Hi, my name is Monique and I am new to the wls community. I am in the preocess of trying to get approved for surgery. Once I started this journey my mind was pretty made up about the lap band procedure. Since then I have learned about the vsg. I am so confused at this point on which one is best for me. Each one comes with good reasons to get as well as reasons not to get.  I guess what got me with the lap band, is all the little side effects such as getting stuck and the poductive burping and all that. It is also a very high maintenance surgery, with all the fills and unfills. I have seriously been considering the vsg, but my concern with this one is the pouch getting bigger and me gaining the weight back. If there is anyone out there who has had this ordeal, could you please give me a few pointers on how I might be able to come to a final decision. I would greatly appreciate it.

I also struggled between the two procedures but decided on the VSG because of the maintenance of the band as well as the possible side effects of slipping, erosion, etc. I am so very happy with my VSG and it has been one of my best decisions. Most docs will tell you that the pouch will stretch some but it would be very difficult to stretch the pouch to pre surgical size as part of the stomach is removed not just stapled off. So there is not alot left to stretch.

Thanks for responding, I am gonna call my surgeon's office and talk to them a little more. I think I am going to go with the sleeve, at this point it just seems better for me. BTW how long have you been sleeved and how much weight have you losed?

I think that that is a very good idea. The sleeve is done once and that is it. No fills, no removal, etc. I was sleeved Nov 19,2010 so less than one year. I was not a heavy weight per se so I started at 191 and am now down to 125 or so. I fluctuate between 125-132. I had Breast lift two days ago so I think that I have a great deal of fluid weight from the IVs and also from the swelling. I really do love my sleeve. I can eat what I want but in smaller portions. I do have to be careful with the sliders because they are usually very calorie intensive but this website has been a great source of information for me.

I started my process a year ago. At that time WLS seemed too radical for me but the lap band seemed like it was the least radical option but then I did my research and found that lap bands are very problematic and alot of people have them removed then get one of the WLS procedures Or some people have so much scar tissues after having a lap band that they can't get another procedure done.  The sleeve seemed more suited to me because you aren't having your intestines re-routed, rather only your stomach is made smaller. Frankly I don't think losing weight via mal-absorption is a good thing.  I want to be able to absorb all the nutrients I need since the older you get the harder this becomes anyway. You can lose and gain weight back with ANY of the WSL.  Its a tool not a magic bullet.  You still have to regulate what you eat. Hope you can decide what to go and are at peace with it.  
Best Wishes!

Thanks Vicky, that is exactly why I'm re-thinking lap band. I have been dead set on this prodedure but am now learning of all the little side effects that come along with it. I totally understand that weight re-gain is possible no matter which procedure you have. I guess my concern with the sleeve was/is it stretching so much that I have no type of restriction and able to eat like I can now.

When I started I also wanted the Band. I only new of the band and the bypass and I new I didn't want the bypass.- to invasive. Than the Dr office told me about the sleeve and still was on the fence. After speaking to the nutritionist she explained to me most patients loose about 60lbs with the band in the first year and after that you can loose more weight but it's much harder. With the sleeve  will loose at least 100lbs if not more in the first year. I want to loose about 130lbs I felt the sleeve was a better option for me.

 I do not regret it one bit! I am very happy-I had my surgery 3/22/11 and am down 73 lbs. I have no complications. I know quite a few people with the band- and I am VERY happy I decided to NOT go with the band. Weight loss is slower and so many of them have problems with eating and getting foods stuck and being uncomfortable alot.

Hi. I have friends who have had the band and went back to have it removed and had VSG done. they are sooo much happier with the VSG. I also knew I wanted VSG just b/c i hear so many problems with the Lap Band. I can't tell you what to do, bu i'd seriously consider VSG over the lap band.

I started (you can ask my surgeon) on the lap-bandwagon, and on my own after lots of research ended up very happily with the VSG.  He was suprised when, between my seminar and our consultation, I had done a 180 to the VSG.

Here was my tipping point. The lap band is a piece of plastic and  tubing. The idea, from a weight loss perspective, is that it is not ever supposed to come out . Once its out, no more restriction, no more weight loss unless you can manage on your own (and if you're here, I suspect, like me, you havent' been able to).

 However, I have yet to know of a piece of plastic and tubing built that would outlast my remaining lifespan. Therefore, my conclusion was that this would result not only in a piece of plastic (the port) residing just under my skin for the rest of my life, but an inevitable replacement of the whole darn thing before my life was over, and probably at an age I don't want to be messing around with unnecessary surgery. 

Thats ASSUMING I didn't end up with slippage or erosion.

I started not wanting a 'riskier' surgery, but in the end I decided the overall risk would likely be less with the VSG.  Also, far less annoying on a daily/weekly/monthly basis ;)

Please don't waste your time on a band they are basically useless. They may be great for the first couple of years then the scar tissue build up gets thicker and it continues to tighten until you end up having to get it unfilled or it never works from the begining, never able to get restriction. These are the 2 main issues that are a total pain. It is the slowest and least effective of all teh surgeries and many surgeons won't even do them anymore because the VSG is so much more effective.