Question About Different Bariatric Surgery Procedures

Yes and no.

Yes - the RNY is invasive, but all WLS is, and the uninvasive isn't working for us.

No-one isn't necessarily riskier than the other. That's in the hands of the surgeon no matter what procedure he's performing. Aftercare and education are the difference when it comes to risks post-op. A sleeve patient can develop a leak where a RNY might get a stricture. These are not common, but the types of things that can happen that would be categorized as 'complications'.

The only other risks can come around not taking care of yourself, and that's totally in your own hands. You must learn how to eat healthy (for your selected procedure) to lose weight and maintain that loss, and to supplement accordingly to your body's needs.

It really does seem like a crap shoot as to who will develop gerd or not. In your case given your prior medical history, I'd lean toward the rny, but check with your surgeon & see what s/he thinks.

I had gerd, but it was very, very mild & likely caused by the hiatal hernia that was repaired during surgery. I was on a ppi for a few months & haven't needed it since then. I was also diabetic, but it eventually went into remission as the weight came off & the lifestyle changes that I did to keep it in remission.

Surgery in itself is invasive. Both surgeries are good. You just have to pick one that best suits your needs & your medical situation.

This is a really good point!

I had the RNY, and it's standard at the Hospital that I stayed at for RNY to stay for two nights (Center of Excellence Hospital).

I've read over and over that if you have acid reflux you really shouldn't have the VSG because it can make it worse. Also, apparently RNY also helps with putting Diabetes into remission.

Ultimately it's best for you to consult your doctor and ask them how they feel, but those are the statistics I've read and learned about.

Hi Maria,

Here are some links on all the options. Some are more popular than others but I will give you links to all the ones I have.

• DUODENAL SWITCH INFORMATION
• About Duodenal Switch
• Risks and Complications of Duodenal Switch
• Duodenal Switch Diet and Nutrition
• Duodenal Switch Revisions
• Duodenal Switch Insurance Coverage
• Duodenal Switch Forum Contributors
• FEATURED ARTICLES
• Making the DS Switch

• ABOUT LAP-BAND® SYSTEM
• The Obesity Epidemic
• Obesity Treatment Options
• The LAP-BAND System Solution
• LAP-BAND System Weight Loss Surgery
• LAP-BAND System Risk Information
• Post-Surgery Diet, Nutrition, and Exercise
• Living with the LAP-BAND System
• FAQs
• Spotlight Article
• LAP-BAND Forum Contributors

• REALIZE BAND INFORMATION
• About the REALIZE Band
• REALIZE Adjustable Gastric Banding Surgery
• Comparing Gastric Bands
• Benefits and Risks
• Nutrition and Fitness After Surgery
• Life with the REALIZE Band
• Ongoing Support After Surgery
• Getting Started
• Insurance Coverage and Financing
• Disclaimer

• ROUX-EN-Y GASTRIC BYPASS INFORMATION
• About Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
• Risks and Rewards of Bariatric Surgery
• Nutritional Guideline after Gastric Bypass
• Life After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
• Choosing a Bariatric Surgery Center
• FAQ
• Feature Article
• Forum Contributors

• VERTICAL SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY INFORMATION
• About Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
• Advantages and Disadvantages
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Forum Contributors

People ask this question ALL the time. Page back through old posts on the forums, or use the search box at the top of the page, to get some insight.

I was sleeved in 2009 and had no reflux at that time. After about 6 months or so, I noticed I was having some reflux issues. It continued to progressively get worse. It became unrelenting and pretty much dominated my life. Nothing made it better. In February of 2016 I was revised to RNY. It's the best thing I've ever done for myself and in hindsight l wish I had gone for the bypass originally. Don't get me wrong, I loved my sleeve...it just didn't love me.

With the issues you are having, please discuss this thoroughly with your surgeon. You have received great feedback from other posters today, please don't discount it.

I had acid reflux, so it was a no-brainer for me: RNY.

Like others have said, it's really not any more invasive than any other surgery. They're all pretty invasive.

I was in the hospital for two nights, which is pretty standard with RNY.

I'm a band to bypass revision. Reason I chose RNY...Reflux. My doctor recommended RNY. I have seen people go sleeve and have it get worse. it seems to be the #1 reason for sleeve to Rny revisions. I wanted my revision to be the last one.

i don't know why people think rny is more invasive than permanently removing 80% of your stomach. Sleeve appears to still be a good surgery and might have been my first choice if I didn't have reflux but in retrospect I"m so glad my doctor steered me towards rny.

My doctor provided me with all his short and long term stats for complications etc. they were virtually identical. The one stat for him with some significant deviation between the two was long term risk of anemia. for his patients, sleevers had a 5% risk and RNY 10%. Everything else was around a percentage point apart.

Your own doctor should be able to provide his/her own stats.