text: anyone have a personal experience with the lap band? have you known anyone that has had the lapband? how did the procedure go?  what was their healing time like? what about the pain afterwards?  my mom is considering this surgery, and i was wondering how long i would need to stay with her until she would be able to get around on her own again. (she lives in a two story home) i considered a lap band; however, i went for the rouen-y gastric bypass instead.  after alot of research, i found that many surgeons are no longer doing lap bands because they have a tendency of "growing" into your digestive system then the surgeon has to go back and do the bypass.  also with a lap-band, you have a port under your skin that can be filled with saline to tighten the band.  this can get infected.  i had the gastric bypass one day and was out of the bed walking around the next day.  nothing to it.  just follow your directions when you get home.  it wasn't painful.  i couldn't bend over for a few days (make moms bed on a couch for a few days) or lift anything for 2 weeks.  other than that, it was a breeze.   that was 2 years ago and i've lost 110 lbs. and maintained my weight for the last year.  for me, rouen-y gastric bypass was a blessing and i wish i'd done it years ago.  god love you and your mom.  if you want more info from my experience:  dearbobbye@yahoo.com