Lap Band vs Gastric bypass

Hi everybody,
I have my appointment with my surgeon on Monday and was hoping to get some more information about the Gastric Bypass. Why did u choose it over the lap band? Did u had any complications?Which pre medical test u had to do? First i was sure I wanna get  the lap band but after research and some other posts on this webside i am not sure anymore. I thought first the bypass its a lil to invasive for me but i rather take the longer recovery time  and not having much comlication with slipping band or infected port.  I am 5.4 and current weight  is about 208 lbs so my BMI is 35,7 plus PCOS and probably sleep apnea. Hope to hear from you soon :-) Thanks

 Hi there

well the answer depends on the situation you are in and how much weight you need to lose

most of gastric bypass patients had a lap band before , i myself had a failed band surgery in 2007 , i lost basiclly  lost then regined more weight
i lost in the beginning because the food gets stuck  due to the narrwing the band causes to your wosophagus which made me throw up therefore lose weight  , i had ulcers from viomitting, gastritis and acid refluxes, and some sort of bolemia
and one important thing , if you still drink or eat food that can pass through the band  in high calories then you really did nothing

i did gastric bypass on august , i thank God everyday ,huge difference , first you really cant eat much , i used to eat tonz of food and never feel full , now i know the meaning of being full and i cheri****
second, incase you ate fatty or sugarry food, it bypasses and  some or most  of it doesnt get absorb , and you get something called dumping syndrom or nausea
so it works through making your stomack really small and bypassing the food you eat

if you are looking to lose a little weight, but you dont trust your habits , then definetly go for the gastric bypass without even thinking ,
if i had the chance to go back on time i would chose gastric bypass since 2007

i hope that helped 
hope x

 With a BMI of 35.7, I don't think you qualify for either...

 she is , only for band 

I actually think the band is more invasive in the end, since most people need it removed or replaced a few years down the road.  I did not want to have to have surgery every few years to fix my band and did not like the idea of a foreign object inside me.  Plus, many people don't lose anywhere near the amount of weight they want to lose with it.  in fact, many members of the RNY board here used to have the band and had to revise to RNY.  You couldn't pay me enough to get a band.  I honestly don't understand why surgeons still do that operation, with all the problems and low success rate it has.

I have had a few complications.  I developed pneumonia after surgery, and later got gall stones and had my gall bladder removed.  Now I have reactive hypoglycemia.  And I am still very glad I had surgery.

she would qualify for RNY under many insurances if she has a comorbidity (such as sleep apnea).

I'm not sure if most had a band - I know I didn't. I thought at first I may want that route - safer I suppose. However, it did not take long for me to realize that it wasn't a good choice for me.

My surgeon says she will do them, but she MUCH prefers RNY, as it is very easy to cheat on the band and there isn't as much long term data on it. I personally did not like the idea of a band in me and the port that needs to be filled, etc.

Thank you all :-)  Well first let me say I do qualify with my Insurance thats why I got my referal to my suregon in the first place. I need to have a BMI between 35-39.9 plus at least one other medical reason  such as PCOS what i do have and looks like i have a mild sleep apena too. I have thought about WLS for years but then tried to lose weight with diff. diets auch as Weigh****chers what will work . I lose 20-30 lbs and get it right back  or even more. My goal would be between 120-140lbs and  as more as I read I think the bypass would be the best choice for me. I hope eveyrthing goes well on Monady when I see my Doctor I am really nervous but excited as well.

RUN AWAY from the band and keep on running. 

It has a high rate of failure.  I had the band for 2.5 years and after 9 months, i started having problems, and stopped losing weight and was frequently throwing up, too many random tightness, and ate around the band (junk food) because it was only way to keep food down, etc etc and it also depressed me which led to eating more because i was feeling discouraged and finally had enough and asked for a revision.  I m very glad I did it!! 


Please, don't do the band!! Don't do it! 

    Hey there!   Your situation sounds so much like mine.   Im about your same weight and height also.   Ive battled the fat monster pretty much all my life and I just want that battle to end !!     I have heard to many horror stories about the lapband and my surgeon dosent even like it .    So after reading tons of posts on here I have decided on the gastric bypass as well.   Drs have been doing the surgery for YEARS,   most of them,  and its come a LONG way.   I have my surgery Tuesday morning and cannot wait !!   Good luck and keep me posted !!   Tina  :) 

Tuesday yay hope everything will go well for you :-) Yes I am so done with the battle as well Iknow what ur talkin about :-) I just hope everything will go well and Tricare will approve my surgery :-) Just 2 more days to wait until I meet my dotor so its not too bad lol