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I've been reading here for years so let me take a shot at your questions? Every doctor has different protocols and some prime the band during surgery. Some don't prime at all. Every doctor has different protocols for fills. We have some here who only get .5 CCs per fill. Some fill with 5 CCs and ask the patient to swallow some Water to make sure it goes down OK. Allergan or Realize bands aren't that much different. Some of us got to the green zone with no fills and some with 13. I'd say the average is around 5. Usually it takes 2-3 before we feel the first satiety signals. Some doctors fill with fluoroscopy. It's an X-Ray so the doctor can see how fast Fluid flows through the band. This way they can fill the band only once or twice to get you to some kind of restriction? Most of us have no complications with fills? Sometimes the port can flip but it's rare. Occasionally some nurses or nurse practitioners may have a hard time finding the port. Hope this helps till someone more specific answers your questions?

Get some gauze from Walgreens and tape over it. The meshy kind of gauze you get at the hospital is going to stick to the wound, it heals into the mesh. You want something more like a pad, with some absorbency but so that it won't stick. Now, if you are seeing halos of yellow/greenish color on the bandages and see anything yellowish if you press on the areas around the wound, or notice that there's a lot of redness around the wounds, you have infections and that is why you're not healing. Surgeons don't like to report infections in incisions because it's technically a complication, and it has to be reported. Nobody wants it on their record. So you may want to see your primary care physician about it, to get satisfaction...but I'd go have them looked at, ASAP. You should be scabbed over by now, as long as your Protein intake has been up to snuff.

Hi Sherri: I also saw the acid prevention meds discussed. We have to take it daily, for three months, to prevent serious complications, such as, ulcers. I have to say that today, I really don't want those buscuits anymore...the desire dropped off. I know I should eat something and heated up a left over Amaretto Capuccino, and it's still sitting on my little table. I prefer my mind choosing what and when to eat, than my (whatever it is) telling me to eat, eat, EAT! I was so glad to hear other ladies are having similar problems! It helps to know we are not alone, and that we are normal. I liked the Prevacid capsules that have to be opened to let the little balls out. Those don't taste bad like these tablets that I have to cut in half, and I think they worked better. Problem is, they're expensive, and otc. I'm sucking up the bad taste of the tablet I have to cut in half and take, in order to save money. I wonder if, when we are further down the road, and more "normal" if we should take an acid reducer to stop hunger?...or, would that just cause the food we do eat to rot inside of us, like I know can happen. Cindi

They only give you so many pain meds, and then ween you off because even though they are via i.v. they can upset your stomach...but my stomache was fine. The pharmacy won't deliver, and I have no help to get me meds. My daughter knew of another pharmacy that will deliver, so the surgeon's office called them in, but they never brought them..though they told me they were. Now I have to wait til tomorrow for antinausea meds...and I can barely hold anything down without feeling sick. The complications were that my blood pressure was dropping, heart rate going up. Unbearable pain!!! And, yes, this amount of pain is normal. I had to be in the hospital for 4 days...and could have stayed another day-today, even. They wanted to boot me on day 2!!!! Effing crazy! The nurses also did not want to boost me in the bed...nor when they left me lay in the hall in a bad position on a gernie while waiting for another scan to look for leaks. I have bad asthma and my lungs were still part collapsed from the vent--which happens to everyone...but which affects an asthmatic more. After the scan, they techs left me lay for 2 hours in the hallway in supine position. All my effort of breathing went out the window and I lost a day of recovery. No one seemed to care about that, except my surgeon who said she would try and make sure I had a normal day and that my pain meds were not missed. Almost seemed like half the nurses were bothered that I wanted the door closed as I tried to ambulate to the rest room. One made a comment that I would chew her head off if she didn't close the door. When I first got to my room, there was a woman there getting discharged, who had visitors, who would not shut the hell up. I was in so much pain, and the staff would not make her have respect. I finally said that I asked for a private room because of my PTSD, which they knew about, and that if I was a soldier, that PTSD would be cared for, too. Finally, only then, did they clear out the other bed, and not fill it unless a trauma victim needed it. The nurses the first few days were mean! I felt no caring or kindness toward me until the very end of day 2...like 3rd shift...Marie was her name. The surgeon did tell me that the surgery went very well and that I am her star patient...said I was "in shape" and they knew it by how my body tolerated everything in surgery. I never thought I'd hear that about fat-ole-me..but it's true...trying to eat healthy, and exercising a few times a day--which amounts to walking, made a huge difference. They gave me a nurse who will come to my house a couple times a week just to look at my incisions and take my vitals. I asked the woman to help me with the shower, and she said no. What's the point!? She also was repeating herself, did not listen to my directions, and annoyed me in general...knocking over my little cup of protein shake as she leaned on my pillows to get something...ridiculous. She did not offer to get my meds from somewhere for me, either. That is what i need help with. I recommend to everyone here, that you severely exhaust ALL alternatives to losing weight before taking on this massive tearing up of your guts! Heed my words, because though some people are darn lucky to not feel much...you may be one of the one's who suffer endlessly, like me. See if you can find another way. My son has been home for 2 hours and is trashing the kitchen, already...already I have to yell at him...which is making me feel sad and cry.

The day of the surgery, we were picked up at the airport and taken just across the border into Tijuana to the hospital. The hospital was small & different than I expected, but the people were very professional, clean & so generous. From the moment we stepped inside, we were TOTALLY taken care of. Now, my BFF & I had done all our research on the LapBand and was scheduled for that morning. However, upon speaking with the OWNER of the hospital & his recommendation, we both chose to have the Sleeve instead. The doctor explained the differences & complications/maintenance of each. We both felt that the Sleeve was the right thing for us. I KNOW that was God's hand yet again!

Its Been 5 months 7 days since my surgery. I have only lost 3olbs. I still have to diet like i did before the surgery which makes it so hard. i thought if i had this surgery i didnt have to go through all the same dieting counting calories. If i knew all this i would have just went on a diet with out scars and surgery :frown:. I'm so tired and upset :cursing: i should have just went with the gastric bypass surgery and not the lapband. Now i have to go through the fills and all the bloating and all the other complications i'm going through. I'm just Tired !

Enjoyed a lovely carvey with hubby and our two sons yesterday for my birthday which is today. i even had half a yorkshire pudding, it was yummy. I am getting a stairlift fitted today, I didn't think i would be so excited by a stairlift on my 55th birthday, but can't wait, my left leg is agony when i walk, no more crawling upstairs in agony, yay. I am going out tonight with the ladies from our church, it is the ladies christmas meal that just so happens to be on my birthday, thinking i might have a steak. I am hoping that by this time next year i will be wearing size 18 rather than the 28 i am in today, or even a 16. I am already eating much smaller meals than i was able to eat last year, and next year i suspect i might be eating a starter for my main course, bring it on. Still waiting to get my blood test results back, hoping it will be soon, ive waited 5 weeks now, so must be nearer getting them. Funny thing about time, 5 weeks just seemed like an eternity 5 weeks ago, but here i am, 5 weeks done and hoping i will get the phone call any day now. I have been able to address comfort eating in this waiting time and also am pleased that i now prefer to go for the healthier options for my meals and always try to share it with my dogs or leave some on the plate, not bad for someone who was brought up to eat everything on my large plate. It took a long time to get over the dissapointment of my sleeve op being cancelled, but now i am at peace that i will have it when it is the right time for me, God knows best, i am resting in Him. I particularly wanted to do a blog today to record how i am feeling and will compare with how i am next year, believing God Has got good plans for me, to do me good and not harm, and that my latter years will be even more fruitful than my former years, that the years that the locusts have stolen from me will be restored back to me 100 fold, amen. Praying for everyone who reads this to have a quick easy operation with no complications and a swift good recovery, to get to the weight of your dreams. I also pray for all who have already been sleeved for good healthe and continous weight loss to get to your dream weight too, God Bless to all, Janet, xxxxx

I am a year and a half out and I sorta wish I had gone with the bypass too. Not cause of any complications, just cause I didn’t lose as much as I had hoped and I wonder if the grass would’ve been greener on the other side. I chose sleeve because I am on medications though and have to remind myself that I may have issues with that had I chosen differently. I think it’s pretty natural to wonder if things could have been better if we had made a different choice but who knows. I have to think that everything happens for some reason. That’s what makes me feel a little better about it.

The VSG surgery is not new. VSGs used to be done years ago as the first surgical procedure for very heavy patients who needed a gastric bypass, but weren't good medical risks for the more complicated gastric bypass operation. Doctors went in and did a sleeve, which helped a heavier patient lose enough weight and get healthy enough that he/she could qualify (medically) for a bypass. And lo and behold, many of the patients did so well on the sleeve alone that they didn't need / want a bypass. After all, the sleeve doesn't have the big malabsorptive issues that bypasses do. And remember that bypasses are considered "the gold standard" of all WLS surgeries. And thus "the sleeve" was added to the menu of WLS surgeries. (There are now nearly a dozen different WLS procedures, including mini-bypass, duodenal switch, etc. Google is your friend if you want to learn about all of the WLS procedures.) And decades before all of this, VSG surgery was performed on people who had stomach illnesses that required removal of most of their stomachs due to terrible ulcers, stomach cancer, and other ailments. There's tons of research on those patients. Again, Google is your friend. In fact, Google is always your friend. While you're there, check out all the more recent long-term studies of VSG success. As you alluded to in your OP, the lapband has turned out to be problematic for many patients. The deal is that the lap band was never intended to become a permanent installation. If you know anything about medical devices, you know that foreign objects in the body often fail and cause problems. Again, Google is your friend. I think that a good medical analogy for VSG surgery are surgeries done to remove tumors, bone spurs, cancers, gall bladders, appendix(es?), ovaries/uteruses, tonsils, etc. Although we may need to monitor the body thereafter or take some supplements, nothing artificial or mechanical is put into the body to replace those organs. I also think that any sleeved patients who don't bother taking all their prescribed supplemental Vitamins, minerals, antacids, etc. or who don't get their annual blood panels done after having VSG surgery are not taking responsibility for their health.

Of all the places to have pain, i wouldn't think her back would be one of them. I understand maybe her shoulders where the gas floats up trying to escape. If she has any shortness of breath with the back pain, i would go straight to the ER. I haven't gotten banded yet, i will be on July 14, but if i had back pain, i would personally be concerned about post-op complications. Take it seriously.

Hi! My Doctor's office provides Tri-Care! You can Charge your surgery and make monthly payments on it. I am in Florida and doing very well. NO Complications! If you are interested you can e-mail me ~ just let me know. The payments are less and low interest too. They replace the extra food cost I was spending before and the meds too! No prescriptions since surgery. Follow my blog at www.thelazydayz.blogspot.com, and read about the complications I had prior to surgery. I too was really depressed when BCBS would not pay for my surgery. I feel like I saved them knee replacements, etc etc!

Got my surgery is scheduled for December 9th 2010 :thumbup:YAY!!! O so Nervous:eek: I meet with the Sergeon Todd s Burry ,MD and the exercise specialist & Dietitian in a group setting talked about Lap-Band issues & Complications it's like sign your life way.:thumbup: Oh talked about vitamins & Nutrition..yes ! i had lots of questions about lap-band surery..LOL I have a 2nd visit on November 18th for pre testing...only:smile:35 days until surgery....

I am sorry to hear you had all the problems. I have been fortunate so far and haven't had any complications. I was too tight briefly after I had my hysterectomy in Dec. Being too tight was extremely uncomfortable and I ate Cereal until it passed. I couldn't get an unfill, because I had an incision from the hysterectomy where my port is. I definitely didn't want them poking or feeling for it. You are correct that the weight loss can be done without the band. What the band has done for me is help me not be STARVING while losing the weight. I have lost weight before with the lower calorie diet and exercise, but I was hungry most of the time and then returned to eating bigger portions after a while. Hopefully this won't be the case this time. I have lost 72lbs in 7 months. This is a lot, but basically it amounts to about 10 lbs per month which is doable without the band. It really isn't recommended that you eat soup, because it defeats the purpose of the band. Soup can't stay in a pouch, it goes right through. If you are having to eat soup all of the time, you may be too tight. Think about how you feel when you eat foods like chicken or fish. If you are chewing it well and it is uncomfortable, or sticks, you are too tight. If that is the case, consider going for a slight unfill. Sometimes all it takes is .5ccs out to make a huge difference. If you can't eat healthy foods, you won't be able to fuel your body properly to exercise effectively and losing the weight is going to be difficult, if not impossible.

Wow Julie? Can you explain where you found research on people with the sleeve going septic and dieing? I've researched the sleeve for months and never saw this complication? Just curious.

Sure, but make sure you tell your doc at next appt. Chronic heartburn can cause complications with the band.

Hi all! Tomorrow marks my fourth month post surgery. What has this journey been like? Well... 1. No leakage or any other serious complication- thank God! 2. I never expected the post surgery experience I had. Anxiety and depression, like I've never witnessed in myself or anyone else. kicked in about two weeks post. Uncontrollable, snowballing, unexplainable, irrational fear, sadness, and regret. I went on tranquilizers, developed a mild dependecy on the benzo, had to follow a tapering process, but all ended well. This experience is unforgettable to me and my family! Everyone entering this surgery process should be aware that this is a possible reaction to surgery. I'm not sure if only to this type of surgery, or all. The more the time passes, the more I see posts that relate to my experience. So far I've contacted six people with less, exact, or worse anxiety and depression after the sleeve. Be aware of this possibility. Know that it can debiliate you, thus you need a safety net. However, also be aware that it passes. Thank God, all that is in the past. But the experience I don't think I will ever forget. 3. Because of #2, an improved appreciation for God, life and for all my loved ones. 4. Weight loss: forty pounds down- yay! 5. Besides #2, the most impacting part of this experience is accepting the fact that the surgery did not rid my addiction to food, nor my unhealthy eating habits. I completed a mandated five month program before surgery. The instructor endlessly stressed to start working on our eating patterns and habits before surgery, to ease the transition and have more success with the procedure. As much as this was emphasized, I didn't do it. It was also emphasized that the surgery didn't cure our addiction and relationships to food, this too I ignored. To me, surgery would cure my addiction to food, would for ever change my eating patterns, and never again would I experience the vicious cycle of binging, guilt, shame, weight gain, etc. etc. etc. In my mind I figured I'd be forced to change because my body wouldn't tolerate overeating. I ached for a change, and surgery would force the change on me....problem solved! I awaited surgery with glee and faith. Well, the story goes otherwise. I have changed some of my eating patterns and you will find plenty healthy veggies and fruits, plus lean meats in my fridge. I joined the gym for the first time in my life, and through therapy am trying to sort out my relationship with food. However, surgery hasn't forced a change on me. You know those stories of having to induce vomit (or it naturally occuring) due to overeating? NEVER happens to me, NEVER! I cannot eat as much as before, but defenitley more than I expected. I can eat a full cup of spaghetti with cheese and sour cream in one sitting. I'll finish it, feel full, and stop eating. But thirty minutes later my pouch has made room, and I can take some more in. This especially happens when I eat out and we usually sit around chatting for a while. Time passes and I'll start nibling at my food again. I can eat about half a cup more--without being hungry. Why do I do it? I'm working on understanding it. Those stories of no longer tolerating fatty, sugary, lactose, or other foods- not I. I can eat EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING. Dumping syndrome? I don't even know what that is. Having to chew food to mushy consistency- not I. I chew, but never to the consistency I thought I'd have to. Taste buds change post surgery- not mine. Not one of the billions of taste buds have changed- at all! Bottom line, this surgery didn't force any change on me. I have gone up and down in weight, and can't seem to break the 40 pounds mark. It's been this way for the past five weeks. I still experience the disappointment in myself over food choices and behavior. The shame and guilt sneak up, and soon I'm angry and feel defeated. All the emotions, habits, and challenges I faced with food and weight pre surgery I face now too. I thought I'd be facing these issues two years after surgery when my pouch has relaxed and expanded a bit, and many regain the weight. I thought that by that time my life would be extraordinarily wonderful- that I'd never regain the weight and give up my success and joy. Well, it's only been four months and I'm facing reality already. Everyone considering surgery needs to know this. I think those who've had success with the sleeve have had it because they've made changes that have yielded the success. The sleeve itself will not yield it. Maybe everyone already knows this, but I have been known to be a late bloomer. Do I regret having had surgery? Honestly, there is nothing to regret. I had (and pray that it continues) zero complications, I still enjoy food, have a very active social life, have gone down a size in clothes, and experience no pain, vomit, nausea, or anything of the sort. I feel blessed that my surgery has gone so smooth, pain free, and complication free. I pray that it continues to do so. I prefer to deal with my current issues, than any physical complication. There really is nothing to regret. On the contrary, I believe this surgery has a higher purpose in my life. It isn't yielding the weight success I imagined, but it is forcing me to look deep into myself and work with what is out of balance. I can't run away from it anymore. I refuse to have gone through this experience and continue on the road of addiction, caught in that endless dark cycle. This is the change my sleeve had brought to my life. My progress comes in baby steps, but I'll get there. God bless you all!

Ok...first, be glad for the posts that talk about the negatives. When I was doing my research, nobody was talking about these things so I went into surgery with a whole different perspective. Knowing then what I know now...I might (stressing might) have made a different decision but at least I would have had the full story. I read an article (I swear I need to print these off or bookmark them) that said only 4 out of 10 banders are successful...success being determined as only losing 50% of their excess weight and that's only of the percentage who don't end up losing their band from erosion or other medical complications and I can't remember whether these problems were 60% or 40%...sorry. I had my band out two weeks ago due to chronic phrenic nerve pain. My insurance did not have to give prior approval since it wasn't elective...it was due to a 'complication'. I'd guess most insurance companies work that way. My surgeon wanted to do a revision to the sleeve. I would have had to go through the whole approval process (psych eval mainly) again for that one. My insurance company had no problem in approving the sleeve (I didn't get it by the way) because the band was being removed because of a complication...not because it didn't work. Even then, the surgeon said they know how to word the paperwork so insurance companies will approve. Oh, and according to my surgeon, the band is not considered 'restrictive' but the sleeve is so again perhaps it's just in the wording? You can read about the experiences of others...good and bad...but it still won't tell you how you'll do. Ask yourself this...if you don't get the band, then what will you do? Yes, there's a risk you'll be one of those who fail at the band *or* are failed by the band (and it happens more than the manufacturers would like to admit)...but you could also be one of those who are successful. Personally, I wouldn't give up without trying. .

Jassira: From infertility to motherhood In hopes of solving her infertility issues, Jassira tried a gastric band and duodenal switch to lose weight. The procedures were at times life-threatening, but Jassira said she would not change a thing. Today, she feels strong, and proud that the journey made her dreams of two healthy boys come true. Read more… Mikimi: Triumph over challenges Mikimi fought with her health insurance company to appeal for plastic surgery after gastric bypass complications. She won, and had an apronectomy and breast reduction, but there were still more complications to follow. Today, however, she is proud of her body and views her surgery scars as badges of honor. Read more… My Bariatric Life: Challenging fitness and fears It took a decade after gastric bypass to reclaim my life, undergo plastic surgery, and start living boldly. One victory was conquering an advanced four-hour ropes course, pushing myself beyond physical limits and overcoming a fear of heights. I learned that at any moment you have the power to say, “this is not how the story is going to end.” Read more… Jonathan: From obesity to bari-athlete Jonathan lost 200 pounds after gastric bypass surgery and now competes in endurance events such as the The Great Ohio River Swim, a 38-mile bike ride, and the Disabled Veterans 5K. He says after abusing it for so many years, he’s got his body back and wants to see how far he can push himself in a positive way. Read more… Jen: Finding love after obesity In order for Jen to have happy dating relationships after the gastric sleeve surgery, she first had to find self awareness and love herself. She later found Mr. Right and they’ll be married this year. Jen says if she had skipped any of the mental work, she would not be where she is today. Read more… Kristin: Between hopelessness and hope Kristin was a size 32W before having gastric bypass surgery in 2002. She knew surgery wasn’t a cure-all for poor eating habits, but was a tool that made all the difference between hopelessness and hope. Now a size 4/6, Kristin says everyone deserves a life where weight doesn't hold them back. Read more… Bill: Hero behind WHS-NewLife Thanks to carefully planned weight management strategies and guidelines prior to gastric bypass, Bill has successfully maintained a 200+ pound weight loss since 2010. He believes, “Too often we sabotage our own best interest.” Bill now shares his inspiring action plan on WHS-NewLife. Read more… Terri: Bariatric vitamin queen Terri achieved permanent weight loss with the gastric band. But with that success came a set of obstacles. Terri couldn't tolerate some nutritious foods or swallow her vitamins. So she was faced with deteriorating health. Not one to give up, Terri and her husband, Fred, worked together to develop Ameriwell Bariatric Vitamins. Read more… Sandi: Losing and finding herself Sandi reached her heaviest weight at 424 pounds. With a BMI of 68.5 and wearing size 28 clothes, Sandi knew she had to find a permanent weight loss solution. On May 28, 2004 Sandi underwent the LapBand weight-loss surgery. Just over two years later, Sandi weighed a healthy 174 pounds and went on to become a bariatric educator and support group leader. Read more… Alex: Everyone’s BariatricPal Alex is not only a success at weight loss, he’s also the man behind the success of BariatricPal. Its an online social network for the weight-loss-surgery community, where patients support each other before and after weight loss. BariatricPal grew out of Alex’s desire to give back to bariatric surgery patients and help them write their own success stories! Read more…

I wish you the best of luck! I am also scared but I figure that I would rather have a planned surgery than have to have emergency surgery from a heart attack, stroke and everything else that comes with the complications of being fat. I have never had surgery before but I am a nurse manager and so I have seen people who are very old, fragile and sick and for the most part, they come out of surgery OK. I have researched this procedure and the pros and cons for over a year now and I think (hope & pray) that we'll be OK. I have started to stray away from reading the negative (complications) threads on this site. I am trying to place it in God's hands. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and I hope to hear from you when your surgery is over and your on your way!

I see him in two days. I hope it does not cause complications. I'd hate to have issues in my first week. Maybe it's not heartburn. I've never had it before.

No I mean 158. I had my band removed due to complications at the same time and had the sleeve done. I hope the water weight doesn't stay for too long. I'm following everything to a T.

I was offered both options, and I went with bypass from the beginning. My reasons were because I have reflux and nausea on my own (the sleeve can make this worse), and there has been years and years of long term studies done on the bypass, but not the same for sleeve. Years ago, people thought lap band was the way to go, but we're now learning that it doesn't work all that well and there have been many complications, and lot of revisions. I'm not saying that the sleeve will turn out to be the same "fad" surgery, but the research just isn't there for it like the bypass is. Also, there have been studies that show the bypass is actually more effective at long term weight loss than the sleeve. I'm 5'2 230 pounds, so I qualify for both surgeries, but I'm not so big that I need more drastic measures, I just want to have only one surgery, done right the first time. I don't want to be sleeved and then have to do revision surgery later because it's not as effective as bypass. As far as the dumping goes, I actually WANT that as a tool to keep me, and my weight, in check. I feel like my weight is a big enough problem in my life to have surgery for it, so I'm going to go all-in, and get the bypass. My surgery is scheduled for December 29th. SO excited!!

I had no complications with my surgery, none. I have only had 3 fills so far and am at 8 cc (mine holds 14). I have noticed almost no restriction after my fills and they keep telling me that it is pretty normal until I get it more full. I have lost 3 lbs. My last fill was about 2 1/2 weeks ago and still not feeling any restriction. I was eating a hamburger patty (the #1 food recommended by our nurse) Friday night and got about half way through it and felt a horrible tight pressure in the middle of my chest- very painful- then began to drive heave, followed by vomiting. Still almost no relief from the pain. A freaking tiny 4 oz patty guys....half of one. Eventually I just went to bed and felt a bit better the next day. Since then I have had recurring pain on my left side just below my rib cage. What the crap is going on- why am I not feeling the restriction others are, I tell the nurse and she keeps telling me it is normal, asks if I am eating my meat first, and then reminds me that this is just a tool. Right after surgery I could totally feel the restriction, I was dropping weight like crazy...now nothing....plus the pain. Any help would be appreciated.

Here is a list I've developed - some are questions I asked and many have been added to my list. This is a VERY long list, but hopefully some of the questions will be new to you I have a friend who is going to his initial consultation next week too and he asked for a list too. * What is your re-admittance rate? * What is/are the typical reason/s for re-admittance? * How many of your patients have had leaks? How long after surgery were the leaks typically discovered? What was the resolution (% healed on their own vs. % needing surgical intervention)? * Other than leaks, what is/are the most common complication/s? What is your experience with these complications – how many and how resolved? * What would cause you to change to an open procedure? * How many rows of staples do you place? * Are the insides of the staples checked, too? * Do you sew over the staple line? * Exactly how do you test for leaks immediately after surgery (before the barium swallow test the next day)? * Is the part of the stomach that is removed also tested for leaks? * What size bougie do you use to measure the “sleeve?” How do you determine the size of the sleeve? * Can the sleeve actually be stretched by eating/drinking too much? On occassion vs regularly? Why? How to prevent? * What is the biggest factor in failure after this surgery? * What is the biggest factor in succeeding with this surgery? * What is your mortality rate? Of this, what % is attributable to the surgery itself and what % was from pre-existing conditions? * What type of post-surgery support do you offer? Is there any additional cost for the support? * Where were you trained? Are you board certified? How long have you done bariatric surgeries and what other types of surgeries have you done/do you do? * Why did you chose bariatric surgery? * How many sleeves have you performed? Over what period of time? * At what hospital will my surgery be performed? * Who will be my anesthesiologist? What is his/her experience, training, etc.? * Why do you believe you are the best surgeon to perform my surgery? What differentiates you/your practice from others in the D/FW area? * When can I return to work post-surgery? What will my limitations be and for how long? * Based on your experience, in this practice, what % of excess weight does your average patient lose with the sleeve? How long is the loss maintained? What can I do to increase my success? * Why do you feel that your pre/post surgery nutrition guidelines are the best? Have you tailored your plans for sleeve patients or do you use the same plan for sleeve, bypass & lapband? If the same, why? * Do your patients have a support group on FB or via other social media? Other than the formal support group/monthly classes, do your patients have informal support groups? How do I join these groups? * How much interaction should I expect with you vs. with your staff post-surgery? If mostly your staff, what is their training and experience with bariatric WLS patients? Will I typically see the same staff members on my post-op check-ups or will it vary? * Are your staff members, such as nutritionist, available for one-on-one consultations? If so, what are the charges, if any? * What are the requirements to become a "Center of Excellence?" (does this designation really mean anything?) * If I decide to go the self-pay route, is there coverage available for potential complications? If so, where do I get it? How much is it? Will the surgery center/hospital/other docs accept it 100% or could I potentially have additional out-of-pocket expenses? * I've read that most obese patients over 50 have hiatal hernias. According to your website, those are repaired during the sleeve surgery. If I'm self-pay, how is that handled? What if the costs associated with the hernia repair aren't fully covered by my insurance or what if I haven't meet my deductible? * Are there questions I should have asked but didn't? * What would you like to share with me? Sorry for the long list - I'm one of those Type A's

I agree with IsB...ask for his "stats"....how many surgeries, complication rates/types, aftercare ect...I've not been sleeved yet, but knowing my surgeon is highly skilled, works out of a center of excellence, and has a very low complication rate (NEVER had one, according to his coordinator, taking that with a grain of salt!) gives me confidence that my outcome will be the best it can be. Good luck!