VSG or Lap Band please HELP!!

I had my mind made up to have the Gastric Sleeve but after talking to my psychologist she think I will do better with the Lap Band. I want to lose 170 lbs. She thinks I can lose 210 lbs. by having the band, she said" because it will give me restrictions over a period of time, the sleeve doesn't." Do you have any regret getting the Sleeve or you happy with the decision you made Please tell me. I have to make my final decision in April I'm looking to have my WLS in June!!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to read and reply.

HAPPY WEIGHT LOSS!!!!

My surgeon told me that they aren't using the lap band as much now because of complications and you don't lose as much weight with it. I have a friend who got lap band 4 years ago this month and she lost about 80lbs in the first year. Her port flipped so it hurts when she gets fills but other than that she hasn't had many problems. She hasn't lost much weight since that first year though. 

I decided to get the sleeve because I knew I would lose more. I'm only a month out so I don't know much though. I would have a consult with a surgeon about what they think are best for you, they would know more than a psychologist. Just my opinion. :-) good lunch with whatever you decide! 

In my opinion, a psychologist has no business telling you this...none, nada, zip.  She needs to stick to the mental issues that got you fat to begin with, not speculate on the type of surgery you're about to have.

I will tell you, having had the lap band for 7 years and the sleeve for 10 months, there is no comparison.  My experience with the band was one of constant vomiting, acid reflux, and resorting to "slider" foods just so that I could eat.  

Very few surgeons are doing the band these days, for good reason.  The level of future complications is quite high - including scar tissue, slippage, and hernias.  There are folks that have done quite well with the band, but I'm not one of them, and would not recommend it to my worst enemy.

Sandy is dead on.

I have only had the sleeve.  I interviewed 4 doctors prior to surgery, and every one of them said they have seen a significant decline in the number of lap bands they are doing .... on purpose.  They are not recommending it as much.

I would tell you to interview a few surgeons who are in the trenches to see what they think.

Ultimately, you have to do what is right for you.  I am not sure if your Psychologist is qualified to give that level of advice.  Try the docs that do it for a living for their input!  

Scott

Your therapist really shouldn't be giving you advice on which weight loss surgery you should choose - because by the information she gave you, clearly she is very uninformed.

The band has very high complication rates - so much so that many surgeon's offices (including my own) will not even perform the surgery anymore. The Sleeve absolutely gives restriction over time; however, your capacity does increase which is normal. With any weight loss surgery, including the band, there are ways to "eat around them" and stop your loss or gain your weight back.

I DO NOT regret having the sleeve. I am very happy with my decision and would do it on a yearly basis if I had to - I strongly urge you to forget about the band... spend some time researching this site to see how many people have had to revise from the Band to the Sleeve or RNY down the road. 

The sleeve gives you restriction for the rest of your life...the bands tend to fail around year 7 or need replacement of the port parts.  Some insurances only pay for 1 surgery a lifetime.

Given the amount you want/need to lose - you are probably better suited for a sleeve.

The PSYCH is NOT a bariatrician or bariatric surgeon - talk to a surgeon or baraitrician to make this decision, not a Psych.

Just chiming in with the others - when I started out I had about 200 lbs to lose. My surgeon told me he wouldn't perform the band on me period because of the lack of success patients have with it but particularly true heavy weights like me with so much to lose. He flat out wouldn't do it -- not that I wanted it! My own research told me that people with the band are not nearly as successful in their weight loss as those with the sleeve.

As you can see from my info in the top of the post, I was sleeved last June. I have had no complications, lost lots of weight (still about 35 lbs to go), and my restriction is excellent. I can't eat more than about 2 ounces of most solid protein, but I don't have any of the problems that I hear about with the band like "productive burping" (gross!). This is the best decision I have ever made for my life and health. And there is no way the psychologist should be telling you what kind of surgery to have! You make that decision in conjunction with your surgeon.

Your psychologist is WAAAAYY  off base.  The sleeve gives you excellent restriction over time and with far fewer reported complications than the band.  

I have no idea where your mental health professional gets off give you medical advice...that's not her job!  If she thinks you would be emotionally and mentally capable of handling the band then you are capable of handling the sleeve.  Grrr.....

my surgeon still does a few bands , he even has one himself and lost 80 lb

but first thing he said was it was not for me it was done mostly for light weights and that the vsg would be the best for me ,but he would do a rny If I preferred that instead

the band is now being sold as temporary not permident and most people need to have it removed or replace within 3-5 years , and most people gain there weight back then 

 the vsg is a permident solution that will work for the rest of your life as long as you follow a good food plan

yes the band could be removed if you are not happy with it and the sleeve can not be undone but who wants to have it undone

 there are a few people that have had there sleeves revised to a rny or ds but not many

there are many revisions from band to rny or vsg , there is a whole revision forum full for band revisions

 there are reasons  why it is called the CRAP BAND

I think your therapist might be crazy herself as I have no idea why she'd think the band restriction is better than the sleeve.

I comfortably think it's the exact opposite and with way less issues and complications.  That doesn't even begin to consider that it's easier to cheat the band.  Most of people I've seen be most successful, even with heavier weights, had the sleeve.  Those I've seen who seemed to make progress early on, but fizzle out before loosing it all, have been lapbands.

Either tool can work for you as long as you work the tool.  For my money, the sleeve is the tool that sets your mind up for "no going back".  It's much easier to conform to proper behaviors with this mindset.