How much is age a factor?

Hey guys! I am 25 and considering getting WLS, the Sleeve to be specific.  I was just wonder are there a lot of people who get/got it around this age? I have a little less than 200 pounds to lose. I will ask my surgeon on Thursday, but just curious of the data on younger folks getting it done. 

Do you have any comorbidities?  That might factor into your decision as you may have a greater chance of resolution with one of the malabsorptive procedures. With that much to lose, the DS would probably be my first choice and RNY would be my second choice. 

I fortunatly do not have any yet.  Though I am pre-diabetic, pre-high pressure, and all the over weight people in my family have sleep apnea, but I do not, yet. I like the sleeve because its the thing that makes the most sense to me, to live as close to a normal life style as I can. The idea of rerouting organs does not appeal to me at all. 

I only wish I was that young?  The question is:  Do you think you are mature enough to take your nutritional health seriously to make some lifelong changes?  If you answer yes - then with 200lbs to lose, I recommend you learn more about a more powerful wls, the Duodenal Switch (DS).  A sleeve is great for lightweights, but those with as much to lose as you do may not get the results they hope for, and come to the DS later.  Why not only get one surgery?

While, I mostly agree with Valerie, I would do a sleeve first and a DS only if necessary at a later date.  I would avoid a malabsorbing surgery at your age, just because you have a long life ahead of you and will have to be very diligent with supplements and I think that may be a challenge at your young age.  If you need something more powerful, I would definitely look into a DS at a later date.  Keep in mind many have lost over 200 with a VSG alone.  It depends how you work it.

Wishing you all the best!

This is exactly what I was thinking.  I know there are greater numbers lost with the DS and the RNY, but the malabsortion scares me so much.  I am in college, and will be done in 2 years. I am studying animation and will be working at a studio.  The workload is insane. I am almost 100% sure I could not keep to a religious schedule of vitamins 3x a day.  The sleeve seems ideal to me because it would give me a kick start in my weight loss. It would help me feel full and learn the basic building blocks of eatting right, since I didn't get that as a kid. I'm a very active person, and love the outdoors. Just need that initial kick so I can walk more than 20 steps without getting out of breath 

While getting the sleeve first and then MAYBE going for the DS...there are several things to consider:

1) A HUGE number of insurance companies will only allow ONE WLS per lifetime (and more adding EACH year) unless the first one failed (like a mechanical failure of the lapband and then it's usually JUST to remove it, not do a new different one). As long as you lose 50% of your excess weight, you would still be considered successful in surgery regardless of which one. And that one surgery per lifetime is not per policy but per YOUR life. Even if company A pays for the sleeve and two years down the road, you've changed jobs and insurance companies to say Company D...D will most likely tell you "sorry, you already had one WLS".

2) Two step surgeries (getting a sleeve then later going for the switch part) lose slower than virgin DS'ers.

3) Why go under the knife TWICE...your risks go up every time you have a surgery. Once should be all you do.

4) Vitamins are a MUST regardless of surgery.

There is a DS'er who had hers done at 17...

Read the Revision and Regrets boards here.

If you want the sleeve, go in to surgery sure that the sleeve is IT...no other option "later on" or surely you will fail it. Learning the building blocks of eating right regardless of surgery...WLS is a tool.

And being outdoorsy doesn't seem to affect the DS'er's I know that love the outdoors, like Danni

All I am saying, thick twice, cut ONCE!

Liz

Very valid points Liz, but I honestly worry about malabsorption down the road for someone so young!  Maybe there is no need to worry but she has a long time ahead!  Very smart to take control so young!

Thank you! Malabsortion scares me to death! I am still in college, and am majoring in animation and will not have the time to stop and take vitamins every 3 hours.  I am looking into this as my kick start to a better life, eatting better, and maintaining said life style. I think the sleeve is the most similiar to our original body mechanics and that is perfectly fine with me.  =) 

I am 25 and had vsg on 12/5. The vitamins I use are powdered mixed with a little water and boom youre done for the day with vitamins! They are a tad pricy but, hey, its easy and you take them once a day, not 3x. Message me for more info on anything =)