I'm just asking this because I'm curious. My sister in law and I are very close and we are both obese. She is a lot bigger than I am. (I'm estimating she may weigh over 600 lbs) She knows I'm thinking about this surgery but she said she can't have it because she is too big. She said she was told she had to lose a lot of weight before she could have it. Granted, it's been a few years since she talked to a doctor about it. And I think she was talking about gastric bypass.

Has anyone heard of being too big to have WLS?

height : 5 ft, weight: 270, BMI: 53 Cant wait to get sleeved!

Patrick Curl on here had the sleeve at over 600 pounds I believe. He's doing a phenomenal job at losing weight and hasn't had any complications that I know about. Perhaps look him up and read some of his progress posts.

There is such a thing as too big depending on the surgeon. It might be a little trickier finding a surgeon at her BMI but I have seen it on here so I know it is possible.good luck to both of you!

Yes. I'd agree with Lissa. Check out Patrick's posts. He's been doing great.

Only a qualified WL physician can answer that question. But the sleeve was originally designed to be the first part of a WLS proceedure, first the sleeve then a duodinal switch to finish off the weight loss. It was soon found that the sleeve was enough proceedure when made small enough. A few still go through the two part proceedure but most just have the sleeve.

Please encourage her to do SOMETHING about her weight and do it soon. Being that obese is a sure way to end up in deep health trouble.

For many surgeons there is a BMI they will not operate over. However here are still quite a number of surgeons out there that will be more than willing to help you. As I'm sure you expect it will be a more involved process for a patient with a very high BMI. The surgeon will likely require a pre op diet, and will need to place a filter to catch clots that are likely to occure. Also there is a high likelihood of anti clotting meds being needed.

But bottom line, if you are ready to do this thre is somebody out here that will help you.

Hi, I have also read about several patients that were that size and had the surgery but like Rootman said that is a question only the surgeon can answer. You and I have almost the same stats. I'm 5', 20 with a bmi of 53. Keep us posted on your surgery.

BigCraig also on here, has said his starting weight at surgery was about 600lbs (surgery was in May I believe). He has lost about 200lbs and doing great. You might want to look him up and read his progress as well. There are so many inspirational stories here that you and your sister-in-law will truly inspired by them.

Good luck to you both.

My husband was sleeved on Aug. 23rd, 2012. He was 530 pre-op surgery with a BMI of 63. He was sleeved by Dr. Almanza in Tijuana Mexico. Surgery can be pretty scary for a lot of people, especially this surgery. It's permanent. She may just be scared and making excuses. Take care of you. You can't do it for her. Good luck!!!

My BMI is 67.2 and my weight was 455 now it is 443 pre op liquid diet and my surgery is next wed 12 so its possible.

With my surgery, a patient's starting weight will determine whether or not they do a laproscopic procedure. Patients over 500 lbs (through my program, at least) can have the sleeve procedure done, but they do it as an "open" procedure...big incision, instead of laproscopically.

Thank you all for your responses.

Maybe when I have my surgery, she will think about having it. She has pretty much given up. She stays in her bed most of the time and has lost feeling in her feet because of diabetes. I think she has forgotten that she can be any other way. When she leaves her house she is in a wheelchair. She's never been in my house because she can't walk up the four steps to my porch. I hate that her life has become this way but I can't make her do it. I'm hoping that she will see me do well with the surgery and she will decide to do it too. Our other sister in law was sleeved a year ago and she's lost over 100 lbs and looks and feels great. I think her BMI was in the 40's at first.

I'm happy to hear that others who are similar to her size have been sleeved with success. :-)

height : 5 ft, weight: 270, BMI: 53 Cant wait to get sleeved!

i was almost bedridden ...i used a motorized chair in the house...wheelchairs when out and about..(if my husband talked me into going somewhere)...

I always thought I was 5'5"....so when i went for my WLS consultation, that is what i told them... they weighted me 328 and told me my BMI was to high for laproscopy so I needed to lose weight before surgery if i didn't want a big scar... so i lost weight... at time of surgery i weighed 294...BMI 49... ok for laproscopic surgery....

*****update: during my sleep study assessment, they told me i am 5'3"... so technically my BMI was still to high *****

anyway:

prior to surgery: Diabetes out of control (on 3 med with A1C still a 10)....almost bedridden ... wheelchairs or motorized chair...had housekeeper come in to clean and do laundry...

since surgery: Diabetes A1C 6.6 with NO medication...(controlling with diet only) ... out of bed with husband in morning and NO naps.... NO motorized chair in house at all.... I do our cleaning and laundry.....I even weeded a flowerbed for the first time in 15-20 years ..(using walker for resting between pulling weeds) ... when i go shopping with him, i still use my wheelchair depending in how far we are going... never fear, in time i will be out of that also..

AND... have lost 50 pounds and a total of 50 inches! Doctor said because of diabetes I will lose slowly but we are happy with my results .......I use to wear size 26-28 (elastic waist) pants ...now...wear size 18 (zipper and button) jeans! AND... went from 5x to 2x tops!!!

your sister can be helped! i give you permission to share my story with her...

good luck to both of you!

My BMI is 52.5. I wonder if I will be able to have laparoscopy. I still haven't seen my surgeon. I will have to ask him.

height : 5 ft, weight: 270, BMI: 53 Cant wait to get sleeved!

I am 5'7" and weighed 335 on surgery day and I had laposcop surgery with NO complications what so ever. I have lost 83 pounds since starting this journey. It is totally possible for your sister if she can find a good qualified surgeon.

My BMI is 52.5. I wonder if I will be able to have laparoscopy. I still haven't seen my surgeon. I will have to ask him.

height : 5 ft, weight: 270, BMI: 53 Cant wait to get sleeved!

Depends on your doctor/your health. My doctor never mentioned any issue with laproscopic and my BMI was over 50. Starting weight: 325 Starting BMI: 53.3 Laproscopic went great.