My wife’s doctor has recommended that she consider this Lap-Band surgery to help her lose weight.
We attended an education session/sales pitch by one of the local doctors who specializes in this procedure, and of course everything looked great with minimal risk, etc. I’m interested if any dopers have had this or know someone who has, and if the results were worth it.
To me, the risks from the surgery are just far too high to justify any of these sorts of surgeries. My mom’s cousin died a few days after his surgery due to complications.
I remember reading a People Magazine article about this a few years ago, but can’t find it now. The risks outlined in this article as well as many others I’ve read are astounding.
My SIL had this surgery a few months ago and it’s been quite successful, as far as I know. She had/has some issues with re-learning how to eat. Apparently one bite too much can make you feel very uncomfortable. It takes a great deal of mental strength to deal with the procedure, I think, but she has quite obviously lost quite a bit of weight after the surgery. As with any surgery, there are risks. I’m sorry for the death of DoperChic’s relative, but I can’t help believe that it is the most extreme case.
Good luck with your decision.
Lap Band? If I were her, I’d jump on it.
Lap Band mortality rates are almost nil. Waaaaaaaay safer than that awful gastric bypass!
• Surgical Mortality rate. Estimates of the operative mortality rate associated with the LAGB procedure range from 0.02% to 0.11%. The estimated rate for LR-en-Y is 0.23%. The lack of direct comparative trials does not permit firm conclusions regarding the observed differences in mortality between the two procedures.
From this study (warning pdf).
Granted, there is a divide between .02% and .23% but both are significantly less than 1% mortality. I don’t know the situation with Fat Bald Guy’s SO, but the odds may be on her side to get the operation.
In either case, do your research, and best of luck.
Yep, I have a lap-band. I’ve lost about 140 pounds from it. I am quite pleased with it. I can eat whatever I want - just in smaller portions. Since the lap-band doesn’t involve bypassing anything, I still absorb vitamins and nutrients normally so it’s a very normal way of life. Just have to learn to chew your food well so you don’t get the uncomfortable feeling of a big hunk of food clogging your “stoma” (the opening between the banded stomach and the rest of your stomach).
It is important to be patient because the weight doesn’t come dropping off as fast as it does with the gastric bypass but I think it’s well worth the advantage of not having as much physical risk as you do with the gastric bypass.
I think a lot of people who are talking about deaths and complications are confusing the lap-band procedure with the gastric bypass. There is some degree of risk with ANY surgery of course, but the lap-band is far safer than the gastric bypass. While I don’t have any cites, I personally believe the risks of the lap-band are far less significant than the risks of staying obese.
If you want to talk to lots of other people who have had this particular procedure, try the website http://www.lapbandtalk.com
Good luck to you and your wife. 
I had that “awful gastric bypass surgery”. Successfully and complication-free.
A good site for information on all the types of surgeries is www.obesityhelp.com
Good luck to your wife - it’s a personal decision and I wish her good luck on her journey!
VCNJ~
Not yet. My doctor broached the idea of me getting an RNY. I looked into it and the alternatives, and I’m pushing him with the idea of a Lap Band instead.
Thanks everyone for your comments. Everything I have seen indicates that this is much safer than the gastric bypass or stomach stapling. We’ll see how things work out.
I researched the question today, and my Blue Cross plan does not cover lap bands. They do cover RNY and the duodenal switch, however.
Guess I’ll have to be gutted…
Neither my insurance or my wife’s covers any kind of “gastric procedures,” so I guess we go the 2nd mortgage route. 
:mad:
I’ll second everything written above. Do your research on gastric bypass surgery done by experienced, reputable surgeons and you’ll find it’s incredibly safe, especially considering the health of the patients undergoing the procedure. If this is the route you go, look into having it done laporoscopically. The recovery and such is much easier and faster.
My mom had it done years ago and it gave her back a life worth living.
Best of luck!
Crud. I really do know how to spell laparoscopically. See?