What makes this feel more "risky"?

I was somewhat apprehensive before my surgery 4 weeks ago -- I was trying to verify for myself, and was concerned about how much pain it would cause, having never had a major surgery before. I am happy to say that it wasn't bad at all, and I am looking forward to losing a significant amount of weight in the coming year. I weighed 451 on 10/17.  Got down to 414 on 12/20, day of surgery.  Left the hospital at 431.  Today, I was 385.  So, I am down 66 lbs total from October, 29 of which is post-op in 4 weeks. I think there is added aprehension about WLS because of societal attitudes and perceptions.  For example, one common misperception is "It's SO dangerous."  Well, 20 years ago, when it first started to be done, it WAS pretty dangerous, some programs having a death rate as high as 1 in 50 surgeries.  A lot of this was because, at first, WLS was often reserved for the very sickest, very highest BMI patients -- those over 500 lbs with LOTS of co-morbidities, for whom WLS was absolutely the only option, and who were completely in failing health.  Also, as the surgery has gotten more popular and more well known, there have been advances in procedures, anethesia, etc, and many surgeons who specialize in WLS are now on the 1000th plus surgery -- my surgeon has done close to 2000 now, and stated he has lost only 2 patients, both with severe pre-existing cardiac problems.  As many more people, often not in "SUCH" bad shape, have had the surgery, statistics have come to show that it isn't really all that risky.  Maybe this isn't TECHNICALLY correct to say this, but anecdotaly, anyway, I think that laproscopid RNY is about as risky as laproscopic gall-bladder removal surgery. Other people wrestle with the issue of "is this the easy way out."  No, that's just plain dumb thinking.  If any of us could have done this any other way with lasting results, we would have.  And, while I personally haven't found this all that hard, other than all of the pulling of teeth pre-surgery to get everything lined up (mostly the ENDLESS waiting on the dumb sleep center I was sent to), I think it's more than fair to say that this is not an "easy" way out of morbid obesity. If you weren't nervous, you wouldn't be human.  Just concentrate on the good stuff about the whole thing, and you'll do fine.  Although I can't really know, not having been through any of those other things, I would suspect that this surgery shouldn't be any worse than some of the others you've gone through.

Thanks for replying Dan. You make some good points about the social attitudes toward WLS. A couple of my buddies keep telling me that they think I am making a mistake and are afraid something could go wrong. I'm glad they are concerned, but I really would rather have their support.  I also think you're right about the fact advances have been made regarding WLS over the years - better procedures and better surgeons because of more experience. Good luck with your post-op journey! I can't wait to join ya!