That is definitely BS. I have been in the WLS community over 5 years now. Numbers I usually hear are that on average, lap banders will lose 50% of excess weight, sleeve 60%, RNY 70%, and DS 80%. I had RNY 4.33 years ago and have gone from a BMI of 53 (339 pounds) to a BMI of 21 (135 pounds). I have maintained my weight for over 3 years now. There are a lot more just like me out there.

Amen!!

5% success rate is absolute BS. Come on, now, you'd think most intelligent, sane people would know better, even if they DO feel like WLS is "wrong" in some way.

All these stupid anecdotes about "my sister-in-law's cousin's-friend's dad had it done and got so sick and gained all the weight back, so therefore it doesn't work" are all BS.

People who have not been through it have NO IDEA what kind of thought and work it takes to come to the decision to have these surgeries, and ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what kind of work it takes afterwards to make the surgery work.

Sorry to say, while I have empathy for a lot of the people that surgery hasn't worked for, I have a lot of trouble garnering sympathy for them, because the honest truth is, barring TRUE complications beyond their control, there is something that THEY are doing and/or not doing that is causing their own failure.

You MUST change your behavior. That's the bottom line. Your WLS will not do the work or you. It is there as a foundation for you to build on. If you build your tower with mashed potatoes and ice cream and excuses, welp, that tower will certainly fall. And if you are unable to see the excuses for what they are, you only have yourself to blame.

I had the lap band just over one year ago. I have lost 84 pounds since the day I went to the surgeon for my consult (had lost some with just the nutritionist before that). According to my surgeon, I have lost TWICE my predicted average weight loss for someone with my amount of weight to lose with the lap band.

Maybe I won't lose anymore, I can't say. But I sure as heck won't be gaining it back. I've learned how to be at peace with food, and while it is still a struggle sometimes, I know how to get it back on track now. THAT is the key that WLS helped me to fit into the lock. And if anyone wants to tell me I did it the "wrong" way, or just pushed some "easy" button, well, honestly, they can think what they want, I don't need to justify or explain anything to them, and they can quote all the pseudo-statistic they want to try to make themselves feel better for doing it the "right" way, whatever the heck that is, it won't change what I already know.

Pshhh!

I had my sleeve surgery 2 years ago. I needed to lose 100lbs. lost 75 in 1st 6 months. then it went downhill. I never even realized the emotional relationship I had with food. I just thought I liked to eat. I was so depressed about not being able to overeat that I began eating candy and high fatty foods almost constantly. The loss of being able to eat what I wanted & how much I wanted felt like a death in the family. I had remorse over my surgery. I didnt want to talk to people about it b/c I didnt want to recommend it to anyone. I gained back 35lbs.
It took me 1 1/2 years to realize I wasn't depressed because I couldn't overeat anymore. I was using food as a coping mechanism for all of my day to day stresses. I never stopped doing that after the surger. I just found a different way to do it.
I am back on track & eating what I am supposed to & I am sooooo thankful that I had my surgery because it is so much easier, even the 2nd time around. before surgery I would diet & exercise & feel so hopeless because the results were so slow & one little slip would cause me to gain back the 1-2 lbs I worked so hard to lose.
I worked so hard & waited so long for insurance and dr's to get this tool & I finally appreciate it.
I would recommend WLS. It works as long as you let it.

Hi my name in Indy and I'm currently thinking about having Gastric Bypass but I'm scared to death. I have so many health issues and I my doctors keep telling me how much the procedure will help me not to mention add years to my life. I don't deny that one bit. In June I began going to the center in my area and met with the doctors. I have made up my mind to lose this weight there's no doubt about that and since June I had lost 40 lbs doing portion control and an additional 20 lbs since I joined this site December 22, 2012. I have lost 60 lbs on my own and kept it off and I'm proud of that but in a way I want to do the surgery and in another way I don't. I know I have to make the decision myself. My problem is that I have questions and the few friends I have that had it and lost weight don't talk about it nor do they want to and that leaves me even more terrified. Right now I'm awaiting a few more of my doctors approval before a surgery date can be set. I'd love to have friends that can help me understand what I'm about to do, I mean I know the details but once I come to I don't know what to expect and if I knew I'd feel more comfortable about it. I just don't want to have any regrets about doing it once it's done.

As far as the success rate goes, I see a lot of losers and that's a beautiful thing!

I agree with everything you said! I'm not sure why people are so vocal about their feeelings against WLS -fear? Ignorance? I had a bypass in May 2010 at 391 lbs. I lost 130 pounds and still have 100 or so. The surgery is a tool, one that has changed my life! Not only am I healthier, I look and feel better and my confidence level is through the roof! I have had some non -related health issues and haven't done all I need to as far as excercize and eating properly.I am continuing to see my nutritionist and have joined this site to help me get back on track.Anyone considering WLS should get their info from their doctor. It is an individual decision and should be an informed one!

I wouldn't listen to anyone outside of the WLS community concerning my surgery or my health after surgery. They don't have any idea. The friends & coworkers with opinions on WLS haven't researched anything. they don't have a clue what's involved. I even had to explain to my family physician that the sleeve is not a device like the lap band because he keeps trying to give me extended release medications. Your surgeon should have you talk with a counselor before surgery. they can answer all questions & tell you things you didn't even think of. I don't know why so many people don't want to admit they've had WLS. I had a few friends that were very open about it & helpful. another even went to the same surgeon as me & 2 years later she still refuses to admit she had surgery. I feel like: if you lie to people they will get false hope that it is easy to shed 100lbs in a year & it just isn't. also, people who judge think WLS is the easy way out. it's been anything but easy. it's still hard work. i still have to exercise. I have to watch what I eat now more than ever.