Why Did You Choose Your Specific Type of Weight Loss Surgery?

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

Revision from band to sleeve.

I had the lapband from 2001 to 2011 - 10 years filled with much disappointment and physical discomfort. I really didn't think I could succeed with any WLS after that.

Band had to come out due to slippage and I was more obese in 2011 than I was in 2001 so I took a leap of faith and was sleeved Dec 2011. I am currently maintaining a 160# weight loss so pleased as punch.

So you asked what I think about the various procedures. I feel more normal sleeved than I ever felt with the band. I hated the port, hated fills and unfills, hated the varying restriction I experienced. Sleeve is more consistent and requires less ongoing maintenance from doctor.

However, best thing was the proper education and coaching this time. When I saw my surgeon at one year follow up he said something very important.... that year two was just as important. Then...he said..year 3 was just as important.

I don't care which procedure you have, maintenance is effort.

I feel the sleeve has given me the tooling to FINALLY manage my obesity. I love my life as a normal weight woman...makes me sad I missed out on so much in the past.

[playlikeworldchamps 595]

I chose the sleeve. Initially I looked into the lap band because I though the sleeve was not offered/did not really know about it. I thought I only had choice of LB or RNY and thought I wasn't "fat enough' to go to RNY (at 300+ lbs can you spell DE NILE! It's not just a river!)

My PCP advised against the LB and when I saw the surgeon he gave me the overview on all 3. I decided to do the sleeve as a happy medium and because of the ghrelin affect. I also did not really want a port as I had one for chemo and found it very uncomfortable. Really hated it.

Oh well the grehlin affect only lasted a couple months but I persevered and have lost 135+ lbs and am in maintenance mode. It is and will be a lifelong commitment as I try to stay in the 170s which is still 25.8 BMI for my height. But oh well BMI not true measure of success as my BF % is < 24% which is more important. I don't want to lose muscle stupid scale!

[Chrystee 838]

I am choosing the sleeve, because I don't want to deal with malabsorbtion, and don't want my insides rearranged. My surgeon no longer does the band, so its between the sleeve and bypass. I also like the bit slower weight loss, hoping that will help my skin recover better.

[BariatricGirl 220]

In 2001 the only surgery available was gastric bypass. I am almost 14 years out now and have been able to maintain my goal weight. I actually believe that I could have been just as successful with any type because of where I was in my head. I made a promise that if I ever got the weight off (for the last time) I would do anything necessary to maintain. After 30 years of obesity and at the age of 47 in 2001 I was ready to finally live. I am 60 now and I'm healthier than I've ever been in my life.

[Postop 404]

I chose the DS for the most weight loss & least chance of regain. I needed the malabsorptive element. I'm extremely organized and knew I could handle all the work that comes with having a DS.

I think all the WLS are miracles in themselves. It's a very personal choice to decide which is right for you.

Edited January 16, 2015 by Postop

[Kindle 8,667]

I did not want the malabsorptive issues of bypass, so I never even considered it.

I originally looked at Lapband, but my friend who was banded 6 years ago strongly urged against it. She felt that adequate maintenance (fills and unfills) would be very inconvenient since I would have to travel 2 hours one way to the closest Bariatric center that did them. And She actually needed emergency surgery when her band slipped and was concerned that slippage would put me in a dangerous situation considering my rural location.

Then I learned about VSG and the rest is history.....

[beachgurl84 456]

I chose the sleeve because it kind of freaks me out to think about intestines being re-routed and changing the way God made us. I mean getting part of you removed is one thing, but the bypass changes the original lay out. The band involves way too much maintenance and I bet the lack of wide spread results will eventually get it phased out. I know it works really well for some people, but I wouldn't have been one of those people. And again, it freaks me out to think about a foreign object being planted in my body. Of course now I have staples in my body, lol. That's just my two cents on it.

[HappyChic 32]

I chose RNY since I want to lose 100lbs and this surgery has the highest amount of weight loss according to stats. I also have GERD and my surgeon really advised against the sleeve since that could make it even worse. I was on the fence about the band but I still held the option in the back of my mind. After my endoscopy revealed a rather large hiatal hernia, my surgeon said the band was no longer an option so that left me with RNY. My choice became very clear at that point

[SmilingBeauty 223]

I started this process convinced I would have the sleeve becuase I did not want my organs rearranged. After research, I became open to RNY and decided I would make my decision after meeting with my surgeon.

I met with my surgeon and we decided on the sleeve due to less complications. I m excited to have sugery!

[motherof5 364]

I choose the Sleeve because:

1. I didn't want to reroute anything.

2. It was advised that it was best because I didn't have a lot of weight to lose.

3. I was afraid of the complications and the dumping of the RNY.

[BariatricGirl 220]

I would like to add something to this thread. Almost anyone who is approved for WLS is given one choice because it's rare to have a revision covered. What am I saying? It's rare to have WLS covered these days for everyone who needs it period. It is very important to BELIEVE in your surgery because if you don't, it won't believe in you. If you don't nurture and respect your surgery, it won't nurture and respect you. When someone picks a surgery for whatever reason it may be (even if they are misinformed) it is a done deal. I have communicated with thousands of post-ops over the last ten years and every single kind of surgery has successes and some not so great outcomes. Please support your WLS brothers and sisters with their surgery type because we all need as much support as possible. No one should be treated as if they made a wrong choice regarding surgery type. Instead we need to help them with whatever choice they made because they all absolutely can work. Of course there is a small percentage of complications and various degrees of complications that are unavoidable....I'm speaking about the majority of situations out there. We are all in this together and I want to support everyone on their journey because we all need it.

[leag78 469]

Originally I chose the sleeve because I wasn't really feeling the whole bypass thing, and never thought twice about the lap band. After my first consultation with the surgeon he chose the bypass for me because of me being a type II diabetic and high blood pressure. Wasn't happy at first but after speaking with the surgeon and doing my own research I decided that maybe the bypass would be a better option for me.

[Annek2014 58]

I went with Gastric Bypass after discussing with my surgeon my options. Because I am Diabetic i was told the Bypass was the best option.

[Karenlrn 41]

I chose the sleeve after going to the weight loss surgery seminar. He only presented the band, the sleeve and gastric bypass. The dr said he only did the band if the patient insisted so I ruled that out right away. I didn't want the malabsorbtion and rerouting of the bypass. My Dr said that with my heart problems less time in the OR would be better. I had my sleeve 3 weeks ago and I'm very happy with my decision!

Edited January 22, 2015 by Karenlrn

[lclemur 161]

I chose the sleeve over bypass for three main reasons:

1) I was afraid of dumping

2) I wanted to be able to use Nsaids. I have had a lot of broken bones, and fear arthritis is in my future

3) I heard a rumor that those that do bypass have a higher rate of farting. I already fart a lot, didn't want to increase it Lol!

Originally I was going to go lap-band. The high revision rate, low overall success rate, complications, all factored into changing my mind. Also, I was told that many insurances make it extremely difficult to do a revision. It is a "one surgery" chance!