So I am doing every bit of research I can to be fully informed about the decision I am making to have this surgery. Im curious how many people who had the surgery had a leak?

Good question...my surgery is tomorrow and I am most worried about that!

I had three leaks. They do happen but i do not regret the surgery it took me four months for them to heal. But i am so happy with my weight loss over 100lbs since oct 30. Dont let the what ifs scare yoy. Think. Of the final outcome, healthy,skinny,sexy and plain feel better. Im off all meds well worth it

Leaks can happen for MANY reasons.

some leaks happen because people do not follow the rules and some leaks happen by sheer accident.

I think alot of the leak issues are dependent on the quality of the doctor as well. How well the doctor stitched the bougie, checking for leaks after removal of the stomach, etc.

From what I've read and statics, etc...leaks are not that common... maybe like 1% or so. Make the surgeon you choose not only staples, but reinforces the staple line with sutures. They will also do a leak test the day after surgery, so that should give you some peace of mind. And just remember, if you happen to be that 1%, there are a ton of things they can do to fix it/help it heal. Just pay attention to your body after surgery, do NOT push it when you eat and you should be OK. Ask your doctor what the signs of a leak are and then watch for those. Don't be afraid to call your surgeon after surgery either. I feel like I annoy mine like 2-3 times a week, but you know what? that's what they get paid for! it's their JOB!

You can search for "leaks" on this site and read about several people who have had to deal with them, but the majority of what I've read of what they've posted, they'd do the surgery again even KNOWING they would have a leak and had to go through the healing all over again. Good luck with your surgery!

I've always been told that leaks happen to less than 1%. My surgeon has done a few hundred and never had a leak.

Wonderful! Thank you all for the info

I had three leaks. They do happen but i do not regret the surgery it took me four months for them to heal. But i am so happy with my weight loss over 100lbs since oct 30. Dont let the what ifs scare yoy. Think. Of the final outcome' date=' healthy,skinny,sexy and plain feel better. Im off all meds well worth it[/quote']

Hey how you know if you have leak?

I had soreness more than normal at the incesion spot i also noticed additional swelling then one day i started draining out the incision thats how it happenned

I had soreness more than normal at the incesion spot i also noticed additional swelling then one day i started draining out the incision thats how it happenned

Oh your talking about the holes on our stomach? I thought about the staple line on our stomach. Can we leak or open the staple line?

Talking about the staple line

Yes it was the staple line so the liquid i had been drinking leaked out the stomach causing buildup in the abdamen causing the incision to drain the fluid

Yes it was the staple line so the liquid i had been drinking leaked out the stomach causing buildup in the abdamen causing the incision to drain the Fluid

Omg that very scary. Can that happen anytime? Even years after your surgery?

A leak can happen anytime, but usually not after healed. Some say after six to eight weeks. However; some ppl here have gotten them months after surgery. Just gotta be careful and do what you can to prevent them. But that being said you can do everything right and still get them. But who wants to get a leak and be able to say to your self if I had only followed my doctors plan this may not have happened. It takes long hard time in the hospital and after care to get over a leak. It's no joke.

How is a leak fixed? Just curious.

Depends on how bad the leak is. For mine they tried surgery to restaple or suture. But it couldnt be done. So i had. To wait for nature to heal it so i was on feeding tube for four months. So i losf weight quickly which was good right. But i started week one liquids when i was four mo past surgery. I wouldnt worry about a leak. If it happens its fixable. Just think of the health benefits from losing weight.