OilSooner

There are two facilites that offer Bariatric Surgery in my town (Tulsa, OK), and only one of them offers the sleeve. I went to the info session for that one last night, and came away with questions. This was at one of the three major hospitals here (St. Johns), and they have just started a Bariatric Services and Weight Loss Center there. The program (staff, doctors, facilities, etc) are all brand new. In fact, this appeared to be the first info session they had put on (they were asking things that seemed to point to that, i.e. things that could better the session in the future). Also, the surgeon (they only have one at this time) is just out of residency, and appears to have specialized in RNY surgery (he said this is what he had done the most of). I really want to get the sleeve, and this is the only place that has it. The other place is not even officially affilliated with a hospital (though they use one of the other major hospitals in town). Do you think its safe to go with a new program and a young surgeon? It has me a little nervous, but I want the sleeve so I cant decide whether to stick with it. PS, the other place offers the band and RNY, but no sleeve. Thanks in advance!

Thanks for the replies so far, and I guess I should have mentioned that I am a male, which puts my current BMI at 40.5, which is right on the border, as I suspected. I dont think there is any chance of me attaining a "normal" weight (the BMI calculator says "healthy weight" is 155, but I dont think I could ever get that small....175-180 would be comfortable for me) without surgery, so that is my main motivating factor. Plus, I have sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and diabetes runs rampant in my family.

Well, I am 5-8 to 5-9 and weight about 268. I think I want to get the band, but am not sure. I know I weigh WAY too much, and know that I have tried every diet I have ever heard of, with the most success coming from traditional diet and exercise (lasted about 5 months, and I went from about 255 to 220). Now, I weigh more than when I started that diet (2 years ago) and am constantly gaining. I def feel lost with my weight problem (I think I am a binge eater/emotional eater/bored eater), but I dont know if the problem is bad enough to warrant surgery. I dont know if the Doctors are going to say "You're not nearly big enough for bariatric surgery." I mean, I would like to get the surgery if it was available, but I dont know that I will be a candidate. Anyway, I have insurance so that is a plus, and I am scheduled to go to a meeting Thurs night to get a consultation at the local hospital. So, just looking for advice from people who know more about it than I do. Thanks in advance.