Question:
Anyone else had laproscopic WLS and started out over 500lbs?

I was told by my sister, who is also researching WLS, that most surgeons won't do laproscopic surgery on someone as large as I am (500lbs..maybe slightly over) Not that I wouldn't have the surgery done if I had to go the open route, but would like to have it laproscopically if at all possible. Just wondering if anyone else has run into that problem.    — ImANewDee (posted on May 13, 2002)

May 13, 2002
I was told the same as Jenny posted previously. I started at 357 pounds and my surgeon would not do lap.
   — Dona R.

May 13, 2002
Just a thought, but if I'm not mistaken, my surgeon has done lap procedures on very large patients. I'm not certain how large, and I know sometimes because of complications he does have to convert to open, but I believe he said that he has done plenty of lap procedures on "high risk" patients, including the heaviest. He has TONS of experience with lap procedures. I see you are in Michigan. I'm not sure how far Saginaw is, but if you really have your heart set on lap, you may want to check out my surgeon in Chicago.You can check my profile and use the link to get the info, or email if you want his info. My surgeon's name is Dr. John Alverdy at the University of Chicago Hospitals. Good luck! Maria
   — Maria H.

May 13, 2002
It really depends on the skill of your surgeon and how your weight is distributed. I was over 400 at my initial consult and my surgeon said having lap anything would be no big deal. I was 375 the day of my surgery and had no complications during the Lap rny, only a couple of red incisions! I have lost 30 lbs in less than three weeks and my incisions are almost invisible! Just as a note--my BMI was 67 at my initial consult about 63 the day of surgery! It can be done!
   — jenn2002

May 13, 2002
My surgeon is Dr. J.K. Champion of Atlanta, GA. He is internationally known for his expertise in the field of laparascopic WLS and has performed over 1000 bariatric surgeries. He has performed lap WLS on patients weighing up to 600 lbs. and has the longer instruments required to perform that level of surgery. As all reputable surgeons should do, he also informs his patients that there are no guarantees, and that they might wake up with an "open" incison if he encounters any problems. Four of us in our family have now had successful and completely uneventful lap RNYs with Dr. Champion (my daughter weighed 406 at the time of her surgery). If you are interested in further information, his web site is www.drchampion.com. Good luck!
   — Diana T.

May 14, 2002
Hi...I was 430lbs the day of my surgery...I had it done lap....as of today I have lost over 100lbs since jan 23 of 2002...no complications...
   — tylerswife

May 14, 2002
I was 407 lbs. when I had my surgery. My doctor said I was "too big" to have it done lap, so I now have a 12" scar down my belly. Would I do it again? Absolutely! But I would have definitely tried to find a doctor who could do lap on us super obese people. Depending on the skill of the surgeon, it is possible, although visibility is not as good on a super-large person.
   — Terissa R.

May 14, 2002
I weighed 436 lbs going in with a BMI of 63 and any surgeons anywhere near where I live said anyone with a BMI of over 50 weren't eligible for lap. So i had open 10 weeks ago. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I have now lost 68 lbs. Laps may be great if that is an option, and according to below posters, there are a few surgeons capable of doing laps on heavier people, but if that isn't an option for where you are, I would highly recommend getting the open as soon as you can. Also, one concern I had with laps, is that a lot of those getting lap RNY's, the surgeon only staples accross the stomach instead of transecting (cutting the stomach in two). The advantage of transecting is that you have zero chance of a staple disruption, which can be somewhat common where only the stomach is stapled into 2 compartments, and require additional revision surgery to correct.
   — Dell H.