Question:
Will I need another surgery if I get the VBG?

I have heard that you will gain the weight back after a VBG. then it gets revised to a RNY. So if I chose VBG am I wasting my money and time? I want to do this right. Im confused.    — laucol (posted on September 3, 1999)

September 3, 1999
It does not matter if you get a VGA or a RNY as far as if you will gain your weight back. They are both just a tool that will help you lose you weight . You can eat around either of them and put your weight back on if you do not do somewhat that you are told. It is all up to the person that gets the surgery. We are all different.Hope this helps you chose what is right for you. I have the RNY.
   — Patricia B.

September 3, 1999
Well VBG is not my first choice for WLS. The failure rate after 3-5 years is just too high. It is a quicker and safer operation initially though.
   — Bruce B.

September 4, 1999
If youre looking at pure statistics..the failure rate on the VGB is greater than the RNY. haven't seen many RNY's here who have had to go back for another surgery, but I would suppose that is because the RNY they do now hasn't been around as long as the VGB. I DO know that there are LOTS of VGB's here who have gone back for revision...to think either surgery is a fix all end all is telling yourself a fairy tale..this is a new way of life..and we have to live it forever.... De
   — Deanna D.

September 4, 1999
Hi Laurie- I believe you should do your own reseach because it is your body- but I will tell you what I have found- You lose MORE weight with RNY for two reasons-1) The stomach is made surgically smaller not mechanically so no risk of slippage and 2) because part of the intestine is bypass patients have trouble eating unhealthy amounts of fat and sugar because it makes you phisically sick. I have personal knowledge of a woman who had vbg who lost alot of weight initially but within three years she weighs what she did before surgery because all of her meals are high fat and sugar and her stomach stretched back to near normal displacing the band. I'm sure this really sounds bias (probably because I plan on have rny and have done alot of research) but if you are going to get your stomach opened up anyway- why notr do the more successful of the two surgeries?
   — Paula S.

September 5, 1999
There is another surgery out there that we (the postops) feel is much more superior that either of the above-mentioned procedures. check out the website. www.duodenalswitch.com
   — Kris S.

September 5, 1999
Undoubtedly you were told this by someone who had RNY. IT IS NOT TRUE! VBG is a very reliable from of WLS.It works for most people very well. RNY, like VBG, is not fool proof. If you are determined enough, you can eat through them both.My next door neighbor had VBG 19 years ago and has maintained her loss for 19 years at 140 pounds with out exercising. My mother's best friend had RNY 5 years ago and has gained back up to 300 pounds. She abuses her tool. I have lost 151 pounds in 14 months and continue to lose. The best thing to do is talk to a surgeon that does both forms of WLS. That way the advise they give you os not based on money. THey will get your money no matter what wls they reccomend. It should be based on your eating pattern. If you are sweet sugar eater, RNY may be best. If you are a volume eater like I was then the restrictive quality of the VBG is what you need. It should also be based on your future plans and age. Do you plan o have children? Can you live with the strict vitamin regimen? How old are you? Are you willing to deal with mal-absorption? These are all things to consider. Good Luck!! Remember that people want to beleive that they picked the best form of WLS. Most have done what is best for them. What is good for one os not good for every one. We have a surgeon in Houston, Texas that performs both RNY and VBG. His wife and 3 daughters have all had VBG. That says alot to me. :))
   — Donna D.

April 20, 2000
I just wanted to add an update to Donna's answer about a surgeon here in Houston who does both VBG and RNY and whose wife/daughters all had VBG. Just this month one of his daughters had her VBG revised to a lap RNY. I am NOT saying this happens to every VBG'er, I'm just wanting to be true to the spirit of the question, which wonders about VBG needing to be revised to RNY. It CAN happen... love and peace...
   — Tricia C.