Question:
Has anyone here weighing over 335lbs

had the lap procedure done?    — [Anonymous] (posted on June 17, 2001)

June 17, 2001
I weighed 325 lbs., my husband weighed 350 lbs., and our daughter weighed 406 lbs. at the times of our lap RNY surgeries. We had uneventful, uncomplicated procedures....2 day hospitalizations, no ICU, no tubes/drains, no external sutures or staples. Experience and expertise on the part of the surgeon play a critical role in the ability to perform a lap surgery on patients weighing in excess of 350 lbs. Our surgeon has successfully performed lap WLS on patients weighing 550-600 lbs. Take time to research all your options carefully when selecting a surgeon. There are many fine qualified bariatric surgeons who can meet your needs. Best wishes!
   — Diana T.

June 17, 2001
I was 360lbs at the time of my Lap BPD/DS. The DS is a more surgically demanding procedure than RNY and my surgeon was the first in the world to do so lap (I was his 7th lap DS!). He has done RNY and DS surgeries on people up to 800 lbs, but I must stress he is a world famous laparascopic surgeon. Some surgeons have 300 lb cut offs because they are primarily bariatric surgeons -- NOT laparascopic surgeons. They do not feel comfortable enough to take on challenging cases. IMHO if I wanted laparascopic surgery, I would stick with a lap surgeon. If the surgeon is more comfortable with open surgery (and his cut off of 300 lbs pretty much tells you this), I would stick with open.
   — Jill L.

June 17, 2001
A friend of mine who was 408 lbs had the LAP done. Her name is Vera Kessler. You should check out her profile!
   — [Anonymous]

June 17, 2001
I was at least 330lbs when I had surgery. Per my surgeon it just depends on where the fat is distributed.
   — Dawn H.