I am scheduled to have my sleeve surgery on 21 August in Mexico and I'm concerned about my BMI. I am 210 pounds and 5t 1inch which puts my bmi at 39. I understand I am obese but I'm scared that I might lose too much weight and look malnourished. What is the lowest you seen a person get down to with the sleeve?

There is someone running around here with a BMI of 21. I forget if she has the sleeve or bypass... hmm.. but she wants to be that weight, and is happy about it. (And it's still within healthy limits).

But, anyway, the body is an amazing thing, and it almost never lets you go below a healthy limit. Those that do almost always have something wrong.. either physically, or psychologically (anorexia).

As long as you heal normally, and you develop healthy eating habits, you don't have much to worry about. Do keep in mind that many of our family and friends kinda freak when we start getting near a normal BMI, because they are so accustomed to us looking plump. It doesn't mean we ARE sickly looking.. the way to tell that is by asking someone who has never met you before if you look sickly.. and you almost never do.

That said, at around a year postop, bypass patients CAN get a little pinched-looking. And it's just a consequence of their ultra-rapid loss. By 2-3 years postop, their bodies adjust, and that look goes away. I think of it in the same light as hair loss. It's unattractive while it's happening, but it's ultimately temporary. (And don't go to tanning beds, it compounds the "pinched look" a heck of a lot!!). Sleeve patients lose a smidge slower, so not sure if they go through a phase like that.

As long as you get the sleeve instead of gastric bypass, there shouldn't be a problem. My mom got the bypass and because it shortens the intestines, you absorb fewer calories so you tend to lose more weight. With the sleeve, if you feel like you are losing too much weight, all you would have to do is adjust the types of foods you are eating and lean towards higher calorie foods and you would be fine. I have actually never heard of anyone becoming too thin from either surgery unless they develop post-op anorexia. Post op anorexia is super rare because instead of obsessing about food after your surgery, it kind of become in consequential.

The sleeve isn't RNY. Once you are healed at 6 months, you basically control your weight loss with your calories. You can stop your weight loss, keep it going, maintain it all based on your calories.

There is very little chance of being malnourished with the sleeve.

I have lot a of weight and I don't look gaunt or malnourished. Mainly because I eat, a normal level of calories always over 1200, I exceed my protein goals and I eat fat.

Keeping your nutrition up and taking your vitamins is the best way to lose weight and still look and be healthy while going it.