Third International Summit: current status of sleeve gastrectomy

After reading so many posts on the forum, and learning all the wide variations in surgery technique that are used to do this surgery, I can't help but wonder if any valid comparisons can be made across the board with this surgery. I anxiously look forward to statistics that can be compiled by the SF group using a standardized technique. My understanding is that they actually pioneered this surgery, and my guess is, they have larger numbers of actual cases, and better follow up than any other group. I realize that Dr. Alvarez does a large number of VSGs also, but follow up might be problematic for studies done from his case load. I have often thought that this surgery would emerge as a vast improvement over other weight loss surgeries, but the wide array of variations that are seen with size, shape, and other factors, may skew the data so completely and cloud the issue to the degree that many people who might have been helped by this wt loss tool will not get valid information and be able to make the best decision for their wt loss. I'm sure that this has all been said before, but allow me to vent my frustrations as well.

I agree that the degree of restriction is about more than just the bougie size.  I had a 40 bougie but my surgeon very tightly staple which he says may give me more restriction than some with a 32 or 34.  From personal experience I know I have ALOT of restriction...  At 11 mos I can get in 3 1/2 oz of cottage cheese and I am full for 4 hours!!  I also agree with what the others were staying about making the right choices...  My wt loss was very fast and then halted 3 months ago until I majorly decresed my carbs and went back to protein 1st... with my level of restriction there is NO room after the protein is in!  That kick started my wt loss again.   I think those numbers they quote are pretty great for a procedure that is not malabbsorptive!!!  Also that includes people of all different starting BMI's with different amounts of patient education, different diets, and vastly different sleeve sizes/shapes.   Just my thoughts...   Amy