RNY or Lapband

There are pros and cons with every type of WLS and you need to do your homework and work with your surgeon to determine the best choice for you.  Your eating habits and medical history play a big factor in determining what surgery you may have the most success with.  One size does not fit all with WLS.   

I've seen people succeed and fail with both the Band and RNY.  I don't personally know anyone with the sleeve or DS, but I imagine the same goes for those procedures.  Most people, regardless of procedure, seem to experience a weight loss plateau around the 2-3 year mark.  I have also seen people experience rebound weight gain with both banding and bypass procedures.   Statistics show the five year weight loss results are virtually the same for both band and RNY.    The thing to remember is surgery, regardless which one you choose, is just a tool to help and will not be the end all be all.  You still need to adopt a new, healthy lifestyle that includes a sensible diet and exercise.   if you don't change your head, the body will not follow.   

If it had been available at the time, I think I would have chosen the gastric sleeve but alas, my only choice 4 years ago was Band or RNY.  I chose the Lap band because at the time, it was touted as being the least invasive of the two procedures and reversible.  I remember reading statistics of 1 in 100,000 Band patients having an adverse event VS. 1 in 10,000 with bypass surgery and that convinced me. I was banded in 2007 and most would consider my experience a success story.  I lost the majority of weight I needed to lose within two years, without many issues.  Then around year three I started having chronic, mystery abdominal pain.  My weight loss plateaued and I eventually gained back 25 pounds.   Long story short, I recently discovered I am one of the few to have the rare complication of band erosion.    That means my stomach has eroded around the band and it has worn it's way through my stomach lining.  Because of this, my band needs to be removed ASAP and cannot be replaced.  I cannot have a revision procedure until my stomach has completed healed - at least another 6 months to a year.  Actually, I should say I MAY be able to have a revision, depending on how I heal.   Because of the damage the band has done, my only surgical option for a revision would be RNY.  

Even with my complications, I don't regret my decision to get the band.   It worked for me... until it didn't anymore, LOL.  

 Given the long-term *DAMAGE* it did to you, I'm shocked you say you don't regret getting the band.  That type of side effect is not ok.  I'm sorry it happened to you!  Least invasive my shiny metal ass.  

I have been down a long road with my lapband and it is about time that I will probably have to split ways with it.  It can be my best friend as well as my worst enemy at times.   It started out in Jan 2009 when I got my band. It was a good year except for needing a new port in August 2009. I lost about 75 pounds that first year.  Then Jan 2010 came around and ended up with a slipped band and severe dehydration after throwing up for 3 days.. I had blown all my original surgical sutures out so they had to resuture the band in place. Since jan 2010, my loife has been hell. Three different attempts of numerous fills to try and find restriction without success.  Many, many days on liquids cause I couldn't keep anything down and then other days everything in site would go down without difficulty. I have had three trips to the ER over the last year for IV fluid due to dehydration. I have had two EGDs and I have now found out that I have esophageal dilatation due to the band also.  I am currently attempting to get insurance to cover a revision, but it is a far cry from being successful.   
Please, please, please think carefully before you decide on which procedure that you want.
Steph

You're honestly comparing apples to oranges. You have to be honest with yourself and decide if limiting your amount of food will be enough for you to successfully lose weight and can you diet for the rest of your life. If you're okay with that lifestyle and are pursuing restriction only the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy is a much better choice.

If you need a surgery that is going to allow you malabsorbtion The DS would be my 1st choice with the RNY coming in 2nd.

Based on my experience with the band, I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy. Just last week while struggling to enjoy a healthy meal with a friend, she looked at me and said, 'The band is the bane of your existence, isn't it?" That pretty much sums it up.

edited to fix a few typos

I thought that rny was more drastic also. I chose the band because I saw rny people starting to get 'bob' band over their bypass. I figured the band was adjustible for life.

I ended up having complications...vomiting every day, slipped band, couldnt eat solid foods...

There are many successful bandsters who do wonderfully and have no complications.

Do your research and think about it. Im not going to bash the band or tell you what to do. Just talk to as many people as you can.

With that said. My revision was the best thing I could have done. My quality of life has improved. Ive lost weight and Im happy.

I also considered revisioning to DS, but decided against it for my own reasons. The biggest reason was that no one in my tri-state area performed it and I was afraid if no one did the surgery, who would take care of me in the event of an emergency?

Good luck to you with which ever surgery you decide.

NEITHER!

There is no way in HELL I would have either one.  They are outmoded surgeries, still being done by surgeons who don't know better, and don't want to change or learn - IMHO, of course.

The only surgeries I would consider are the VSG and the DS.  And I wouldn't give much consideration to the VSG either, as there are no long term studies, and I suspect the 7 year data to be published soon is going to SUCK.  Just like the RNY and Lapband 7 year data suck.  You should compare the long-term stats for the RNY and Lapband to the stats for the DS.

THINK TWICE, CUT ONCE.

I would never recommend the lapband to anyone considering WLS.  I had a lapband placed in June 2006 and had a revision to the gastric bypass in June 2008.  I could never eat solids properly with the lapband...and even had to have meat removed from my esophagus 3 times at my local hospital because it was "stuck" and this was before I even had a fill.  It was a nightmare with constant sliming and I ended up with bad acid reflux.  I was in denial for a long time before I finally confided to my surgeon that I couldn't continue with this nightmare.
Now I have known people with success with the lapband however they ended up having serious issues after a year or two and getting a revision to the gastric bypass. These people lost 100+ lbs. then developed mechanical issues, leaking tubes, stomach erosion, floating ports, problems swallowing, etc.  I think now more information is available about the issues people can have with the lapband.  I also feel that our stomachs were never meant to have a device placed around it.
I have had great success with my gastric bypass and now eat quite normally, steak, pork chops, chicken, salad, broccoli.  When I had the lapband I lived on soft/slider foods i.e. milkshakes, yogurt, ice cream, pudding, etc. and consequently regained the minuscule 35 lbs. I had lost.
I don't consider the gastric bypass drastic but that's just my opinion...,I consider it a godsend and yes my revision was done lap.
Please do more research on your options...and good luck with your decision.

Valerie

please do your research about all surgeries and choose the surgery that is best for you.  

I had lap band.  I went into the surgery thinking I was invincible and nothing bad was going to happen to me.  I was going to eat right and exercise and I would lose all of my 140 pounds I needed to lose.  I had my lap band January 2009.  Started having fills in February.  Did okay til July when I felt like I couldnt swallow my saliva.  I swelled majorly after every fill.  Went back and had unfill.  Started getting heart burn.  Took out all saline out of band. Tamara still had heart burn. Raised head of bed, no help.  Took lot of medicine.  Had upper GI after upper GI. I exercised, i ate right.  I lot 54 pounds and then stopped losing.

Finally in July of 2010 I went to surgeon and told surgeon either he remove the band or I was going to.  I was in so much physical pain around the band that I just wanted it out.  My esophagus would not empty food into the stomach for long periods.  I was miserable.

I have now had a revision in October 2010.  I feel normal with the RNY.  I do not throw up, I don't feel like food is stuck in the esophagus.  I eat, just smaller amounts.

Just understand that the band does not work for everyone.  I thought the band was the less invasive surgery but for me it was the most painful surgery.  Some people don't lose with the band either.  The band fails them, they do NOT fail the band.

Tamara 

 I was unsuccessful with the band.  Regret not getting RNY January 2010.  Having the band removed. But no insurance approval on any replacement at the point.  I problaby won't do anything after having the band removed.  

I am a Lapband (surgery 2008) to Roux-en-Y revision.  I wouldn't recommend the band over RNY - I personally know too many people (and not included on the boards) that have had to have band complications and have had to get revision surgeries or removals.  My husband has the band (had it for three years) and is considered a success as he has maintained 55% weight loss - he is still 60 pounds overweight and at 70% filled to his limit has no restriction.

Do your research and find out ahead of time what your insurance requirements are for the initial surgery, possible revision or removal (if you choose the band) and make sure you are covered.  I would also advise to have your surgery done by a surgeon that does bariatric surgeries of all kinds (not just the band).  You want to make an educationed decision on both your surgeon and the type of surgery you decide to have.

As for RNY- I'm still too early out to give you an honest opinion as I'm still in healing mode and recovering from a nasty open revision.  I don't think I could give you an unbiased opinion...ask me again in a few months.  As for weightloss, I will say I'm down 30 pounds from surgery - and with the band I lost 60+ pounds in a year before gaining it all back plus 20...