Question:
Which surgery has a higher success rate RNY or VBG?

Yesterday I had my first surgery consult. The surgeon I saw only does VBG. I am 34. I am 5'9 and 292lbs. I have hypertension,PCOS, and infertility. I am a labor and delivery nurse who wants desparately to have a baby of my own but know I must conquer my weight problem first. I want to be successful long term and safe.I have read many horror stories about total regain and revisions from vbg to rny and would appreciate some input greatly. Thanks:)    — katherine H. (posted on April 27, 2001)

April 26, 2001
From what I have read, the RNY has a higher success rate in weight maintenance further down the line. VBG works great if your only problem is the quantity of food you eat. However, if your problem is more of a sweet tooth, you can end up defeating the VBG by drinking milkshakes or eating ice cream. The RNY's main reason for bypassing the intestine is to bypass that part which absorbs more calories, etc. The main reason I would have the RNY over the VBG is because I want the negative reinforcement of "dumping" to keep me from eating sweets, carbs or anything else. If you aren't sure, try to find a doctor who does RNY and make an appointment. If you still aren't sure, look in to the BPD/DS. I would encourage you to do a lot of research before making up your mind. In the end, you want to choose a surgery that will fit your particular needs and will afford you the best opportunity to keep the weight off in the future. There are a lot of RNY surgeons out there, and from checking your profile, I know there is a really good one in Georgia, Dr. James K. Champion. He does a laparoscopic RNY and comes highly recommended. I am not certain, but there is also a doctor around that area who does BPD/DS. You can find a surgeon on this site, and by checking the profiles of other people who live in yours and surrounding states; surgeons are usually listed at the bottom. Good luck.
   — [Anonymous]

April 27, 2001
Hello there, unfortunatly I'm one of those people that had a vbg, actually twice. I lost my weight both times, kept it off for 7 or 8 years the first time. The second time I got pregnant and regained most of the weight back between two pregnancies. Now I'm planning a revision to a rny. I do believe it's possible to maintain with a vbg, people have done it. I have a very sweet tooth though, I'm so hoping that this will work for me, my surgeon seems to think it will so may 14 here I come. Good luck on your journey.
   — Lisa B.

April 27, 2001
My family has had a lot of wls from jaw-wiring, VBG, RNY, standard stomach stapling without any bypass, etc. Few have been very successful except for two who had RNY. It is also the only one which my insurance will approve. RNY has the highest success rate, too. Good luck in your research. Pam
   — Pamela W.

April 27, 2001
I am 2 weeks post VGB. I talked with my surgeon about the by-pass and which to have. The comlication rate for a VGB is 1/400 while it is about 1/50 for by-pass. Also, my problem was more volume than sweets, but it is just a tool and you have to watch what you eat. The success rate for VGB is about 85% to 88% for by-pass. I hope I made the right decision. I keep hearing about people who lost over 100 pounds and then gained it back.. my question is 'why didn't they go on a strict diet after a 5 pound gain?' If I do all this to lose, I'm sure not going to gain it back!!
   — Lesley K.

April 27, 2001
Here's my vote..If you only want to do this once, increase your chances go RNY.
   — [Anonymous]

April 27, 2001
How many times have we lost weight, swore we'd never gain it back, swore we'd catch it, and still ended up gaining weight again? Ok, ok, it's a tool. But honestly, I thought part of the surgery was to get to a place where you don't have to follow an anal diet the rest of your life. I could go on diets for the rest of my life without the surgery. If the surgery isn't going to help me control my hunger, every diet they throw at me will be just one more failure. I've met people with VBGs that say they still have just as much or more hunger. I'm not saying it's a bad choice, but let's not beat up on the folks for whom the VBG was just one more unsuccesful attempt.
   — kcanges

April 27, 2001
I just wanted to clarify an earlier point: You can't COUNT on an rny to cause dumping, thereby ensuring that you won't ever again be tempted by sugars and sweets or fats. I had a distal rny & have never dumped & can/could eat pretty large amounts of sugar without problems. I DON'T eat much sugar & now avoid it (usually). Through my surgery, I have gained control over most of what I eat. I can now CHOOSE to eat more healthily, so it's not like it was before surgery, but still, by a year post op, there is effort involved. It is critical (IMO) that you develop good eating habits within that first post op year when the weight comes off almost effortlessly.
   — Kathy W.

May 10, 2001
I guess it is how you define success rate. In the short run I am told the weight loss is probably better with the RNY procedure because of the malabsorption. But I have also been told that the reason many surgeon no longer do the RNY procedure is that long term problems are much more severe than with the VBG, also because of the malabsorption. I know that a lot of folks here 'dis' those of us that chose the VBG, but maybe we should take a new look a little later down the road.
   — Harold R.

May 10, 2001
As someone who had a VBG in 97 and a revision to RNY last year I feel compelled to respond since I've seen both sides of the coin. As stated before there are successes and failures with all the surgeries. It is a tool and it is up to us to use whatever tool we have to insure success. I had the regain after VBG due partly to poor choices in food (something I still struggle with after the RNY) but also because my band eroded making my VBG ineffective. I still ate smaller portions than before surgery and was still prone to vomiting if I overdid it but the food would quickly exit the pouch into the lower stomach due to there being no ring to slow it down so I would get hungry within an hour or so after eating. One thing I've noticed of VBG vs RNY is the feeling after eating. With VBG I was physically full but wasn't "satisfied". I would still be eyeing the food on my plate and wanting more of it even if my pouch was full. I'd find myself continuing to pick at food as I had room to or I'd throw up and then eat again a while later. There was no feeling of satisfaction. With RNY if I get full, I'm full and "sated". The thought of putting another bite in my mouth doesn't appeal in the least. In fact the idea makes me queasy. Also, I rarely throw up now and so if I overdo it I am forced to live with the consequences (nausea, rapid heartbeat and generally feeling like crap for 30min up to an hour afterwards) so I am much more careful. You can become pregnant after any surgery although you need to be monitored more closely with the more radical surgeries so don't let that stop you. Hope some of this has helped. Best of luck to you in whatever you decide.
   — Kellye C.

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