Why do most people pick RNY over Lap band?

This is a very interesting thread, thank you... I am pre-op.  Dr. Loggins,  I am leaning on Lap Band, I am ok with slow weight loss, for many reasons, one being my parents and not worrying them, and two, vitamin and health reasons.  But, Dr. Loggins and staff did suggest RNY.  I think they would be supportive of each, but it was nice to check out both options to understand and come to a better decision for ME.  I think the extra little tool (band) will make me successful. No matter what I have to do.  I am willing to continue to watch calories, We still need to feed our bodies, but feed it well, with the right amount and quality of foods.  This will be a learning experience no matter what I do.  I guess both have their own good and bad, and each of us have our own goals and how we want to get there.  So in conclusion, "Whatever works" for you.  I am so excited to start and so many of you have done so well, congratulations.  Cheryl

Many Ins Co's do not cover the cost of the lap band fills that was kind of a determining factor for me as well. We are sooooo on a budget that $300 or so a fill just made no sense to me. You may wanna check with your own ins co to see if fills would be covered.

Hi Linda, Well at 470 I was too big for the lap and maineCare does not pay for the lap which I am on. Really after I got information on both I would have picked RNY over lap because once it is done I do not have to go back for fills and what not.

I had been thinking about WLS for a few years and I was severely against RNY, I had no desire to have myself cut up and "mutilated" as I would call it. When I finally made the decision to start the process for getting a lap band, about a year ago, I went to the informational meeting about it and talked to the director of the weight loss program in my hospital and listened to one of the surgeons talk about her opinions on the band. After talking to all these people my reasons for going with RNY were that: - I wanted faster weight loss - I was afraid I would be able to "eat around" the band, my RNY keeps me honest - I was not too keen on having a foreign object in my body - The results for LapBand patients at my hospital are not that great - I was uneasy about the lack of long term information on patients with the band Basically after hearing what all those people had to say about it and thinking it over and doing more research I decided to go with RNY. RNY was the right choice for me but ofcourse not the right choice for everyone.     As far as not many Mainers having the band I know that in this area there is only one surgeon who does it and she is not a big fan of the lap band at all. So I think maybe lack of availability is a reason. Good luck with your weight loss!!!

Well Dr. Cobean and Dr. Wolff have done a lot of lap bands and RNY and they are all for lap band. And you can eat around RNY just like Lap Band both kinds need to be watched. The reason Maine hasn't had many Lap Bands is because we are always last in getting the ( NEW IN THINGS) Maine has always been behind the times. Lap Band has been around in other states and countries a lot longer than here. My brother had RNY and he has had many problems with it ( bleeding, weight gain, dumping etc.) apendex that they couldn't find because it was moved during surgery. If your a person who takes a lot of pain medication you have to be carefull not to burn a hole in your pouch. In fact Dr. Cobean is studing a procedure that can help RNY people who have stretched their pouch and put a lap band to help get the pouch small again so they can loose weight again. And lap band patients who have strected their stomach can have their pouch tucked back down. Thanks for all who have listen and wrote  keep it coming Linda