Trying to choose my procedure!

sne0104 · February 26, 2017

Last week I had my consultation. When the surgeon walked in he told me he was surprised I was leaning towards RNY instead of VSG. He discussed both and said he would do either one, but it was up to me to choose. He didn't want to tell me what I should do, but he also said if he had just read my chart (5'6, 260, no major health issues) he would have said VSG was good option. I'm worried I won't lose enough of my weight if I get VSG. I'm worried that VSG won't be drastic enough to help me make changes. Worried that I'll have complications because RNY has more risks than VSG. During my 2nd C-section my OBGYN mentioned removing excess scar tissue from my 1st C-section, so now I'm worried that I'll develop adhesions from RNY that will cause complications. Help! Why did you choose your procedure and what has your recovery been like? I'm still leaning towards RNY, but absolutely scared!!

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PatientEleventyBillion · February 26, 2017

I'm a different gender than you so I know my post will be a bit skewed.

VSG is still slightly new in comparison to the RNY. I was told by my surgeon and others when I got second opinions that the RNY has more risks associated with it. If you've seen the VSG procedure on Youtube or even the pictures you'd think because of the large stomach cut that there's no way this is true, but there are more cuts made during RNY, more routing needed, and it's riskier, not only during the procedure, but in the future if you ever need some kind of invasive procedure done in the region. They do a sort of risk assessment. If you take cancer patients, they are a much higher risk of dying so that's why more risky procedures are done on them. For those who are at far less risk surgeons may be reluctant to go the RNY route. If you are older and a much higher risk (you say you have no major health issues), I've no doubts the RNY would be recommended.

Keep in mind too if the procedure doesn't go the way you want, with the VSG, some surgeons leave open the option of a future RNY. This was an option for me a year down the road if I didn't like the results of VSG.

As more studies continue to come in (it's clear long term studies still lacking) they tend to show a very positive outlook of VSG procedures.

Edited February 26, 2017 by PatientEleventyBillion