long term weight loss

[dmee]

Now that I have scheduled my surgery I am hearing many people say that the band does not result in long term weight loss. A "friend"'s doctor told her most band patients gain all of their weight back. Can someone share their experience with me.

[karenlynn79]

I know that that is true of a lot of gastric bypass patients, but not sure why specifically. If the band AND you are working and using it right, I don't see how you could gain "all" the weight back. Also, I think a lot of people are negative about WLS and some people (thin people) think it's a cop-out. I have gained weight in the past with the band, but I didn't have ANY fill at the time and I wasn't trying. Now that I have a good fill level I am losing fairly steadily. Once I hit goal weight, I will probably loosen it halfway and then go from there and try and maintain my weight. But, just FYI there are lots of ways to cheat with the band!!! You have to have a little self-control (ice cream, milkshakes, liquid calories, go down easy still) but overall, I truly believe that if you do your research and are fully aware and committed and follow the "rules", most people can and do lose. Hope that helps! Also Dr Ortiz and the OCC are the best.

Karen

[nothereanymore]

Karen is right on.

Most of the studies that I have read find it is true with a % of GBP's, however I haven't seen any studies that show the same results for lap band patients. One of the reasons is that the lap band is adjustable. Right now I'm almost done loosing my weight, it’s been with me since 6/6/06 and I've lost over 120 pounds. I actually booking my unfill, which means I'll loosen my band to go into maintenance mode. If I start gaining again I'll go back in to have it tighten. I manage my band, it doesn't manage me. I'd like to see the studies the Doctor mentions where we gain weight back, my guess is that he is generalizing for weight loss patients and cannot support his claims with data about the band.

But the truth is if we mismanage our bands, we can and will gain weight back. You need to take care of it and also be true to it. Which means eating appropriately.

Good luck with your decision!

Lisa

[C1BandedBabe]

Is our band good "forever"? I mean would we ever have to have them replaced?

[nothereanymore]

From my understanding there are no long term studies to address the life of the band since it is so new, however based on what they are seeing and the new products it could and should last for life. Its been used in Europe since 78/80, and they have more data. If you search the web you'll find good and bad information with no formal studies, I'm not really interested in this information. (Bad on the band is more GB doctors saying the band is bad, no studies attatched).

Here's a couple of studies:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/63973.php

http://gastricbypass.netfirms.com/agbstudies.htm

I'd be interested in knowing if there are any long term studies about the average life of the band. However based on what I’ve read and even what Dr Ortiz has said, it should last a lifetime as long as we don’t have complications. That's why I choose it.

Best,

Lisa