Does surgery type affect possible regain?

Hi Everyone,

Someone told me I should have VSG instead of RNY because "most" RNY people regain all the weight and need revisions, and VSG'ers don't.

No facts accompanied this opinion, of course.

I'd think it would depend more on the person's behavior than the type of surgery whether there is regain, wouldn't it? 

Wouldn't following the rules and eating according to plan work with either surgery, and not following the rules/staying on plan lead to regain despite the surgery?

Sorry if this is a dumb question.

Kathy

Not a dumb question and your answer is perfect.  People find their lost weight when they stop eating according to their post-op plan.  Any surgery can be easily out-eaten. 

There is a very difficult period for most RNY patients.  Because we have malabsorption at first, it is easy to get complacent about eating during the first few years.  For me, malabsorption went away with a "bang" at 30 months out.  I started to gain a pound a week.

After twelve weeks and twelve pounds of regain, I accepted that I had to cut calories and increase exercise to stop gaining and lose the excess weight again.  RNY makes it easier and faster to lose at first.  After a few years, there is only restriction and weight loss is purely from eating less.

With VSG, there is no period of malabsorption.  Every calorie counts from day one.  Weight loss is probably harder for VSG then it was for me with RNY's malabsorption.  From what I have watched through the years, many people lose 100 pounds after surgery and regain 20 pounds after two years.  Many people look too skinny during year two.  Almost nobody is too skinny after year three.

Thank you, White Dove. 

Kathy

You are right, it is much, much, much more dependent on behavior than surgery type. and your friend is not only wrong, she has it backwards to boot.

Most studies show that RNY has better weight loss at the one and two year marks than VSG. At the five year mark, RNY is still slightly better, but the difference is pretty negligible. At five years, it's almost entirely based on how well you modify your behavior, and not the surgery.

There are a lot of people here on OH that have lost all their excess weight, and have kept it off long term with both RNY and VSG. There are also plenty of people, with both surgeries, who have regained most of their lost weight. But you won't find them hanging around here.

Thank you!

I read some of those studies and wondered what my friend was talking about. 

Kathy

preach grim!!! Amen to that!

That's why you guys are stuck with me! I plan to be here for the long haul! 

Regain is possible with ANY surgery. You have to realize that weight loss surgery is not magic and make a promise to yourself to do what it takes to not only lose the weight, but keep it off, no matter which surgery you chose.

Hi, thanks.  I know it's not magic, but wouldn't it be nice if it was? :-)  Seriously though, I know it will be a lot of hard work to change my behavior and relationship with food.

*The edit option only came up on this for me after I replied to my own message.  Before that, when I clicked on the MORE button below the message, the only options that showed were report and quote.  After I replied, the edit and delete options came up.  Why would that happen, lol?

Wouldn't, not woudn't, and if it, not it it.  Why can I edit some messages but for others, the edit option never comes up for me to click on?