Oh com'on Dr. Simpson, of course YOUR re-op rate is low, you only do bands last I saw.  You posted this on the DS board a long time ago.

When someone needs a revision to sleeve, bypass, or DS they have to go elsewhere so obviously YOUR re-op rates are going to be low.

I think you are a very good surgeon.  I was not thrilled with your office staff otherwise I likely would have gone to you for my own banding but I do know you are a very skilled surgeon.  I wish you did revisions, we seriously need a good revision surgeon in AZ.  I think your website is deceptive but that does not mean you are not a very skilled and safe surgeon.

Darcie has worked with over a thousand lap band patients - she has done many support groups, and she has written a cook book.
So, overall she has pretty good credentials.
There are some common themes to all weight loss operations- and some unique differences. Just because a person had one does not mean they are not an expert in another. Her expertise comes from  years of experience, interaction, teaching, and so forth. If experience came just from having an operation - well -- surgeons wouldn't be experts.

I always like how patients think it is the surgery- or we have some vested interest in re-operations. Our re-operation rate is low- as you know- so - when people think about complications with the band- well- they are simple to point out.

Darcie, you have seen hundreds if not thousands of lap band patients- what has been your experience with complication rates of bands and how patients use them?

~~If you do not abuse a lap-band-  there is minimal chance of having issues with it.~~

WHAT?  Surely you can't say that in real time with a straight face???  The long term risks and complications with a band are huge in number and revision surgery is BIG business for surgeons who do all the procedures.

I was the star lap band patient, I did everything exactly right.  I also had the best of the best surgeons.  Bands suck!  One day you can't swallow your own spit and the very next day you can eat anything and everything.  Everything affects restriction, weather, stress, TOM, food temp, everything.  With a sleeve weight loss is better and faster than banding, long term risks and complications are much fewer than banding, there is no value in bands.  None.  It is a temporary way to lose a small portion of excess weight.

BTW, I don't blame doctors for not doing aftercare on bands they did not place although in AZ we have a LOT of doctors that will do aftercare on patients they did not operate on.  I fully understand the money is in the surgery and you guys are making a living.  I just wish doctors like you would stop lying about the financial reality here by claiming your medical malpractice will not cover you.  That's a load and quite easy to prove.

BTW, on your website you point out all the risks of bypass and DS, any reason you don't outline the complications of banding?  I mean, you are a band doctor so it's not like you are not aware of slips, erosion, band intolerance, stoma spasms, port infections, port flips, esophageal dilation, pouch dilation, etc. etc. etc.

You have to admit, your website is very deceptive and misleading.  If one didn't know what they were doing they might actually believe the only way to survive WLS is to have a band and we all know that isn't true.

you asked my opinion, ill tell you.  Dont do this half way.  Have the bypass.  I see so many people that have the lap band that feel like failures because its not working for them.  If you are going to have the surgery do it all the way.  You will be so happy. Your only regret will be that you didnt have it sooner.  good luck.