pill. 

Go to your support group meetings and be a regular on this forum.  IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERNCE.

Best Wishes to your on your upcoming surgery.

 Thank you everyone for your help!  You are all wonderful success stories!!!  I am so excited to begin this journey!  i feel much for satisfied with my decision to go with the band.  I originally wanted the bypass, then decided the band was more more me.  After my surgeon visit, he made me second guess myself!  I was so confused as to what the right thing to do is... Now, after so much success, I am CONFIDENT that I can do this with the band!  I am calling him Monday to let him know I am going with the band.  Thanks to all the "LOSERS"  on this site, and I appreciate all your support!  Wish me luck in m y approval w/ my insurance!