I was told that everyone is not a candidate for single incision sleeve surgery. Besides the scarring, what's the difference? Why would someone not be qualified for single incision?

Single means huge open vertical incision. Trust me, the pain is super severe as opposed to laparoscopy.

Open surgery also has a much longer recovery time than laparoscopic.

You are probably thinking just one laparoscopic site, but a single site is like the big scar from open heart surgery, but lower.

I think you have your thought twisted some. Not everyone can be operated on laparoscopically....so instead of the surgeon being able to make the 5 small incisions....he might have to make the long incision.

There is such a thing as a laparoscopic single incision sleeve procedure. It's a two inch incision right above your belly button and they insert this "spider" framework that allows the surgeon to prop up your abdominal contents so he can get to your stomach. I believe it depends on how big you are in the belly area and if you're a lower BMI. Google it. There's a video from The Doctors talk show explaining and showing the procedure. I chose to not have it because I was warned the overall abdominal soreness is greater because of how this spider thing stretches your belly. My five little incisions are hardly noticeable and I'm only 9 days post op.

The single incision above the belly button is exactly what I was referring to. Thank you for that info. I will do some more research on it.

Edited July 10, 201511 yr by Nikki Monroe

There is such a thing as a laparoscopic single incision sleeve procedure. It's a two inch incision right above your belly button and they insert this "spider" framework that allows the surgeon to prop up your abdominal contents so he can get to your stomach. I believe it depends on how big you are in the belly area and if you're a lower BMI. Google it. There's a video from The Doctors talk show explaining and showing the procedure. I chose to not have it because I was warned the overall abdominal soreness is greater because of how this spider thing stretches your belly. My five little incisions are hardly noticeable and I'm only 9 days post op.

Huh, I've never heard of that! But I agree with sleevenv, my five incisions are not very noticeable (I'm 3.5 weeks out)--the big ugly stretch marks on my gut are way more visible!

There is such a thing as a laparoscopic single incision sleeve procedure. It's a two inch incision right above your belly button and they insert this "spider" framework that allows the surgeon to prop up your abdominal contents so he can get to your stomach. I believe it depends on how big you are in the belly area and if you're a lower BMI. Google it. There's a video from The Doctors talk show explaining and showing the procedure. I chose to not have it because I was warned the overall abdominal soreness is greater because of how this spider thing stretches your belly. My five little incisions are hardly noticeable and I'm only 9 days post op.

For aesthetic reasons only, I would have chosen this option if it had been offered.