Does anyone know how safe the sleeve is, later in life - say 20 plus years down the road? I know there is data to support the safety of the bypass, but is there any for the sleeve since it's newer? Thank you.

Even though they weren't being performed as a weight loss tool, gastrectomies (partial or total) have been performed since the 1880s as a treatment for stomach cancer or severe stomach ulcers. Knowing that, I felt safer with the vertical sleeve gastrectomy than the gastric bypass because of the long history it has lol.

Wow, thanks...that's good to know! I didn't think of it that way and was worried since its considered new. Your point that its only new as WLS is encouraging. Thank you.

My Dad had it done in the early 1970's due to ulcers. And did fantastic lived to reach 94 ate small meals throughout the day.

A doctor told me this was a pre-surgery to the gastric bypass for the very large -- to get them down to a position where they could have a bypass as a secondary surgery. Don't know it for a fact ... just was told that.

Thank you....definitely helpful info. And wow, 94 yrs old....God bless!

My Mum's boyfriend had a stomach resection for bleeding ulcers and always ate like a sleever. He was nearly 90 when he died, and healthy up to the end.