I've had 2 breast surgerys 10 years apart and both times my body rejected the stitches. The incisions would have puss and the stitches would pop through for weeks they wouldn't heal until they were all out. I feel like a trained nurse now. Also when I was younger my eyebrow ring & belly button ring pushed out ... I'm worried my body will try and reject the staples as they're a foreign object?! Is that silly to think??

I've had 5 spine surgeries with about 6" incisions thru the front and the back. The first two times they used a glue to close me. I had no problems at all... quick healing. The next few they used stitches and it took like a year for the last one to close. It was horrible and itchy. I wonder if there are alternate materials available for this procedure as well. Worth asking. Good luck!!

Thanks for your reply! I even had a reaction to the tape they use to minimise scaring! I now look like the bride of Frankenstein lol ... I have to say after reading all I've read on here I'm not really nervous about the surgery as much as my body reacting to the staples... Do the stitch the holes from where the instruments go in or just a sterry strip? I've heard they're very small incisions

I had a reaction to the steri strips too. I had to spray a benadryl spray over the rash all the time. It sucked. But that glue stuff was fantastic! I haven't had this sleeve procedure yet. I'm still on the fence, even though I'm scheduled in 2 weeks for the procedure. I hope someone can respond with info!

Lol 2 weeks! How exciting! Mine will be poss May June or July. I'm still deciding whether to have it done in Nz or overseas. The strips seemed to be fine for me luckily .. I doubt they can glue my stomach together lol ... Is this site helping you decide/feel more confident?

Do you mean staples holding your incisions shut, or the staples they use on your actual stomach? I have never heard of any problem with the latter, ever (apart from leak issues, but those are not reactions to staples, just leaks). I had a few problems with my incision staples cos they kind of grew to my skin really quickly and were painful to remove, but no real problems per se. I know quite a few people who have issues with the 'self-dissolving' sutures they sometimes use for surgery, but I'm not sure any of that is needed for lap sleeve surgery...?

Oy, I've only been on this site for like 2 hours... but I'll let ya know if it helps me to decide!

Why are you considering New Zealand?

Because I live here! Lol it's $17,000 I'm not big enough to go public ... And yes I mean the staples inside my stomach - titanium? I could deal w more topical problems & scars but if things happened inside I'd freak out!

Yes! They were the self dissolving ones! They didn't dissolve quick enough and cause problems for WEEKS .

I've been around the WLS/sleeve boards for more than three years now -- and I've literally NEVER heard of anyone having problems with the internal staples. Incidentally, mine are surgical steel not titanium, and I'm the only one I've ever heard of that didn't have titanium. Alas, all has been rosy so I'm not fussed.

Cool! Thank you ... It may of sounded like a dumb question but those are the only things I've ever put in my body and ALL were rejected! (Except earrings in lobes) thanks again

I'm allergic to most metal (had braces for 18 months and my gums stayed swollen the entire time ugh) and that was the first thing I asked my surgeon about. He said he's never had a patient have an issue with the internal staples. They're titanium, non-ferrous and super tiny. While I may have had a reaction if I got the staples on my outer skin because of the contact point, he said its really unlikely when used internally. For my incisions, he did internal stitches to seal them and at 4.5 weeks out my scars are practically invisible.

Sounds like you got the answers you were hoping for. :-) I didn't know you lived in NZ. Great place. I almost moved there to work for Fletcher's Forests. Maybe another time. :-) How big do you have to be to go public?

Thanks Stacey! Great answer as you have a reaction to metal and have had no problems - thank u so much! ... Less worried now.

And I think public you probably have to be 35+ ... I'm only 30BMI . I know that's not big but I've been an amature boxer for 8 years and fit but I can only loose weight w diet pills. I stopped boxing for a year and went up to 94 kgs. My body ached allll the time it was horrible. Food runs my life. I know I not that big in compassion to some on here but I still have the same feelings. I don't want to live like this for the rest of my life.

I can relate. I'm an ex-athlete (injured) and I had to gain a few more to qualify for insurance coverage.... because when I'm not running I cannot lose or maintain my weight. I hope the docs are good in NZ! Everything is good there... except the lasagna. :-P

Yes it's only a matter of time until the # goes up and up. Time & genes are not on my side. And I'd rather do it now when I'm less likely to have the loose skin. I'm sick of the weekly/daily battle.. Where did u have this bad lasagna?! Lol ..