Is it possible to stick vertices, and for them not to be affect by proportional editing I have a tablet/pill shape, and I want to select all the outer vertices or edges, and have them stay where they are, so that when I do a proportional edit, they remain fixed, and so the edges/vertices are stretched rather than move around.

This is the effect I am trying to get - a bulge in the dark meshed areas
https://imgur.com/a/qgCjXm5

If I use proportional editing, it alters the edges also.

So is there anyway of selecting the outer vertices, make them stick?

I have tried to create a vertex group, and assign a weight but it hasnt worked yet. https://imgur.com/oF4xY2B
Was enlightened.  


I select the object
Edit mode
Select the vertices that I want to stick
Press 'H' to hide
Make my adjustment
Those vertices that are hidden will not be affected
Press 'alt-H' to unhide.