Dr Kelly. Has been my fist choice but according to christy from baratric weight center he normally does a 36 bougie for safety my bmi is 33 I really want a 32 any suggestions Dr cabrera and Dr venezuela

The difference between a 36 and a 32 is so small, hardly noticeable really, so I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Go with your first choice.

I'm attaching a picture of the equivalent sizes to give you an idea.

The difference between a 36 and a 32 is so small' date=' hardly noticeable really, so I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Go with your first choice.

I'm attaching a picture of the equivalent sizes to give you an idea.[/quote']

Thanks for posting this. I never really understood what the sizes meant. This is great!

What does the bougie do? What is it?

I too looked at the size references for the different bougies and they are so minute. That being said my doctor did a 40. He does sew over as well so I think that tightens things up a smidge. I really want to ask him why he chose 40, but I sort of think it had something to do with my hernia and reflux. I did a little research and found that there are no differences in overall and eventual weight loss between 32 or 40 bougies. I was a sort of low BMI. I weighed 190 on consult and 200 on day of surgery.. I was told don't worry about the pre op diet and obviously I had a long month of food funerals to gain 10 lbs! So far I have lost right under 40 lbs in 35 days.

I'm sure you will be just fine..GOOD LUCK!

What does the bougie do? What is it?

The bougie is inserted through your mouth while you are asleep and it goes all the way down to your pylorus, which is the opening between your stomach and your intestine. The surgeon then inserts the stapler through the trocar (laparoscopic holes in your belly) and places the stapler next to the bougie as a size reference. Then he staples all the way up leaving your stomach just about the size of the bougie inside of it. The bougie is used for a reference and to prevent him from guessing and making your new sleeve too small.

Think of it this way take a regular sheet of paper. Stick your finger in it and fold it over your finger. Then take a stapler and staple the whole way up your finger. = Finger bougie

It really isnt a very big difference in size. The overall outcome of weight loss will not be determined by that tiny difference, it will be determined by you. I know people who had a smaller bougie size and eat more than i do. So i never really understood why the size mattered.

If a doctor chooses the size for safety purposes, that would make me feel at ease.

Go will your instinct

The bougie is inserted through your mouth while you are asleep and it goes all the way down to your pylorus, which is the opening between your stomach and your intestine. The surgeon then inserts the stapler through the trocar (laparoscopic holes in your belly) and places the stapler next to the bougie as a size reference. Then he staples all the way up leaving your stomach just about the size of the bougie inside of it. The bougie is used for a reference and to prevent him from guessing and making your new sleeve too small.

Think of it this way take a regular sheet of paper. Stick your finger in it and fold it over your finger. Then take a stapler and staple the whole way up your finger. = Finger bougie

Thank you for answering, I was so confused. Okay, so does the bougie come out or do they leave it in there? Is it like a piece of plastic?

It is what they use as a guide to make the size of your new stomach. During surgery, the bougie is put down your esophagus to your stomach. The surgeon is then able to use it as a guide to staple/cut along side of it to form your new sleeve.

Thank you for answering' date=' I was so confused. Okay, so does the bougie come out or do they leave it in there? Is it like a piece of plastic?[/quote']

They don't leave it in

thanks everyone

You have NO worries. Dr. Kelly was my doctor and I have done fantastic. The bougie isn't a die-hard measurement; it's merely a guide and they don't suture right next to it anyway. So a moot point.

I had surgery with Dr. Kelly last June and I'm at goal and doing fantastic. I had a BMI of 34.2, and now I weigh 130 lbs and feel fantastic. Do not choose a doctor based on this bougie size because it doesn't matter that much! What will matter is how you work your sleeve as a tool, post op.

Good luck!

I had surgery with Dr. Kelly in August and I remember having the same concern about the bougie size. I thought having one as small as possible would make me more successful. Dr. Kelly said he usually uses a 36 then over sews so it is closer to a 34. Then I also read that a lot of the people that had smaller bougies used had more trouble with getting food down, strictures, heartburn, nausea and vomiting. I have had no trouble with anything like that. I had a very smooth surgery and very easy recovery. I am smaller than I have been in 11 years just 5 months after surgery. I could not be happier. So as someone who had the same concerns with the same doc I can tell you I am happy with the decision I made and my hubby will be getting sleeved with Dr. K later this year too. Hope this helps!

Im going to Kelly in March. I was concerned too until doing the research. I was afraid the 36 would cause me to lose even slower than I expect. Im only 5'0 and a bmi just below 40, so Im going to lose slow anyway. After researching, it seems its more up to how I work it, not the nominal difference in bougie size. I chose to stay with Kelly. Good luck!

Im going to Kelly in March. I was concerned too until doing the research. I was afraid the 36 would cause me to lose even slower than I expect. Im only 5'0 and a bmi just below 40' date=' so Im going to lose slow anyway. After researching, it seems its more up to how I work it, not the nominal difference in bougie size. I chose to stay with Kelly. Good luck![/quote']

Good choice! You will be in great hands.

Try not to worry to much about being a slow vs fast loser. You know how you can see every pound a shorty puts on? Well the good news is you can see every pound we lose too I am 5'2 and started with my bmi just barely under 40 too. I think it was 39.6 or something. I hit 5 months out a few days ago and have lost 55lbs. That may not be as big of a number as some the sleevers that start out at 300 or 400 lbs and drop that in 2 months, but I am averaging 2.7 lbs lost a week and while its not the fastest I don't think thats too bad. I also have no excess skin yet (fingers crossed). I am now in the overweight bmi category when just 5 months ago I was a hair away from the morbidly obese range. And I have to admit I have not started to exercise at all yet (bad me I know but I am starting soon).

Some people lose slower and some faster but I promise it will all FEEL fast. It feels fast when have gone from a size 18 jean and an XL shirt to a size 11 juniors jean and honestly (could probably wear a 9 now but haven't been shopping in weeks) and a M shirt. It will feel fast when you are clearing your closet out and everything hangs on you like a sack. It will feel fast when your smallest sizes from yo yo dieting get too big and you realize you have nothing to wear. It will feel fast when you realize you aren't starting fires between your thighs when you walk. It will feel fast when you buy a bunch of Victorias Secret cheekie panties and your tush looks amazing. It will feel fast when you climb a couple flight of stairs and you aren't the slightest bit winded. It will feel fast when you don't mind seeing someone you haven't seen in a while because you aren't ashamed of your weight anymore.

Don't let the idea of being a slow loser worry you. I may be technically considered a slow loser but the sleeve has allowed me to lose slowly but surely through a week long cruise, the fair, a 10 wk pregnancy and miscarriage, Thanksgiving, a vacation to Florida, 2 weeks of Christmas and New Years with my house loaded with company and food. Any one of those things would've knocked me off any diet and I would've gained back all the weight I lost +10.

So being a "slow loser" is pretty awesome if you ask me And probably if we went by percentage of weight lost I bet most of us would be in the same loss range. Its just going by lbs that throws everything off. Good luck and I promise even if you are a "slow loser" it will be awesome.

Dr Kelly. Has been my fist choice but according to christy from baratric weight center he normally does a 36 bougie for safety my bmi is 33 I really want a 32 any suggestions Dr Cabrera and Dr venezuela

This is one thing I say you should probably lean on your doctors expertise on this matter. Sometimes they do really know whats best.