"Are you gong to have it reversed once you've lost the weight?"

**JustWantToBeHealthyAgain** · 04-26-2014 06:58 AM

I get asked this sometimes, and it always sort of makes me laugh, because I've often just explained that 85+% of my stomach has been removed, so I'm not sure HOW they could just go back and "reverse" it!

But normally when I'm asked this, it's by people who are quite big themselves and thus, could benefit from a surgery and are maybe considering it, thus, probably why they are asking me this.

I'm not really sure how to answer this question. Of course the answer is "no, it's permanent" and we all know that here, but at the same time, I don't want to scare anyone. YES, it's permanent and the permanence scared ME before I had it! I still look at my early posts here and I actually laugh! Yes, eating isn't like what it is before but I am fine with that.

Thoughts?

**bikrchk** · 04-26-2014 07:19 AM

LOL people are FUNNY! I had a friend at work say he was choosing the lap band because it was reversible (early in his process). I told him ANY WLS is invasive and if he's thinking about how to get out of it once it's done, he's not ready for the commitment. Thankfully, he did get his mind right and had R\Y a few months ago, (our surgeon, recommended that over the sleeve for him due to his size), and he's doing great!

**CookieHead** · 04-26-2014 07:43 AM

They must be confusing it with lap band and mean could it temporary (removed band in the future)?
That's the only thing I can think of. And yes, that is not a temporary procedure either.

**JustWantToBeHealthyAgain** · 04-26-2014 08:43 AM

No, they aren't confused. They just think that WLS is somehow reversible and once you are "thin" again and you can "go back to normal".

**Shanbie** · 04-26-2014 10:18 AM

I would just be honest with them. Tell them how you feel about it. The whole, no I can't eat like I used to, but I don't mind. Eating like "normal" is what got us all into this mess. Also the point about if you are already looking for a way out then you're not ready for the commitment.

**Truffles** · 04-26-2014 03:28 PM

I think some people also get confused because of the word "sleeve" and they are thinking it is an actual sleeve that goes over your stomach.

**Luann** · 04-26-2014 04:51 PM

I think at one point, plicated gastric sleeve was touted as reversible. I have read since that it may not be, because the stomach is folded & then stapled & may be too damaged to ever have the "pleats" let out should someone need or want to reverse it.

I am relieved that my surgery is permanent. I had considered gastric balloon many years back, and then plicated gastric sleeve. But I am most afraid of losing the weight & then having it return, the yo yo weight loss thing has been my pattern. I would be very afraid I was heading for the same thing if I did not have my new, permanently smaller stomach to help keep me on the right path.

**Jeanie** · 04-26-2014 06:24 PM

I think Truffles nailed it. My family still has questions about what exactly I had done and I am one year out! It just confuses some people because "sleeve" is used. Shanbie, you're right about the commitment!!!

**Shanbie** · 04-26-2014 07:38 PM

Truffles excellent point!! I thought the same thing before I talked to someone who was getting it done! I had forgotten that.

**kenson** · 04-26-2014 08:54 PM

One of my co-workers got the lap band, and when I told her I was considering getting the sleeve, she said "Why would you want to do that when it can't be reversed?" I told her, why would I want to reverse something if its working? I do think more and more people are curious about the sleeve, and if this forum is any indication, there are a lot of people getting sleeved.