Anyone had lap band weight loss surgery?

I am thinking about having weight loss surgery, and I have heard that the lap band is alot less risky then bypass. Has anyone had it done, or know anyone that has?

I can give you a couple facts on it:::

The latest statistics from the National Health Institute shows that more than 50 percent of the adult population in the United States is overweight.

Current statistics reveal that nearly 25 percent of the population is obese.

Obesity is defined as being 100 pounds over your ideal weight. The formula for defining obesity is called the Body Mass Index or BMI. To calculate your BMI go to Is Surgery Right For Me?



Using the Body Mass Index
Used to determine if you qualify for surgery
Measures obesity based on weight and height.


Obesity has many adverse effects on your medical and psychological well being.

Major psychiatric diagnoses are the same as the rest of the population
Morbidly obese have a higher incidence of:
鈻?Low self esteem
鈻?Depression
鈻?Self-hatred
鈻?Anger
Obesity can lead to premature death and is responsible for 300,000 deaths per year.

Death and Obesity
2nd leading cause of preventable death
Approximately 300,000 deaths/yr
Morbidly obese die 10 to 15 years earlier


Americans spend $100 billion dollars annually on weight related diseases and another $100 billion dollars on weight-loss products and services.


Health Risks
Severe and morbid obesity greatly increases risk of dozens of serious medical problems:
Diabetes
Hypertension
Sleep apnea
Heart disease
Vascular disease/Stroke
Immobility
Skin infections
Cancer
Gallstones
Urinary incontinence
GERD
Arthritis
Venous ulcers
Accident proneness
Depression
Joint problems
Low back pain
Infertility
DVT and thromboembolism
Asthma, etc, etc.
Morbid Obesity has adverse effects on the quality of your life as well as your health. Studies show that pre-mature death is 2 to 12 times higher in obese individuals compared to those without a weight problem.

Obese individuals often suffer from social and emotional discrimination, depression, as well as decreased energy and mobility.

Some of the additional health risks include: asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and infertility.

The benefits of weight loss are:

Live longer
Live happier
鈻?Social acceptance
鈻?Improved self esteem
鈻?Move easier
Live healthier
鈻?Medical problems associated with obesity tend to completely resolve or get substantially better after surgery

If you are obese, there are several key factors to keep in mind when making a decision as to managing your weight.

Bariatric surgery is the only proven long-term method of weight loss for individuals 100 or more pounds overweight
Diet, exercise and behavior modification result in only a 10 percent long-term weight loss
Patients are able to maintain their weight loss after surgery. Studies show that:
The average weight loss after gastric bypass surgery is:
鈻?75% of excess weight after 1-2 years
鈻?55-65% of excess weight after 5-10 years
The average weight loss after lap band surgery is:
鈻?60% average excess weight loss after 5-6 years

My aunt had this surgery, and it's actually a bit MORE risky than RY Bypass. With the lap band, you're putting a foreign object in your body - and it stays there forever. There are chances the band can slip, or leak, or break, and then you'll have to have another surgery to fix the problem. The chance of death with lap band is like .009%, and with RY Bypass is .5%, so there is that difference, but the chance of infection is so much greater with the lap band, and the chance of another surgery is so much greater. We all know that everytime we have surgery we are at risk to die, so I would recommend the RY Bypass. Obviously, don't take my recommendation though - you'll want to talk to a doctor to get all the facts, as I could be remembering the numbers wrong.

A friend of mine had the bypass done a year or two ago and hasn't had any problems from it, aside from the normal of making sure she eats what's she's supposed to, when she's supposed, making sure she gets enough of this or that (IOW, just getting used to it stuff), and she's lost almost 150 lbs. But absolutely no complications from it. I'd be very leery about the lap band surgery for exactly the reason the other person stated--there's a foriegn object inside my body.

Gastric Bypass Surgery /gastrectomy/stomach stapling /lapband (all types of weight loss surgery) is very safe nowadays.It is very cheap in India.There is one company that is very famous in India that arranges obesity surgery for foreigners in India.They are called the Forerunners Healthcare.I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and about their patient stories.

I have also read that they arrange financing for american and canadian patients as obesity surgery is not covered by insurance.They also have photos pasted of their International patients.You can checkout their website.The cost savings are incredible.As a doctor i personally believe that your obesity surgery can be easily handled in India as the quality of healthcare available here is simply best in the world.The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.

My cousin got her surgery for gastric bypass in India through the forerunners healthcare .She is more than very happy with the results.She has lost 65lbs in 5 months.She just paid 25% of the amount she was quoted in USA and is all praise for this forerunners healthcare company.hope this helps

http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com