Is it worth the risk?

 I'm contemplating getting weight loss surgery. Today I ran across this quote ...  

Life is too short not to take risks!!! Risk it all and you could just get it all!!! author unknown

yes. But research. read and read some more. And get VSG or DS.  Please....

Oh my---you DO have some researching ahead of you! And DO NOT get the surgeon until you've done that research and decided on a procedure. Then, and only then, choose a surgeon highly skilled in doing THAT procedure.

The VSG is also called the Sleeve. It's a subtotal gastrectomy---roughly 85% of the stomach is completely removed from the body, never to trouble you again. You're left with a much smaller, yet still fully-functional STOMACH. (Unlike the man-made 'pouch' created in the RNY/gastric bypass.)
It's a restriction-only procedure---it simply limits the amount of food you can eat at one time. It will NOT keep you from grazing all day, or choosing to eat an unhealthy diet.

The DS/duodenal switch has the same stomach, plus an intestinal bypass that creates PERMANENT malabsorption of a portion of the calories you eat. (The gastric bypass creats temporary malabsorption of calories, lasting about 24 months.) This is the reason that the Ds has the very BEST long-term, maintained weight loss for patients of all sizes, but especially for those with BMIs greater than 50.

Given how much weight you need to lose, I strongly urge you to look at the DS. You can learn more about it here www.obesityhelp.com/forums/ds/ and here www.dsfact.com .

 I know the types of surgery's, just didn't know the nickname for those.  I've never been good with nicknames. I'm a military wife and I'm still learning the abbreviations for all the enlisted and Officers.  It's been 5yrs and I still don't have those down. 

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Question, what is VSG or DS ? 
Types of surgery...check:  http://www.obesityhelp.com/content/wlsurgery.html

LapBand
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
Vertical Banded Gastroplasty
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
Duodenal Switch
Biliopancreatic Diversion

And there we go..   check them ans ask questions.  RNY (the bypass) - many people had that... (I did) but DS offers the most chances to keep the weight off post op...   long term... I would have that or VSG if I could do it again (for the first time).
Many people RNY will tell you they are happy.... but long term a lot of us have significat regains and are back on a very strict diet... plus so many other issues... too  many  to mention..

DS will have its own issue... so the VSG...

The Band - has such a high complication rate % that most peoplewill tell you to stay far, far, far away from that...


check:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4472992/Its-the-most- wonderful-time-of-the-year/#37003100


 or : (from Elizabeth N.)

PREOP? READ THESE LINKS!
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/ds/4280788/Repost-Request-Advice-for-Pre-Ops-with-Links/
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/3463340/US-vs-THEM-Wh y-I-chose-my-surgery/
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/3736599/ATTENTION-EAR LY-OUTS-Yes-You-WILL-Stall/
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4265423/PRE-OPS-Never -had-surgery-Heres-what-to-expect/

 Thanks :) I know the types of surgerys, just don't know all the abbreviations to them.  

I just wanted to clarify and correct your statement regarding high complication rate with the band, sadly, if the band is tighten beyond the recommended amount for long periods of time, it will cause all sorts of issues such as... frequent vomiting, band slippage, erosion, constant reflux, damaged esophagus and ultimately band removal....unfortunately the band has a very high preventative complication rate that is usually easily fixed, and it is the ONLY weight loss surgery where the patient can determine how tight their restriction can be, and a lot of people keep it too tight, and THAT is the reason why so many people slip their bands and damage them and have to get them removed.

But for those of us who use the band correctly the complication rate is very low or pretty much at zero ...

I am going on 7 years and very happy with no complications.....

nevermind