Hello! I saw my surgeon's NP today for 8 week postop. She scared the wits out of me when she told me that 42 percent of patients gain a significant amount of weight back. That is an incredibly high number!! She also told me that the surgery only "lasts" for 9-12 months. After that, you're basically back to being on your own as far as using the sleeve as a tool. WTH?? Is this really true? Anyone past the one year mark that can reassure me that these are just scare tactics?! Or if it is true, then I guess I want to hear that confirmation, too...????

make it a great day

I am almost 3 mths out and I have heard that hunger comes back for some and has to be dealt with. However, if stomach size stays the same and we continue to eat healthy in small portions, the weight won't come back.

The sleeve is a tool. That is all it is. We have to do our part.

Sorry, but it's true.

Surgery is a temporary fix for the permanent problem of obesity. The decrease in hunger and great restriction is best during what they call the honeymoon phase, which is usually up to 18 months (can be longer for some). That's why it's really important to cement your healthy eating and exercise habits before the end of your honeymoon period and lose as much as you possibly can when restriction is great and hunger is low. You'll still have your tool, but it's much less effective after that.

It IS just a tool. Bariatric surgery still doesn't dictate what you put in your mouth and how often. That's going to be all on you.....even from the very beginning. Don't fool yourself. People find ways to eat around these surgeries. You must change your whole lifestyle to make it work.

That's obviously something 42% of people who've had it didn't understand.

If WLS only "lasts" 9-12 months, surely it wouldn't be approved by ANY insurance company says logic...

It's a tool, if used correctly, that can serve you a lifetime. You gotta do your part.

I can only speak for myself, the regain is definately real. If you don't take anything else away from this forum, please remember to take advantage of the first year. Use this first year to adopt new behaviors, work on the mind and body (exercise and eat right). Some people are fortunate and have not regained or regained very little but it is definately a real possibility.

I'm not certain if your doctors statistic is accurate but If you check out a new forum that started on BP (regain forum) some of us do experience this. Having said that, I am still very grateful for this tool. I can definately eat more ( two years out) but I do still have restriction. I have to recondition my mind to not eat until I'm full but stop at satisfied.

Easier said then done but working on it.

I am 4 years post surgery and was very fortunate to have my honeymoon period last about 2 years. I became lax in

my food, Protein and carb levels, stopped weighing, but was lucky that I continued losing up to then. On my next annual check up I had gained 35#. Took several months and have lost 45# -- 10# below goal.

I now have a Bariatric buddy, we check our food logs every night and weigh weekly to stay on track. It took 8 months to lose that 45# and I DO NOT want to do that again. Moral: yes you can gain weight and use your honeymoon period wisely.

Sent from my XT1096 using the BariatricPal App

I am 4 years post surgery and was very fortunate to have my honeymoon period last about 2 years. I became lax in

my food, protein and carb levels, stopped weighing, but was lucky that I continued losing up to then. On my next annual check up I had gained 35#. Took several months and have lost 45# -- 10# below goal.

I now have a Bariatric buddy, we check our food logs every night and weigh weekly to stay on track. It took 8 months to lose that 45# and I DO NOT want to do that again. Moral: yes you can gain weight and use your honeymoon period wisely.

Sent from my XT1096 using the BariatricPal App

Awesome job losing that regain! It's so hard to do and I commend you!

"As many as 50 percent of patients may regain a small amount of weight (approximately 5 percent) two years or more following their surgery. However, longitudinal studies find that most bariatric surgery patients maintain successful weight-loss long-term. Successful’ weight-loss is arbitrarily defined as weight-loss equal to or greater than 50 percent of excess body weight..."

https://asmbs.org/patients/bariatric-surgery-misconceptions

It beats 95% chance of regain without WLS.

It beats 95% chance of regain without WLS.

Completely agree. I wish this was foolproof, though.

make it a great day

I really don't understand how??

My best friend is eight years out from surgery eats anything she wants in moderation doesn't exercise and is still at her goal weight. I've seen her eat it's just like she's had surgery. Three to four bites and she's stuffed.

Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App