The answer is which ever one your surgeon does with greater expertise. But here are the facts. Lap GBP should be about an hour to hour and a half and that is it. I had previous abdominal surgeries and even with all of the prior adhesions, It took my surgeon 1 hour and 10 minutes. In general, the complication rates with open are higher than with laparoscopic if a surgeon is proficient at both. If that surgeon is your only choice, you go with which ever they are more proficient in as that will be the safer choice. If you have a choice, laparoscopic has much fewer complications if the surgeon is out of his learning curve (more than 200 cases). You can view the entire abdomen better with a laparoscope. In terms of your size and influencing then decision, it depends on where you carry your weight. If it is more in the hips, butt, thighs, it makes laparoscopy a consideration. If you are more "apple" shaped and carry your weight in your midsection, it makes both difficult, but laparoscopic almost impossible. The more experienced surgeon will give you a better chance of staying laparoscopic. My MD did a 900 pound person laparoscopically.
End of story is only you and your surgeon know your medical history and his/her expertise.
PS. I am a surgeon and a GBP patient....and after last weekend a lap choley patient as well.
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 DYANN
Lap RNY 1/4/06....
46/ 19.8/23.5 BMI's 167.9 pounds gone forever as of 9/12/07 116.3%to goal
294.4/ 126.5/150
5' 7''
Jupiter, Florida
Dr. Jefferson Vaughan: GBP
Dr. P Duddly Giles: Plastic surgeon TT/BL 03.20.2007
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