Each patient is evaluated individually and to be honest, I am not sure what criteria they use.  I would imagine the person's height and general build along with how much weight they have to lose and their lifestyle plays a big part.  I was about 200 pounds over my ideal weight, lived a relatively sedentary life style and am large boned and tall (5'11") so Dr. Rutledge bypassed 7 feet of small bowel.  I have no idea how much would be bypassed on you though and I doubt that any doctor could tell you without a personal consultation being conducted.  Everything at CLOS does come off as flawless and "rosey" but I know there is dissention in their camp.  I have heard many negative things about the MGB procedure and the organization since I had my bypass done 4 years ago.  I am not alltogether sure I would have had the procedure done if I had heard all that stuff back then but all in all I have few regrets.  I have had some problems but they appear to have been sorted out by taking anti-depressants.  It seems that my diarrhea was a symptom of stress.  Thankfully, bile reflux was not one of the problems I experienced and none of the people I know who have had the MGB procedure have had this problem either.  Keep in mind that your doctor's opinion is just that, an opinion.  At the end of the day you need to do your own research and make your own decision.  Talk to as many people as possible who have had not just the MGB but all forms gastric bypass and find out what their experiences have been.  You will find that there is no such thing as a flawless procedure.  If I had decided to have a revision I would NOT have used Dr. Rutledge again but this is for personal reasons and should not influence  your decision.  Hope this helps. S.

Thanks for the kind words.  As it happened, I was able to sort out my problem by going on anti-depressants.  It seems the diarrhea was a symptom of the enormous stress I have been under in the last couple of years.  It was my body's way of saying, "enough!!".  I knew that I was feeling unable to cope so I sought the advise of a psychologist who diagnosed me with clinical depression and prescribed a course of Effexor XR (37.5 mg) once a day.  Within a week I noticed that my loose stools had lessened and then eventually over the next week or so they stopped all together.  The medication has served two purposes and is allowing my body and my emotions to heal.  Unless something happens to change my current state, I won't be considering a revision.  I appreciate your kind thoughts though and hope all works for you.  Let me know if I can help you in any way. Regards, S.

Alot of the time, other surgeon's are just misinformed.  The MGB does not cause bile reflux.  In fact, the connection from the stomach to the intestines is made at the bottom of the new pouch, far away from the top of the stomach where bile could back up.  It simply doesn't.  The bile flows into the stomach and down.  Some surgeon's are confusing the MGB with the old loop gastric bypass, which is not used anymore, where the connection was made at the top of the stomach.  The MGB surgery creates more of a tube rather than a small pouch at the top of the stomach like the old loop bypass.  I never had any reflux after surgery.  We are on Prilosec after surgery for months anyway, to keep any stomach acid irritations from forming in the stomach. Most serious complication?  Um, none.  I've had a couple of episodes of bad gas. Does that count?  Oh, I guess I could say I have a very small hernia forming under one of the lap incisions.  It is so small it probably won't need to be operated on.  I just don't even view anything I've experienced as a complication.  So far, so good!  Feel free to write me if I can answer anymore questions.

I am thinking about going to Dr. Rutledge in Las Vegas for the MGB, but the weight loss surgeon I saw here in the Seattle area was very negative and said that it causes terrible bile reflux.  Did you have this, or do you know of others who have had problems?  What would you say is the most serious complication you have had?  Why did you need the revision?

I have also been considering the MGB, was that the average amount of bowel to be bypassed?  Everything you read on the CLOS site is rosey, no complications.  Another question I have had is about the bile reflux.  Did this occur for you or cause you any problems?  I consulted a doctor here in the Seattle area regarding lap band and when I asked him about the MGB he was very negative and said that it caused serious bile reflux?  I hope you find a solution, would you go back to Dr. R to have the revision?  Thanks for any feedback you can give me.