Bougie size???
Not a dumb question at all.....
A properly made 32f Sleeve starts out with approx. 2oz. of capacity and matures to approx. double it's capacity.....4oz.
A bougie size 10 numbers bigger...... a 42f can end up 4x larger in capacity because more of the stretchy tissue is retained.......think under or over 16oz.
Many on this forum with 36f-38f sleeves commonly claim 6-12oz. capacity.
Constant over eating puts positive internal pressure in the sleeve. This is about the only way to stretch a sleeve.
You can lose weight on any of the sizes that have been noted. You can maintain on any of those sizes listed. Statistically....smaller well made sleeves have a lower percentage of long term regain.
There are a few here that have done EXCELLENT with larger sleeves....meaning numbers in the 40's
Also.....you can eat around any size sleeve or any WLS for that matter.
Patient commitment and compliance is most important.
frisco
SW 338lbs. GW 175lbs. Goal in 11 months. CW 148lbs. WL 190lbs.
" To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art "
VSG Maintenance Group Forum
http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/VSGM/discussion/
CAFE FRISCO at LapSF.com
Dr. Paul Cirangle
It is true that on average a 40 bougie will be higher capacity than a 32 bougie. On the other hand, if I have a tightly sewn 40f that is a sleeve from top to the bottom of the stomach (which I do) and Joe Othersleever had a 32f that the surgeon started a couple centimeters from the top and bottom (which they often do) or stapled loosely to the bougie (which they often do), my 40f stomach will be SMALLER than his 32f stomach.
In other words, the technique isn't standardized, so neither are the results. I have a 40f. At 7 1/2 months, I can eat less than 2 oz of dense protein and no more than 3.5 ounces of a soft food like my protein pudding. I see folks on here all the time with 32f or 34f sleeves eating 3-4 oz of chicken at 3 months.
No simple answer.
Highest weight: 335 lbs, BMI 50.9
Pre-op weight: 319 lbs, BMI 48.5
Current range: 140-144, BMI 21.3 - 22
175+ lbs lost, maintaining since February 2012
Lucy 
(Imma Loser!)
HW 335 SW 311 CW 181.2 -- Goals: Twoderville - 6/7/11, 280 - 7/1/11, 260 - 8/1/11, 240 - 10/30/11 Centry Club - 11/22/11, 220 - 12/27/11 Onederland - 5/25/12, 180 - , 170 (surgeons goal) -
We shall see where this leads...
Mom4Jazz,
That was a GREAT answer !!!
The VSG is not standardized and that's why results can be so varied. One should choose a VSG surgeon based on that particular surgeons results and data.
I also think that the aftercare and education plays a big part in long term success. If you just get surgery and rely on restriction......your gonna be in trouble.....
One huge problem with this forum is that there is a high rate of people that drop off at about the six month mark..... Sure some of them get what they need and get on with life and do well.
I don't know for sure..... I am guessing a high percentage of those people don't do so good for one reason or another and we don't get to follow them and really get a true sampling of results. The ones that seem to stay longer are mostly the ones that have done well......
frisco.......... Joe Othersleever (I wish I woulda thought of that !!!!)
SW 338lbs. GW 175lbs. Goal in 11 months. CW 148lbs. WL 190lbs.
" To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art "
VSG Maintenance Group Forum
http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/VSGM/discussion/
CAFE FRISCO at LapSF.com
Dr. Paul Cirangle
Trouble is most people in the early stage of the journey really have no idea on whether their sleeve will be small enough or not, because all studies show, similar weight loss up to the 2 yr point even for those that surgeons do not use any calorbration. (so big sleeve or not)
Its after the 2 yr mark that they start seeing a significant change.. Alot of surgeons havent had the patients for over 2 yrs because 2 yrs ago they were only just starting to have more insurance companies allowing the sleeve..
as frisco states by the time 2 yrs is up alot of the people have left oh and moved on, so not even with having been on OH for 2.5 yrs since surgery do we get a indicator of whether there is a big number of patients with regain or not...
But it has been in recent months that more and more patients are showing up on the failed boards or the revision boards with sleeves, looking for a revision to either rny or Ds..
6lbs under goal weight
Join US On The VSG Maintenance Group Forum!!
http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/VSGM/discussion/
I think its often a subject that does not get talked about on here enough, is that yes there are people that vsg does not work for, regardless of their bougie size.. in fact i read a study tonight saying that even people with a dilated sleeve does not deem that they will have regain.. infact the people that had showed up with a dilated sleeve.. some were among the highest in EWL in the study. against those that had not had a stretched sleeve...
i find it all very interesting lol...
6lbs under goal weight
Join US On The VSG Maintenance Group Forum!!
http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/VSGM/discussion/
Great points mini.......
There are many components and variables to any ones success in any WLS.
With the VSG being non standardized, it compounds the variables. I actually had a fairly in depth conversation with Dr. Jossart about this and his frustrations about lack of standards.
LapSF may be holding some of the only long term data on record for the VSG. The problem is.....the information probably won't transfer to other surgeons unless they are doing a similar procedure.
I think one reason I respond to these bougie threads is because many people over the last two years have PM'ed me or posted....wishing they had a smaller sleeve because they claim they can eat a lot. Sure, in general...they shouldn't be eating that much....but we are talking about food sensitive addicts here.
The worst is when I get a PM that says " I saw your pictures and because of your results.......I decided to get the VSG" Than they go to a VSG surgeon that doesn't do a comparable procedure. Than six months after surgery.....they are gone.....never to be heard from again....That to me is sad and I feel like I'm duping people into getting the VSG.
Since all the newer VSG surgeons have appeared there seem to be a lot more sleeves in the 40's
The evolution in the last 10 years of the VSG and the DS has been to reduce the sleeve size....not increase it.
frisco
SW 338lbs. GW 175lbs. Goal in 11 months. CW 148lbs. WL 190lbs.
" To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art "
VSG Maintenance Group Forum
http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/VSGM/discussion/
CAFE FRISCO at LapSF.com
Dr. Paul Cirangle
