WHAT U THINK!!
VSG is similar to DS, but without the malabsorbtive portion. At Dr. Dennis Smith's seminar I attended, they stated VSG is one of the newest of the surgeries. They have little info on the long term results. They said it had the least success rate in the amount of weight loss.
The plus is it is more affordable and less risky than the other surgeries. You don't have the vitamin deficiencies like with DS. I don't think there is dumping either.
It is better for lightweights because you may not lose as much as you would like Roxy.
Brandi and Steve are having VSG, they are good people to ask for more detailed info.
The plus is it is more affordable and less risky than the other surgeries. You don't have the vitamin deficiencies like with DS. I don't think there is dumping either.
It is better for lightweights because you may not lose as much as you would like Roxy.
Brandi and Steve are having VSG, they are good people to ask for more detailed info.
**** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured. I 
MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people. ~Orson Wells
I am not a medical professional, but this is my understanding of it from the research that I've done....
The VSG is half (part) of the DS. VSG cuts the stomach size only. DS does some rerouting as well as cutting the stomach size, but I couldn't tell you exactly the details on that because I have not researched the DS much after realizing it isn't the right surgery for me personally.
I think the DS has been around for about 10 years, so technically the VSG has been around a while but not as a stand-alone procedure. The VSG has been done on its own for the past 3-4 years. That's why there aren't real long-term statistics yet on the VSG.
VSG is good for lower BMI or extremely high BMI. Many people with real high BMIs or who are higher risk get the VSG with the intention of "finishing" the rest of the DS after some weight comes off with the VSG and they are lower risk.
I believe the DS has dumping for many people and malabsorption, which I understand is rare or nonexistent with the VSG or band. Some people like the idea of malabsorption because it keeps them "honest," whereas other people simply want to restrict the amount they can eat but still be able to eat their favorite foods every once in a while in small quantities. I hear your tastes can change, though, with any of the WLSs. Also, with the DS you have to be careful about medication (i.e., no NSAIDS) and I don't believe there are any medication restrictions with the VSG other than possibly breaking large pills down or preferring liquid form.
VSG is similar to the lap band only in the sense that both are restrictive surgeries, meaning they limit the amount you can eat, one via the band and the other via the actual stomach size. The VSG is permanent and cannot be reversed, whereas they say the band is reversible. (though keep in mind there will be scar tissue from the insertion and removal surgeries.) Also, the VSG does not have a foreign object in your body and does not require fills, etc.
Check out Dr. Smith's Web site. www.advancedobesitysurgery.com. He explains the various procedures and even has some videos. Also, Dr. Smith is the scheduled speaker for the support session next Tuesday, 1/20 (Time/location info on his Web site). I'm not sure the topic, but I would think he'd be happy to answer questions from pre-ops (myself included.)
I hope this helps!
The VSG is half (part) of the DS. VSG cuts the stomach size only. DS does some rerouting as well as cutting the stomach size, but I couldn't tell you exactly the details on that because I have not researched the DS much after realizing it isn't the right surgery for me personally.
I think the DS has been around for about 10 years, so technically the VSG has been around a while but not as a stand-alone procedure. The VSG has been done on its own for the past 3-4 years. That's why there aren't real long-term statistics yet on the VSG.
VSG is good for lower BMI or extremely high BMI. Many people with real high BMIs or who are higher risk get the VSG with the intention of "finishing" the rest of the DS after some weight comes off with the VSG and they are lower risk.
I believe the DS has dumping for many people and malabsorption, which I understand is rare or nonexistent with the VSG or band. Some people like the idea of malabsorption because it keeps them "honest," whereas other people simply want to restrict the amount they can eat but still be able to eat their favorite foods every once in a while in small quantities. I hear your tastes can change, though, with any of the WLSs. Also, with the DS you have to be careful about medication (i.e., no NSAIDS) and I don't believe there are any medication restrictions with the VSG other than possibly breaking large pills down or preferring liquid form.
VSG is similar to the lap band only in the sense that both are restrictive surgeries, meaning they limit the amount you can eat, one via the band and the other via the actual stomach size. The VSG is permanent and cannot be reversed, whereas they say the band is reversible. (though keep in mind there will be scar tissue from the insertion and removal surgeries.) Also, the VSG does not have a foreign object in your body and does not require fills, etc.
Check out Dr. Smith's Web site. www.advancedobesitysurgery.com. He explains the various procedures and even has some videos. Also, Dr. Smith is the scheduled speaker for the support session next Tuesday, 1/20 (Time/location info on his Web site). I'm not sure the topic, but I would think he'd be happy to answer questions from pre-ops (myself included.)
I hope this helps!
I had the DS on Oct. 23 with Dr. Smith and hang out on the DS forum all the time. There are people there who have had the VSG and then later have the DS. There are a number of reasons for that. In some cases their surgery took longer than expected and they had to be brought out of anesthesia. There are also cases where people had the VSG and then realized they would not be able to reach and maintain the weight loss they need. I never considered VSG alone because I have had serious weight problems all my life and I have lost and gained as much as 107 lbs. in the past. I am hard core and need all the help I can get!
You are right about the VSG being part of the DS. The stomach is about the size of a banana and it restricts the amount you can eat. The "switch" part of the procedure bypasses the part of your stomach that absorbs fat. For specifics on how much of what you absorb you can check the DS forum, but the biggest part of it is that you do not absorb nutrients which are fat soluble. Mostly those are vitamins A, D, E, and K. So you have to take a water soluble ADEK vitamin. The RNY bypasses a portion of the intestines also so it is not like either one can avoid the vitamin issue.
For me, the best part of the DS is that it keeps the geography of your stomach in place....esophagus, stomach, pylorus, intestines. I have stomach issues which require frequent egds and with the RNY the pylorus is no longer accessible. Also, you can eat more with the DS and prior to surgery that was important. The DS removes the part of the stomach that tells your brain you are hungry. The bypass of the procedure allows you to eat fat without guilt but I am not a real fat lover so that is no biggie.
By the way...........DSers do NOT have dumping that is a side effect of the RNY.
The VSG is not at all similar to the lap band. With the VSG a large portion (85% in my case) of the stomach is actually removed and thrown away. With the band , a band is just put around the stomach with nothing removed.
DSers and VSGers can still take NSAIDs. RNYers should not. I don't know about RNYers, but DSers and VSGers do not have to break their pills or take liquid meds except maybe immediately after surgery.
I hope this is helpful. I am not a medical professional but speak from my research, a year of hanging around the DS forum and personal experience of having had the DS for three months.
You are right about the VSG being part of the DS. The stomach is about the size of a banana and it restricts the amount you can eat. The "switch" part of the procedure bypasses the part of your stomach that absorbs fat. For specifics on how much of what you absorb you can check the DS forum, but the biggest part of it is that you do not absorb nutrients which are fat soluble. Mostly those are vitamins A, D, E, and K. So you have to take a water soluble ADEK vitamin. The RNY bypasses a portion of the intestines also so it is not like either one can avoid the vitamin issue.
For me, the best part of the DS is that it keeps the geography of your stomach in place....esophagus, stomach, pylorus, intestines. I have stomach issues which require frequent egds and with the RNY the pylorus is no longer accessible. Also, you can eat more with the DS and prior to surgery that was important. The DS removes the part of the stomach that tells your brain you are hungry. The bypass of the procedure allows you to eat fat without guilt but I am not a real fat lover so that is no biggie.
By the way...........DSers do NOT have dumping that is a side effect of the RNY.
The VSG is not at all similar to the lap band. With the VSG a large portion (85% in my case) of the stomach is actually removed and thrown away. With the band , a band is just put around the stomach with nothing removed.
DSers and VSGers can still take NSAIDs. RNYers should not. I don't know about RNYers, but DSers and VSGers do not have to break their pills or take liquid meds except maybe immediately after surgery.
I hope this is helpful. I am not a medical professional but speak from my research, a year of hanging around the DS forum and personal experience of having had the DS for three months.
Lookingup 
Pre Weight Loss 337
Pre Op 319
DS Surgery Oct. 23, 2008
One thing about the DS I forgot to post.. you can eat more normal sized meals post op and still lose weight.
**** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured. I MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people. ~Orson Wells
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