Lap Band vs. meds

Carolk1963 · Posts: 17

What do you think is more 'risky' - surgery for weight loss (lap-band) or taking meds like phen/meridia?

I ask because there seems to be such a taboo getting these medications yet lap-band surgery ads are advertised all over town.

Is surgery really considered less risky? Any thoughts?

Siesta · Posts: 128

mnphen · Posts: 34

Good question: I had researched this option myself at one time. The threshold to have a lap band is much lower than doing gastric bypass (from what I've read). There are some "moderately heavy" people who have had a lapband that probably would not qualify for full on gastric. But I agree than any surgery is more risky than medication. Plus, with the lapband, you have some sort of port that is accessible from your abdomen area (where the band can be expanded and contracted). Even though the commercialization of this product makes it seem like a breeze (relatively so), its not. Although, I would love to find a forum where lapband users comment on this.

Sugar T*ts · Posts: 408

mnphen · Posts: 34

Thanks Sugar - OMG - I have been reading thru that forum you sent. Wow is all I have to say. If anyone thinks that trying to acquire phen from a reliable source is tough and is sick of jumping thru hoops, you havent seen anything compared to what these people ("lapbanders" is what they call themselves) go through.

Finding decent, legit phen is way easier comparatively speaking.

firedelight · Posts: 24

in my opinion all surgery is bad (when not crucial)

if there is a pill that can do the same thing a knife can so be it!

cia · Posts: 72

I do not have personal experience with surgery for weight loss, but my husband does.

My husband had a gastric bypass surgery a couple of years ago and he looks GREAT. Don't get me wrong, we were really worried that there could be complications but everything was perfect. He feels wonderful and looks wonderful.

My friend is now looking into having a procedure done. She originally went in wanting the lap band but changed her mind to having the gastric bypass. She is so excited and I am excited for her. She is scheduled to have it in December.

bjay22 · Posts: 418

I feel that any surgery comes with a risk. But I know of two women in my town who opted for this surgery. Both were morbidly obese, and now look fantastic and one of them is almost unrecognizable from her former self. Her only complaint was that even with constant exercising, she cannot rid herself of that excess "elephant skin" and is now considering another surgery.