how much weight can you lose with the verticle sleeve gastrectomy ?

I lost 135 lbs in the first 10 mos and have been able to easily maintain that loss since. I was not a lightweight when I started.
I weighed 263 at the started and being only 5 ft tall that put my BMI at over 51. I was also 52 years old at the time of surgery.
As far as pain and recovery went mine was pretty much pain free. I had surgery (in Mexico) on Friday morning, the did the last 2 leak tests (1st 2 in surgery) on Saturday, IV came out Satruday night, I was out of the hospital on Sunday and took no pain meds once I left the hospital. I flew home Monday morning. I went back to work about a week later (actually 10 days as it was a  holiday weekend).
I went from being pretty much a couch potato to becoming an avid hiker.
I had my surgery in Jun 08. In Jan 10 I completed a half-marathon (walking)  13.1 miles in just over 3 hrs 14 minutes for an overall average of 15 minutes per mile.
I hike pretty much everyday and will be hiking the Grand Canyon next month.
While some folks suggest RNY because "dumping" will "teach" you not to eat sweets you need to know that not all folks with RNY dump so you cannot count on that anyway. With RNY while you do have malabsorbtion to "help" with the weight loss the malabsorbtion of calories fades after a while but the malabsorbtion of vitamins and minerals etc goes on forever so you might want to consider that as well when making your decision.
The good and bad news with the sleeve is that I can eat pretty much whatever I want so the choices are mine to make.

Once I had all the facts regarding WLS, the sleeve was the only choice that made sense to me. . . I had only discomfort for the gas used during surgery, and 12 hours after surgery, was comfortable managing that with Gas-X strips alone.

Best wishes as you make your decision.

I started at 338lbs. and have lost 160lbs in eleven and a half months.

frisco

I've lost 123 pounds in less than a year and I'm 3 pounds away from my goal weight.

I started Jan 8th @ 383+. Now @ 243 lbs & still losing. I want to lose about 65 more.I LOVE my sleeve.

I tyhink alot.  Ihave lost over 200

Missyeye,,,,WOW.....Conrats to you !!!!    Thats what I want to hear !!!  I need to lose 185 to reach my goal !!   My doctor say's that my goal is to high but I KNOW I can do it with weight loss surgery.  Just having trouble choosing which surgery !  

I think for me setting a very "reasonable" goal was really important.  Where I am now just seemed to impossiable.  So I set one that was more attainable for me.  My doctor set it actually and I agreed.

Misseye, I want to ask you one more thing,,,Did you have to have 2 surgerys with the VSG ?   I do not want to go through this twice.    I weigh about 380lbs  and want to lose about 175

I had lost 163 lbs, and kept it off for two years. This past summer, I got too busy and just quit exercising. NOT a good choice. I gained 11 lbs. I've gotten back into the exercise routine again, and actually realize how much I missed it. I've always exercised, even when my heaviest, so, from this point on, I'll never stop again. I feel SO much better back in the routine, and the weight is again coming back off. 6 more to go. I am almost 3 years out, and that's the peak time I am seeing we need to recommit ourselves. I am recommitted and moving my buns! Good luck. You can do it.

sue