Difference between GB and lap band? - Weight Loss / Surgical Message Board

giddyup715 · 08-13-2005, 08:51 PM

What's the difference between Gastric Bypass surgery and lap-band surgery and the hoops to jump thru? A friend of mine is considering GP and I saw the new commercials for lap-band surgery. What's the difference and which is better?

Mojo255 · 08-15-2005, 07:49 PM

Just from what I have read, one is an actual bypass of the stomach and the other is where they 'band" a portion of the stomach to make it smaller. The banding is less intrusive from what I know, but I don't know much.

losemyself · 08-24-2005, 02:34 PM

I actually did some research on it a few years ago. Gastric was too much for me because I didn't want anything cut and moved around. lol Plus I had a c-section that went horribly wrong 6 yrs ago so now I have major fears about anyone cutting me open again.

The ban is less painful and involves a small cut (if I remember this correctly). Then a ban gets placed around the upper portion of your stomach and that's it. Like I said its been a few years. The doctor I saw went over everything with me. We talked about both surgeries along with the plus/minus's of both. The ban procedure was less trumatic and you would be up and around sooner then gastric.

Push_pop · 11-04-2005, 09:54 PM

I have a loved one who is strongly considering the lap-band and I am extremely worried. It seems like a "stretch" (pardon the pun)...to think that this would work. A rubber band may hold a pair of glasses together but highly doubtful to make a person quit WANTING, DESIRING, OBSESSING over food. We're over weight because we over eat, we don't exercise, and we won't make ourselves do the right thing.

The band will slip if you over eat...so for the procedure to be successful, you have to have the will power and the discipline to eat only small portions. DUH!! If we had that, we wouldn't have a weight problem in the first place.

I'm hearing, "You fill up faster, so you won't eat as much" The problem is not that we can't get full. The problem is we continue to eat once we're stuffed. It's called GLUTTONY. I don't think a lap band will help overcome that.

Maybe I'm wrong...I just think that there is no quick fix. To shed the weight, we must resolve ourselves to eat better and to eat smart, to exercise, and stay the course...the same discipline and will power that is required for a successful lap-band.

Your thoughts?

byntstr8 · 11-05-2005, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giddyup715

What's the difference between Gastric Bypass surgery and lap-band surgery and the hoops to jump thru?

I had the bypass almost 22 months ago. With the bypass, it is just that, your large intestine is relocated to a smaller "pouch" that is created at the top of your stomach. Everything is then stapled closed. They do not remove the stomach as it will still produce stomach acids to help with digestion. The hoops you jump thru are basically acknowledging that it is a life style change. There is no "cheating" per say. There are certain foods that I can not eat, yet those same foods do not affect others the same way. There are episodes of "dumping syndrome" and if you attempt to "cheat"

and over eat, believe me when I tell you, you will pay closer attention to the amount of food you take in. There are so many different aspects of the gastric bypass that I can not even begin to explain everything. All I can say is before you or anyone makes that decision, see a therapist, and do your homework completely. I know of 3 people that did the banding. All 3 of them ended up going for the bypass after the banding failed them. The bypass is not a miracle fix, it still takes a lot of control and will power, the pouch can still be stretched and weight can be regained. A woman in my town where I live had the surgery 2 months before I did and she is back weighing more now than what she did when she had the surgery. There is also the after affects of either procedure and people will treat you differently. Then there is the whole skin irritation thing, the reduction surgery. The bottom line is you have to do what you feel is right for you. Best of luck!