It took me two year to decide on the surgery. I was banded on 12/29/09. Days before the surgery, I was having second thoughts. I prayed on it, I did a lot of research, and I knew in my heart that it was my last option. I've been overweight most of my life. I'm 34 years old, single, no children. I was never teased as a child, I maintained a healthy social life. The determining factor for me having the surgery was my health. At the end of the day, I am proned to so many health risk. I currently have highblood pressure, and my knees and ankles ache all the time. If you're confused about it, try dieting and exercising on your own. In the meatime please do your research, go to the seminars, talk to others that have been banded. So far, i've only lost 14 pounds. I haven't had any complications. When I woke up from the surgery I had massive chest pains, they took blood, EKG and Xrays...so far so good. I'm not sure what the future holds, but I plan on losing 100 pounds this year by dieting and exercising. I'm so afraid of laying up in the hospital with health issues that I could have prevented.
I hope that you make the right decision. Good luck!