I am only 6 months out, but I've been working really hard to change my behavior and build healthy habits. I hear over and over again, "wls is only a tool," and completely agree. For me, I can see how if I ate all the wrong foods, regain would definitely be a possibility. At 6 months I can easily eat between 800-1200 calories per day and if they were all cookies, cake, ice cream...I'd be in quite a bit of trouble. I guess I don't know how common it is, but I could definitely see regain being a problem based on lifestyle.

It's more common in RNY patients because the body/intestines adjust to the malabsorption, and grow more villi that allows for more calories to be absorbed. Plus, the pouch of RNY stretches and so can stomas which leads to bigger portions. With the sleeve, there is minimal stretching if your surgeon is well-skilled, and uses a small boughie to make a tight tummy. Of course, you can eat ice cream, drink milkshakes, and not lose or gain weight, but the surgery is just a tool, you have to do the mental side of it. They operate on our tummies, not our brains. The good thing about the sleeve is that you'll have restriction. The rest of the work has to be done by us. We still have to make good choices.