Hello!

I have been reading posts and find them all to be very helpful. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I am 5'0" tall and weigh around 153 lbs. My weight does fluctuate between BMI 29 and 30. In April of 2011, I was diagnosed with prediabetes and have not had to be on meds yet. My joints are painful (hips, knees and ankles are the worst). Has anyone had VSG surgery with the same starting BMI as me? Please tell me how much weight you were able to lose, how long it took and who your doctor was and the cost of surgery.  I have been battling my weight since my "baby" (who is now 7 years old) was born! I am tired of gaining and losing the same 50 lbs. I know myself well enough and it is time to do something to help me keep my weight under control. My normal weight (before kids and in my 20's) was around 105 lbs. HELP!!!

 I wasn't self-pay, but I just wanted to offer some support.  If you have 50 or 250 pounds to lose, having a tool, like the sleeve is a blessing.  My best advice is to straighten out you head, if you haven't done the mental work already.  Most WLS tools work wonders if you are willing to put in the work.

I am fighting my 20 year old baby gain.  Ha ha not really.....I have been pretty much overweight since hitting puberty.  Good luck! 

Hi Melly37 -

You're so right about having the right mindset! I am currently working with a wonderful therapist.

Thanks for your reply. Best wishes to you.

 Hi, there is a forum for light weights who may help you better. They are people who have 100lbs or less to loose. I am also considered a light weight but, I had a starting bmi of 42, so I think some others may help you out more. Good luck.

Hello ND2BTHN,

I have looked into the lightweights group too. Thank you and good luck to you on your journey.

I started with a BMI of 31 and lost 55 lbs.  My surgeon is Dr Cirangle in San Francisco, CA.  I self paid and the surgeon, hospital and anesthesia were $17,300.   There were additional costs for lab, chest X-ray, EKG and Upper GI.  Not all surgeons will operate on a low BMI, which is one reason I picked Dr Cirangle.  

It took me about 9 months to get to my goal weight.  Since then, I've gained about 7 lbs which I am working on losing (again).  I feel so much better after losing my weight, lowered my BP and got off BP meds.  No joint pains now.  

I had my surgery at 57, so as a younger woman you might lose quicker than I did.  I had been overweight all my life too and love being a thinner person.  I would highly recommend this surgery to anyone.  

Let me know if you have specific questions; I'd be happy to anyswer anything than I can.  

Hi Birdie55 -

I used to live in the SF Bay area peninsula! Your pre-surgery stats are a similar to mine. I have recently been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (insulin resistance) and have been put on Metformin, a diabetic drug. My other labs (cholesterol, BP, heart echocardiogram) were all perfect.ly healthy. Part of the weight gain was due to the metabolic syndrome. But I'm tired of gaining/losing the same 35-45 pounds. The yo-yo in weight cannot be healthy. Thank you for sharing your experience with me.

Best of luck to you always.

 My BMI was 35 and I weighed about 196 lbs. I am 5'2" and was 57 when I had the surgery. Dr. Cirangle was my surgeon. I was self-pay and it cost around $17,000. My insurance covered all the pre-op testing. It took me about 7 months to lose all my weight. My goal was 115. It was the best decision ever and it was really easy for me to lose the weight and to keep it off. I think that you will find that if you do choose surgery and follow the plan given to you by a nutritionist that it will be a really healthy decision for you as well. Good luck.

Hello Cece58 ~

Wow, great job on meeting your goal weight! You go, GURL!!! A nutritionist will definitely be helpful.
I'm surprised your insurance didn't cover your procedure for you.  :(   But I am very happy for you to have been able to self-pay.

Best wishes.

if you just 153 pds i would not have wls and if any doctor does do the surgery they are doing it for the money and not think of your health I wish i was 153 pds Just try your best to do it on your own it can be done you dont have much to lose good luck and god bless

She is only 5'0" and meets the BMI - I am 169 and 5'4" so just barely meeting the BMI - tired of fighting it and the older I get the harder it is  All my friends are dead set against me having the sleeve done but it's my body not theirs just as it is her decision here as well

Hello Ladyridraz -

Thanks for your post and I hope all is well for you!!

Take Care.

Hi Peeches35 -

I understand your reasoning and do appreciate your feeback. It's been an up and down battle the last 7 years with my weight. I want a tool to help me reach my goal and stay there. I am willing to put in the hard work and dedication. I don't think the fluctuation in weight is healthy.

I hope you meet your goal weight soon and best wishes for continued success in your journey.

Honestly, nothing wrong with getting sleeved at BMI 30. If you have tried diet and exercise and it doesn't work, and you have some health issues, then this is a great tool. Dr. Cirangle is one of the only docs I know of in the U.S. to do sleeve surgery on BMI under 35. Most of the doctors in Mexico have no problem doing a sleeve on someone BMI of 29/30.

Hi Curiouskat:

I contacted Dr. Cirangle's office. The office manager said they evaluate the patients candidacy status via case-by-base. I hope they will accept me. I have been put on Metformin for metabolic syndrome (pre-diabetes.) I need to nip the situation in the bud, before it gets any worse! The last 7 years have been a wild roller coaster ride.


Take care and thank you for your post. Good luck to you always.

I know my doc in Mexico (Dr. Ortiz) works on lower BMI patients 30 and above. My sister only has a BMI of 32 and is getting sleeved in MX next week, but like you she has battled the same 50-60 pounds since adolescence. Good Luck! I think Dr. Ortiz is around $7000 self-pay...I paid more 'cause I was a revsision from lapband. :)

Hi AngelaAnn -

You're so pretty!! Thank you for your response. It feels good to know I'm not the only one struggling with weight and how it has yo-yoed up and down through the years.

Best wishes for you.

Hi ThinOrCurvyWoman, i am schedule to have VSG this coming 7/19 with Dr. Alejandro Lopez in Puerto Vallarta, self-pay.  Im a bit smaller than you 4'11 and I weight 158.  I am excited and nervous, but cant wait to start see my self to weight 119 lbs. again.

Hi Noelria:

Wow - that 's very exciting (and nerve-wracking) to hear that you're having surgery in 4 days!
Congratulations and I sincerely hope everything goes well and you'll be looking HOT, HOT, HOT
asap!!!   ;)

My weight before (3) babies hovered around 108-113. I will be fine with 120, lol!! But now the youngest "baby" is 7.

Please update us on your surgery experience and I will cheer you on as much as I can!

Best wishes.

My sis and I were sleeved almost 3 weeks ago by Dr Aceves in Mexicali. She had a BMI of 32 and was warned to not lose weight before surgery as he won't operate if your BMI is under 30. So - while I ate "all protein, all the time" for my pre-op diet, she had a highly enjoyable series of food funerals and gained 4# before surgery.

Cost was $8,750 and worth every . single . penny.