What was your weight/BMI when you got the Lap Band

[FindingMeagan 0]

Hi all,

I'm seriously considering getting the Lap Band procedure done.The thing is the one doctor that takes my insurance says he won't do this surgery on people who have a BMI of 60+ (unfortunately I am one of those people). This leads back to my question, what was your weight/BMI when you had the surgery done?

I'm just curious. It seems like there are TONS of people with higher weights who have successfully lost 100+ so I think this doc is just a little nuts

[SandyM 1,956]

Seriously, this should be your decision not his

[gowalking 10,790]

take a look at my ticker. I had a BMI >50 and have lost most of the weight I had hoped to. find another surgeon....there are other higher BMI folk on this site who have been quite successful so there's no reason why you can't also be one of those success stories.

[Faded Design 84]

I think I remember my doctor saying something like that. That the tools they use are only so long and if they can't get to your stomach they can't get the band around it or something along those lines. But I was close to a BMI of 50 and there was a guy twice my size in my little surgery day group so...

Edited February 22, 2014 by Faded Design

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

336 starting weight and 62 BMI

and was as wide as i am tall....

[BandedBrunette481 310]

I was at a BMI of 40 during my pre-op phase. I think the reason your surgeon said that was because LapBand patients typically don't lose as much weight as other weight loss surgery patients. He's probably wanting you to do something like the sleeve or gastric bypass because you have a better chance of losing more weight with one of those type of procedures. But like you said, some people lose plenty of their weight from the band. It's all how the tool is used! It's your decision though and it sucks he won't consider you for it!

[HealthyNewMe 1,935]

BMI 52.8

Weight 327

[jamilyne 102668 1,207]

40.35 - 250 pounds

[FindingMeagan 0]

Thanks for answering guys This surgeon was really bashing the band. He wasn't giving any medical reasoning to what he was saying either, it was like his own personal opinion. I'm definitely going to another doctor, hopefully this one will be a little more supportive.

I just can't take that the band would absolutely NOT work for me. I definitely call bullsh*t on that one.

[MestizaBander 43]

202 pounds BMI was 38 .. I'm only 5ft though. 190 day so surgery

[2muchfun 8,927]

If your doctor is relying on a fixed BMI figure he could be mistaken? But, there are other factors that go into a doctors judgement? Such as, how did you get to 60+? Does he/she feel you can control those cravings and urges that got you to this place? The band is much less forgiving than other surgeries and in most cases cannot deal with overindulgences.

Serious complications can arise with the band for patients who can't control those cravings and/or portion sizes.

I'm not saying that very high BMI patients can't do this, but some of the underlying reasons(psych eval?)that got you to this place must factor into his/her reasoning?

tmf

Edited February 23, 2014 by 2muchfun