Is 300 lbs possible to lose with VSG?

Just seconding the suhgestion to research DS. My surgeon told me "the one that I promise will get you there the quickest and easiest is the DS, if I were doing it that is what I would do". I went in to it thinking that is what I would do, but decided to put more responsibility on me and took the sleeve only...

Thanks!  I appreciate it!  :)

I am currently a little over three months out. I have lost 109 lbs with the sleeve. I started at 417. If you do what the doctor says and stick with the plan you can lose all the weight you want. Good luck

Great job, ScottyD!  That's what I'm thinking, too.  Most people I know that have failed with the RNY or the lapband, who hadn't lost weight, didn't stick with the plan!  Thank you!

Short answer: Yes

If you want it bad enough and are willing to make lifestyle changes that are "forever". We have a few that have lost 300 or so. I'm nearly to 200 lost myself (started at 375). Have I lost slow? I don't think so, at 17.5 months, 200 pounds lost... seems pretty good to me. But I'm in it for the long haul.

Biggest piece of advice: get a therapist

I went in figuring that I could convert to the DS if I wanted, but I REALLY don't want to deal with the stuff the DS folks deal with. It's a personal thing. Research, research and then research some more.

Like I said... you gotta want it and you gotta want it BAD.

That's great!  Good job, sleevegirl!  I really do want this badly!  I am tired of being in pain everyday!  I plan on starting therapy after the first of the year!  Thank you for the advice and giving me hope!  :)

I started out at 420. I lost 85 lbs of my WL prior to surgery, but im sure it would have only been a little easier to lose it with the sleeve. I'm not a fan of the RNY more for the fact that it comes with so many risks and future complications but you only get the benefit of malabsorption for 18-2yrs. When we start at such high BMIs , we lose that benefit before we may even be done losing all our weight, so it's not worth it. 

Had I not been able to lose the 85 lbs before surgery, I would have considered the DS, but I was confident in my ability my to change my lifestyle so I went with the VSG. 

Getting to goal and maintaining comes down to something relatively "simple" - regardless of any WLS type, you have to change your lfie style and commit to a new healthier lifestyle. 

Because WLS is a pretty drastic step, I'd encourage you to research, research, research and pick a procedure because you absolutely want it - all benefits and risks considered. Dont just go with thte one you can get the fastest (even though I think the sleeve is a great choice). Good luck to yoU!

Thank you!  The sleeve is the one I've wanted all along.  I was just discouraged about the weight loss after the surgical team's psychiatrist had said that I wouldn't lose as much weight as I would with the RNY during my psych eval.

It's possible to lose vast amounts of weight with any form of WLS. The trick is keeping it off, long-term. Yes, there are several people on this board who've lost over 300 pounds---but I don't think any of them are more than 3-4 years post-op, so we just don't know how durable that weight-loss is going to be.

We do have long-term stats available for the DS, with folks 10+ years post-op maintaining an average of 80% excess weight lost, the very best stats of any currently-performed WLS.  (The DS has been done since 1988.) It's also got the best stats for resolving or preventing co-morbs like diabetes and high cholesterol.

I strongly urge you to research the DS. It has the same stomach as the Sleeve, plus an intestinal bypass similar to, but more effective than, the RNY. This intestinal bypass causes dramatic, permanent metabolic changes, and gives permanent malabsorption of calories---about 50% of proteins, 40% of complex carbs, and a whopping 80% of fats. (The RNY causes temporary minimal malabsorption of calories. Both the RNY and the DS cause permanent malabsorption of certain vitamins and minerals, so daily supplements are for LIFE.)

You already know that your insurance company is only going to give you one shot at this. You owe it to yourself to make the best choice possible, and in order to do that, you must understand all the options available.

You're not going to get good, complete, accurate info about the DS from a surgeon who doesn't do it. (You wouldn't expect the Ford dealer to recommend you go check out the new Cadillacs down the street, would you? *grin*) Find yourself a DS surgeon and at least have a consult. I think you'll also find that most DS surgeons won't ask you to lose a lot of weight before surgery. Mine said "If you could lose weight, you'd have already done it."

I suggest you also visit the Revision board, here:http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/. Take a look at what people are revising away from, and to what. Visit the DS board, too---we have some former Sleevers there who have revised to the full DS, and I'm sure they'd be glad to talk to you.

Thank you very much!  :)