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I have had the same questions and concerns when it comes to the differences in culture. I am glad you raised this issue. I have been watching the videos on youtube and there seems to be a slight difference in the journey of African Americans and other (based on what I have seen so far).
One thing that I did is went natural for the past year to minimize the hair loss if any (no perms). I am quite concern about this. My hair is thick and growing at the moment (or atleast prior to the surgery) and I have it braided. So, I guess I will see what happens when I take it out next month to get it redone.
While I recognize everyone is an individual and has a different experience, I am interested in seeing if there are any differences in the journey experienced between African Americans and others.
Thank you for the forum

I have had the same questions and concerns when it comes to the differences in culture. I am glad you raised this issue. I have been watching the videos on youtube and there seems to be a slight difference in the journey of African Americans and other (based on what I have seen so far).
One thing that I did is went natural for the past year to minimize the hair loss if any (no perms). I am quite concern about this. My hair is thick and growing at the moment (or atleast prior to the surgery) and I have it braided. So, I guess I will see what happens when I take it out next month to get it redone.
While I recognize everyone is an individual and has a different experience, I am interested in seeing if there are any differences in the journey experienced between African Americans and others.
Thank you for the forum

I have had the same questions and concerns when it comes to the differences in culture. I am glad you raised this issue. I have been watching the videos on youtube and there seems to be a slight difference in the journey of African Americans and other (based on what I have seen so far).
One thing that I did is went natural for the past year to minimize the hair loss if any (no perms). I am quite concern about this. My hair is thick and growing at the moment (or atleast prior to the surgery) and I have it braided. So, I guess I will see what happens when I take it out next month to get it redone.
While I recognize everyone is an individual and has a different experience, I am interested in seeing if there are any differences in the journey experienced between African Americans and others.
Thank you for the forum

Wow!!! It really does look like two different people. Amazing!!!

I was so happy this morning when I stepped on the scale and after the digital screen did it's little dance for what seemed like FOREVER...there it was. The numbers 199.0. I honestly didn't think I would be as excited as I was but the emotion got the better of me and I did a little naked happy dance right there on the scale.
I started this journey at 251 lbs (highest weight) at 5' 2" on November 18th. That was the day I went to my doctor's office, stepped on the scale and was utterly shocked at what I saw. I immediately sprung into action. I lost 20 lbs prior to surgery and had my sleeve surgery on December 27th.
It has been an interesting journey so far and I'm looking forward to my next goal 150. I wanted to shout it from the roof tops, but knew that since I still have a way to go, this would be just as good.
Hope everyone is well and I'm happy I can share this moment with you!

The risk for a leak with RNY is actually higher because it's a more difficult staple line. If your surgeon has done more RNY bypass staple lines, he may not be comfortable doing sleeves if he doesn't have the experience. Technique gets better with experience, and if he doesn't have a lot of sleeves under his belt then his sleeve patients may not do as well as his bypass patients. RNY immediate complications are practically double vs. VSG. It's been well documented. I've lost just as much if not more that some RNY patients that started out with similar pre-op stats. If I were to consider a malabsorptive procedure, I would not waste my time, money on RNY. I'd go full Duodenal Switch. Grant it, neither of the malabsorptive procedures were an option for me. I didn't entertain either of them, but the DS is by far superior over RNY with long term results.

There are some 5 year results out for VSG that show that VSG results are extremely close to what the weight loss that is seen with RNY.

You do have a choice, and I firmly believe that no one, even a doctor, should not try to convince someone of a different surgery. I had it happen to me. The first time it was my band surgeon trying to convince me to get RNY, and during my revision, the assisting surgeon tried to tell me to do bypass instead of the sleeve.

The one place you can look for more information on RNY is on obesityhelp.com
If you're looking at both, check out the Revision forum, the RNY forum, the Failed Weight loss surgery, and the hunger and food issue forum over there. You'll see that out of all the surgeries, RNY patients are seeking the most revisions along with band patients, and that RNY patients have long term complications with food, hunger, weight regain.

Here are some of the reasons I chose VSG over RNY for my revision from the band.

1) RNY only gives you 2 years of calorie malabsorption of calories, but a lifetime of Vitamin malabsorption which can lead to later complications and deficiencies.
2) I had a pouch with my band, it is not natural, and the RNY gives the same pouch. My body hated the band pouch, and the RNY was not going to be any different.
3) I did not want a blind stomach that could not be easily scoped, but could still develop ulcers and cancer.
4) I wanted no medication or food restrictions.
5) Only 30% of RNY patients dump on sugar, it's not really a guarantee. If I want to eat a cookie, I don't want to suffer negative, self-induced consequences if I happen to be in that 30%.
6) I know several people in real life that have had major regain with RNY. Also, the complications that come 3-8 years later are just scary in my opinion.
7) I like the fact that my stomach is a normal stomach with function, just smaller in size.

I hope this helps.

I am 10 weeks out from surgery and am happy to say I am down 42lbs! I get frustrated sometimes due to my impatience, but I have never lost this much weight so fast. My older brother just saw me this weekend and gave me a big WTG high five. My clothes fit me better and I am actually fitting in to stuff I havent for over two years. I thank God for his guidence in seeking out this surgery, Was it worth it? YES! I would do it again!. All praise to you Lord.

I posted the pics earlier and the thread is gone so this time I am just posting the link to the set of pics for you to go to.
The set includes my pics the night before my surgery 11/22/10 and today at 3 months Post surgery.
Here you go::
pre and post op pics