I have just required what my insurance company requires from me to have vertical sleeve surgery. I have studied all the procedures in length..I have decided for my self that I am chosing vertical sleeve as my choice.. I am excited inside but a little nervous. My Bmi is 51-52. How sucessful is this surgery on high bmi patients that use it as a stand alone surgery?

sorry for the misprint..

Vertical band? Do you mean vertical sleeve? If its vertical sleeve, it seems to work the very best on lower BMIs, but some folks here with high BMIs have done very well using the sleeve as a stand alone surgery. My Doc also said if you need to lose more you can revise to the Doadinol switch. (Heck! I know thats spelled wrong... can't think how to spell it right...)

If you're talking about vertical sleeve, then it's very successful for patients with 35-55 BMI. My starting BMI was just over 49 and I lost all my excess weight plus some. Vertical sleeve is the first stage of the 2part surgery duodenal switch, and the reason it became a stand alone procedure is because patients were having great success without having to have the actual switch performed, and the sleeve was enough of a tool to get them to or below their goal weight.

Vertical banding (lap band or realize) does not have as great success with higher BMI patients and usually only lose 50% of the excess weight over a 5-7 year period.

If you're talking about vertical sleeve, then it's very successful for patients with 35-55 BMI. My starting BMI was just over 49 and I lost all my excess weight plus some. Vertical sleeve is the first stage of the 2part surgery duodenal switch, and the reason it became a stand alone procedure is because patients were having great success without having to have the actual switch performed, and the sleeve was enough of a tool to get them to or below their goal weight.

Vertical banding (lap band or realize) does not have as great success with higher BMI patients and usually only lose 50% of the excess weight over a 5-7 year period.

I am only at a 52 bmi. but I am sure that I will lose some weight before surgery..I am hoping to lose about 20 or 30 lbs before. I am working really hard towards my fitness and eating better before I ever get a date to help me make the change.