I was told recently that surgeons in the US tend to be a little more conservative while surgeons in Mexico tend to sleeve very tight to allow for stretching over time. Anyone have thoughts on this ? Does it seem those sleeved in Mexico have more restriction at one year or more post op ? Could this be why some feel surgery "expired" at one year ?

I heard the Mexican sleeves crave more Taco Bell. Haha, just kidding!

There is little evidence that bougie size makes any difference in long term weight loss or stomach stretching. Here's a great article about it:

http://tinyurl.com/qxchkcv

Interesting article though it is 2 years old and somewhat questionable I would say as it makes it sound like it's almost impossible to stretch your stomach (which was believed to be the case early on ) and we now know that's not true at all.

Interesting article though it is 2 years old and somewhat questionable I would say as it makes it sound like it's almost impossible to stretch your stomach (which was believed to be the case early on ) and we now know that's not true at all.

But I think one thing it makes pretty clear is that the differences in bougie size are pretty minuscule. The difference between a 32 and a 40 is so small that it's unlikely to make much of a difference in the long run. It does seem that there is greater risk of stricture with the smaller sizes, so that's one thing to consider as well.

I heard the Mexican sleeves crave more Taco Bell. Haha, just kidding!

Good one @@*Lexie*

no difference.

It is thought that smaller sleeves might increase certain risks. I dunno... mine was a 38 ...I lost a lot kf weight and been keeping it off 2 years now. I think that overtime your efforts become very important regardless of your bougie size.

I had my sleeve in Mexico. The three abdominal radiology studies I have had in the States have all elicited comments from physicians about how small my sleeve is. I am not sure whether that was due to my particular surgeon, or my "very elastic" gastric tissue (my surgeon's commentary postop).

I have a 38, and glad, as smaller may lead to more problems. Like Cowgirl said, effort becomes more important as time goes by.

I was sleeved in Mexico. At almost two years post op, I often feel very little restriction and have struggled with 20 pounds of regain.

That is me. I'm three years out and was pretty solid until last year where I've now gained and feel very little Restriction. I'm considering a revision