This is what I have found on two different sites....

Disadvantages of Gastric Sleeve Weight Loss Surgery

• As it is a purely restrictive weight loss procedure, inadequate weight loss or weight regain is more likely than with a procedure involving intestinal bypass
  
• With time, new smaller stomach pouch may stretch (also occurs with gastric bypass surgery)
  
• Although the gastric sleeve helps control hunger and limit amount of food that can be eaten at any one time, weight loss will not occur without a healthy, low-calorie diet and regular exercise (same as with other purely restrictive procedures such as LAP-BAND and REALIZE Band)
  
• If performed as the first part of a two-stage process, a second malabsorptive weight loss surgery such as the duodenal switch will need to be performed at a later time
  
• The surgery is not reversible as a portion of the stomach is permanently removed
  
• Leaks or bleeding may occur along the stomach stapling edge
  
• Procedure may not be covered by some insurance companies
  
• All surgery and anesthesia involves some level of risk including bleeding, blood clots, infection, pneumonia, or complications
  
• Lack of published data for long-term weight loss results
  

I don't recall anyone saying that this is a two part process!!! feedback PLEASE!!!!!:confused:

The VSG is the first part of a DS - duodenal switch bypass. But you can just do the VSG only and forget the bypass which is what most of us on this board have done. (People can also do the DS as a single surgery too).

Hi, I think originally this surgery started out as a two step procedure for those who were too high risk for a by-pass then it evolved to a stand alone. Yest you can stretch your sleeve I believe you can stretch you pouch with the band too. And you can re-gain with the by-pass all wls are just tools to help us but we still have to work it.

Nancy

VSG is the first part of the DS(duodenal switch). Oftentimes the VSG was done and the the bypass later on. As patients waited for the 2nd part, studies started showing that VSG did very well on its own, which made it become popular.

My program also told me that it is considered the first part of a two part procedure. Such as the DS or full bypass. It was originally meant to help people who were at too high a risk for the full DS or bypass. However, you can choose to never go back in for the second part which most people here have done. On the other hand, if you are unhappy with your weight loss my program stated that most insurances will cover the second part because they do not recognize the sleeve as a stand alone procedure. And since most insurances only pay once for a lifetime this might be good for some people.

I'd be interested in knowing what sites you found that information on...I find it to be inaccurate and quite outdated.

As others have already stated, the first part of the Duodenal Switch is a VSG. This is typically only done nowadays for the super morbidly obese who need the malabsorption factor in addition to the restriction.

Early on when they first started doing the VSG as a stand alone procedure or as the first part of a DS, they used a much larger bougie size leaving a larger portion of the fundus intact. The fundus is the stretchy part of the stomach. Leaving that much in there allowed for the stomach to stretch out and thus allowing regain. They have refined the surgery over the last several years and now use a much smaller bougie and removing the whole stretchy part of the stomach. What is left is likened to shoe leather. It will stretch and give a little bit, but not much. Those who have had regain with the VSG did not do so because their stomach stretched out but because they reverted back to bad eating habits and grazing. It is COMPLETELY different than the stomach "pouch" made with the RNY. That is totally and completely false. (no. 2 above). They also refer to the sleeve as a "pouch". We do NOT have a pouch. We have a fully functional stomach, albeit a smaller one.

I'd take that list and throw it in the garbage where it belongs.

Yes I had a very high bmi at 5'6" short I weighed 491 lbs I was 470 day of surgery april 15 and 358 today so if by next year at this time if I was still overly obese I could opt for surgery

Goodlife has the best information for you. While the VSG is the first step in a two step process, the majority of people now, never go on to the 2nd step. "They" in the bariatric surgery field found that the vsg alone was enough to help a good number of patients get to a healthy manageable weight. I am sure there are still some patients who opt to finish it off with the DS, but it is not a requirement.