Why did YOU choose the Gastric Sleeve over other weight loss procedures ?

For me VSG was like baby bears porridge.

Bypass was too extreme. Lap band had a high rate of revision and ongoing diet problems. VSG was just right.

Bypass caused too much "nutrition" concern for me. Lap band wasn't an option since I have an auto-immune disease. Sleeve was "just right!" Best decision I have ever made when it comes to my health!

I'm with Dean! & I soooo wanted to avoid that "dumping syndrome"!!! Sleeve has been perfect!

I couldn't understand the "reversibility" of the band, like "ah, this skinny thing isn't really for me... I think I liked being fat and unhealthy better. Take it out!" Why would reversibility be a good thing unless there was a high rate of revision caused by complications?

Bypass and DS were too extreme.

I couldn't understand the "reversibility" of the band' date=' like "ah, this skinny thing isn't really for me... I think I liked being fat and unhealthy better. Take it out!" Why would reversibility be a good thing unless there was a high rate of revision caused by complications?

Bypass and DS were too extreme.[/quote']

Plus I hate needles.

I didn't want to do something as drastic as the GB, nor did I want to rely on "dumping" to control my diet choices. Lap Band users in my support group have a lot of complaints with minimal weight loss, but the sleeve keeps my insides intact, just a smaller stomach. That's why I chose it, and love love love my decision!

My PCP's practice caters to athletes mostly

My husband picked her out for me. I always felt uncomfortable going to her and decided to change doctors. So at my "last" appointment I told her how I felt. She said "you know you are not the only obese client I have had" "I have had several and I've also have a few that I have given a referral to a bariatric doctor". Really? So I asked for the name of the bariatric doctor. I had thought about getting the band for several years and have talked to my husband on several occasions about it. I came home excited and told him what happened at the doctors and once again he said no, "not a good idea". I said "let's just go see what he has to say". And told him all the reasons I thought the band was a good idea.

Well we went and talked to the surgeon and guess what? he doesn't do the band! Only bypass and the sleeve! I have to say I didn't know much about the sleeve, so we left and I spent DAYS really reading about the two (yes that's when I first saw this site but didn't join just yet). And after looking at statistics, personal stories, complications etc. I could not believe that I had even considered the band! Up until that point I had only "thought" about weight loss surgery but I had never really examined it closely.

I'm very happy with my frank discussion with my PCP and glad the road has led me to the sleeve.

Laura

Oh I just read everyone else's... Boy I'm long winded yeah the sleeve is the best

For me the sleeve was the perfect middleground. I was afraid of bypass due to the malabsorption issues and food restrictions. After all I'm not looking for a list of food I can't have....I want to be able to eventually eat everything in moderation but within limits. I also did not want to be left with a stringent regiment of vitamins that I must take everyday of my life. The lapband posed too much of a risk and fear that I could regain. The results for sustained weight loss was to slim for me if I was going to have surgery. so as a former poster wrote the sleeve for me was "just right". My surgeon thought I made a wise choice based on my reasoning. I'm 7 days post op and am very happy with my choice. Good luck!

I see a lot of patients with GBP & lapband return with problems. Bypass patients have anemia, nutritional deficits, hair loss, fistulas, bowel obstructions etc. I'm not a sweets person either, so I didn't think I need dumping as a negative reinforcement. Lapband? Omg. I know a lot of people with it. They survive on Cheetos. They can't tolerate eating normal or healthy food like chicken & broccoli. Plus they are starving in that lower stomach that never gets full, not to mention an implantable device that needs replacing, could slip, or harm your stomach. No one i know had lost even close to their goal weight& were thinkjng about getting it out. I nearly paid $18000 for it a few years ago, so glad I didn't. When I started researching the sleeve it seemed great. I'm an overeater, mostly pasta. I met someone with the sleeve & they didn't look ill & had lost all of her excess weight, the opposite of the bypass or lapband. The sleeve gives me restriction & a lack of hunger which is what I needed to lose weight.

Actually my surgeon picked it, he said because I'm a type 1 diabetic, dumping would be a problem.

It seems most of us decided the sleeve was right for us for the same reasons... Basically the sleeve was the least complicated and seemed better living afterward. So far that is true!

I did not want the maintenance of the lap band... and I didn't want to deal with slippage. It just didn't seem permanent enough.

I did not want the malapsorptive aspect of the bypass because it was only temporary from a caloric perspective but permanent from a nutritive perspective. Also, I had an old roommate who had bypass and after about 18 months she could eat a LOT of food. Seems the connection between her stomach and intestine wasn't tight enough and all the food was just going straight into her intestine and it was acting like a big huge stomach.. So I was like.. REALLY??? what's the point????

As someone who was in the category of the SUPER morbidly obese, I did consider the Duadenal switch, but it just felt too extreme for me because again you've got the whole malabsorptive component though with the DS the caloric malabsorption is a permanent feature.

VSG really seemed like the best fit for me. I know I would have a better chance of making it to goal with DS but honestly, I'd rather NOT make goal than deal with the malabsorption of the DS.

At first I wanted the Lap Band and when the doctor questioned my choice I started researching the sleeve because I knew bypass was not a option I wanted due to the malabsorption. So I called the office back and told them I changed my mind and wanted the sleeve. My husband and I both agreed after researching that the sleeve was the right choice for me:) I have not regretted it yet!

I'd like to thank you all for your great responses. I posted this question while I was in a room with over 30 Bariatric professionals. It was really great to receive almost immediate feedback from our awesome members. Thanks!

saw many commercials regarding WLS - naw, surgery, why would i do that. sure i'm HEAVY, but surgery??

am i really that overweight and desparate?? - admitted to myself after a while, that yes i was that........

one day i literally "woke up" saying "enough is enough"

saw PCP - who agreed i would be a great candidate for WLS

went to seminar regarding WLS.

ignorance is bliss?

admittedly, didn't do much research, wanted lapband. after seminar doc explained the gastric bypass - didn't know about about the malabsorption problems

"possible" problems with erosion, slippage - all the fills - everything relating to the lapband

doc also told me he was choosing not to do them as often??? hmmmm, sounds like a problem there right???

finally thoroghly explained the sleeve (his surgery of chose), details et al

i was in LOVE

rest is history

sleeved 15 months, 103 lbs gone - goal - what else can i say promoting my new best friend???

now - i'm another smiling face in the crowd amongst all other happy sleevers

to laura ven - everyone else look away

i'm just as long winded as you!!!! why do you think we're friends??