[chrisbandster]

I will first say, I am just a bandster, by no means an expert.

Bariatric surgery is a life-long decision. No one should go into it lightly. I recommend you do your research and if you choose the Band, then do your best to stick to it; and finding a surgeon that will support you in that decision unless they can give you SOUND reasons for opting for one of the other types of surgery.

At support groups I often hear "I thought I wanted the Band, but then was told...." and then anything from words like temporary, eat anything, slow, more doctors appts, or with each adjustment start over and other excuses follow.

I have never seen the Band as anything temporary. As far as I am concerned it will outlast me, and I have a tool to maintain my weightloss.

Slow? A lot is up to the individual, and the ability to follow the post-op dietary guidelines. It has been a slow process for me, but 4.5 years to lose 100 isn't bad, considering I didn't gain that 100 lbs in a few months or even over 4.5 years, it was a much longer process.

Eat anything? Not quite. The biggest benefit is that if a person has food sensitivities, the Band does not restrict the diet as much, (i.e., sugar). I am not able to use artificial sweeteners Nutrasweet (aspartame) or Splenda (sucralose) and saccharine just plain tastes nasty, due to a genetic disorder. As the Band gets tightened, some foods may not go down as well. A lot also depends on a person's ability to chew. If a food is difficult to chew, it is apt to get stuck. This can include rice, pasta, corn or anything small. Foods with skins can also become difficult.

More doctors appointments? Not such a bad thing. It helps in maintaining a person's health and the band. There are some places where adjustments/fills can be made without the surgeon. The office I go to does not have anyone but the doctor do the adjustments. The only exception may be when an unfill may be needed, then one of the other surgeons will do it. The clinic also recommends a 5-year commitment from all of its bariatric patients. I don't think once a year is just enough...

Starting over with every adjustment? Not really, for the first couple of adjustments it is recommended to stay on liquids or soft foods for a day or two and work back up full diet. It is usually as tolerated. After a person gets to know their Band, it is usually soft for the same day as the adjustment, then back to a regular routine. It all depends on how I feel after an adjustment.

Any questions, just ask.

Bariatrics The branch of medicine that deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity. The term bariatrics was created around 1965, from the Greek root baro ("weight," as in barometer), suffix -iatr ("treatment," as in pediatrics), and suffix -ic ("pertaining to"). Besides the pharmacotherapy of obesity, it is concerned with obesity surgery.