Question:
My sister is an opera singer , does wls bpd/ds interfear with singing ?

This is one of her major concerns, when you sing you need to use your diaframe. (not sure that's spelled right) Anyway, she wants to sing professionaly,she is aware that it will take time to heal. Are there any singers out there who have had any type of wl surgery, what is your experience with that? Thank you -Becky Adair-    — Becky A. (posted on July 6, 2002)

July 5, 2002
Actually, being an operatic singer will help her recovery. The diaphragm is not cut during the surgery and people are encouraged to do deep breathing exercises to keep from getting pneumonia and to help move out the phlegm that builds up during intubation. The DS will not interfere with her ability to sing. However, I do understand that weight loss itself may change the timbre slightly (thus the image of opera singers being a tad heftier than most others). However, such weight loss has not proven harmful for Jennifer Holliday, Carnie Wilson, or other singers who have lost weight and sustained it.
   — merri B.

July 6, 2002
I am not a singer, however, there are several professional singers in my support group and they actually spoke about this in last months meeting. They actually said that although it didn't effect their voice, they had to wait several weeks out to start again due to the tube being down your throat during the operation. They said is was abbout 6-8 weeks for full recovery and vocal range.
   — heathercross

July 6, 2002
Hello Becky =) To get right to the point, I have the same fears as your sister. I have nearly changed my mind over having the surgery several times due to this fear. I am a Gospel singer/musician, and have been singing in church since the ripe ol' age of two. =) I want you to know that MANY times in the past when I have dieted, it HAS affected my voice drastically. It is not so much the voice it affects, but the power you need to project when you have a powerful voice such as a Gospel singer or an Opera singer. This is not ordinary singing. It is having to not only use your diaphram to the full extent, but the strength needed from food and water is essential. I am very concerned that I will not be able to get enough nutrition to sing at top speed, as I feel faint very easily when I diet and try to sing. However, I am wondering if as things get better and one starts feeling stronger after surgery, (being able to hold down more food, etc.) if this issue would right itself. I have read the bio's of people that run for miles, since they have had WLS and lost the excess weight. If one can gain enough strength to do that, then I imagine the strength would return enough to sing your type of music. I look at it this way...I would die if I could no longer sing. BUT, if I do not do something about my excess weight, I am going to die anyway. At least by having the surgery, I have a chance to succeed at both. Without it, I don't know how long my lungs will cooperate. (Severe Asthmatic) Please have your sister email me. I would love to discuss this with her, as I have the same fears, and I truly DO understand where she is coming from.
   — ScatCat

July 6, 2002

   — Danna B.

July 7, 2002
Dear Becky, I am a professional opera singer/classical voice & choral instructor with 3 degrees in Voice/Music. I had this surgery on June 3, 2002 - Open RNY. I am only about 5 weeks out, but had my full voice intact within a couple of weeks. I told the anesthe. doctor about my career, and he used a smaller tube, and was very careful about running it past the vocal folds placing it in and pulling it out. The lower abdominal muscles were unaffected by the surgery, and the diaphragm muscle is not cut...just the upper abdominals above the belly button. I am singing as well as before - as the weight changes though, the thickness of the vocal folds will change...as they thin down, the timbre of the voice will also become less thick than before. Her voice type and classification may change down the road. As long as she sings only when she is supported - her voice should be fine assuming no difficulties with anesthesia. Best wishes to her - it is the best thing I could do for myself!! I'd do it again in a heartbeat!! Write if you have any other questions - I'm happy to share whatever to help out. Email address: [email protected]
   — Deb K.