Why is surgery not a good option for active bingers?

This! Read GeekMonster's post over and over again. Drink in every word and really consider the depth of what she writes. She nails it. 

I was 3 years out before getting help for my eating issues (disorders). While I may have been a volume eater prior to VSG, I easily transitioned to a grazer to get the fixes I wanted. 

Because it won't always be painful to overeat...and it's super EASY to overeat on slider foods like chips, ice cream (anything liquid actually) and sugar products.  Sure, in the past you may have "binged" on a dozen donuts.  Post-op you may only be able to eat 1-2 but that's still a binge for your tiny little tummy.  Here's another fact:  you can eat alllllll day long, just not a lot at any one time.  Which is still bingeing and will guarantee failure.  And the thinking errors and addictive behaviors associated with bingeing don't go away with the surgery - trust me, I'm there right now and battling significant regain because of my eating disorder.  

If you're a compulsive overeater then you should recognize that your disordered eating behavior has very little to do with actual food.  Food is just your drug of choice to push down all those uncomfortable thoughts and feelings.  Some people use drugs, booze, sex or work.  We use food.  And the surgery DOES NOT fix that!  It does not magically change your drug of choice. And it doesn't dramatically fix your life so you no longer have **** to deal with.  

My best advice:  work on your emotional issues first and I mean really WORK!  Then you'll be in a good position to have surgery and be successful.  Unlike my SIL who has had TWO weight-loss surgeries, never did the mental work, and still weighs almost 300 lbs.  She never got to goal, she never lost even half her excess weight and she's in worse shape now then when she started having the surgeries. 

Thank you for all of the replies; it is the reality check I needed.  I have an appointment for an informational seminar with a Seattle-area surgeon (I had mentioned in another thread that I was seriously considering Mexico) next week and am going to continue to work with my dietician on my emotional eating/BED.  I recognize that it has very little to do with food and most everything to do with my difficulty handling emotions.  I still think the sleeve could be a tool that works for me, but want to get the bingeing under control first.

I just want to let you know that I struggle with exactly this issue. I too am a binge eater, and after many years of unsuccessfully undergoing treatment related to my relationship with food, I made the decision to turn to bariatric surgery as a means physically restricting my ability to take in large quantities of food. Fear and pain are big motivators for me. I'm very frustrated because my surgeon, understandably, will not proceed with my approval process until I once again enter therapy related to BED. I understand and accept the rationale for getting the binge eating under control prior to surgery. It's just that I have been dealing with this unsuccessfully for decades and there's very little chance of me having any kind of epiphany regarding using food as a comfort and companion. So now, everything is on hold, and I'm losing my momentum. I've not binged for 3 weeks and have stuck to the dietician's guidelines faithfully, but, I guess I feel like ultimately surgery is not going to be an option for me. I truly believe I need the restriction as a means to help me control the urge to binge. The weight management team is requiring something from me that's just not going to happen.... I have to admit to being both relieved, and disappointed. Best of luck to you. One of the best things about this board is reading about all of the people who despite their fears and misgivings take the brave plunge anyway, and are tremendously grateful and successful on the other side.