Question:
Is there anyone who has had success with VBG and keeping the weight off?

I am having VBG in Sept. and I would like to know if there are success stories, short term and long term with this procedure. This is the only surgery I feel 100% comfortable with and I need some possitive feedback here! Thanks so much!!    — Patti B. (posted on August 22, 1999)

August 23, 1999
I have been very successful. I had vbg 13 months ago and have lost 151 pounds. I am still losing slowy and am very happy. I have also started a support group in Houston. You are not far. Please e-mail me for more info. We have lots of poeple from every Dr. in Houston. We only have VBG people at our meetings and there are even some poeple from Angleton. We would love to see you at a meeting. The next meeting is September 12.
   — Donna D.

August 23, 1999
I have NEVER heard anyone who has successfully kept weight off for very long after a VBG. Most of us are compulsive eaters and will resume old habits eventually, I am sorry to say. For me the Roux En Y gastric bypass is the best method. It is a combination of stomach stapling and stomach bypass. the bypass provides some malabsorption therefore IF you start eating crummy again, which is inevitable in about 95% of dieters, the malabsorption will be your friend. It IS a drastic step to take butfor me it was the answer. I have had no major problems with the malabsorption factor. I do not know the long term affects but I do have a friend who is 20 years post op and she is doing fine. I am 4 years post op and doing great!!!
   — Cathy H.

August 23, 1999
I want to be positive because I am sure there are people who have been successful with the VBG. I however was not one of them. In my opinion you still need an awful lot of willpower, and if I had that I would not have needed surgery in the first place. Think about what you are doing and realy look into some of the bypass procedures. They are not so bad and they work a lot better. I don't want you to end up having more than one surgery like many who have had the VBG and then have it revised to a bypass like I did. Good luck.
   — Kim C.

August 23, 1999
Patti, everyone has a different response, but it seems that overwhelmingly, VBG is not effective long term. My dear friend had VBG 6 years ago. She never lost much weight and gained back (plus more) what she did lose. But if sweets are not an issue for you, it might be the right choice. For myself RNY is the best choice. Good luck.
   — Aimee M.