My name is Hope, I have a friend who weighs about 240 and is 5'4. She said that she is getting the lap band. I am partially supportive, because I can imagine her being more confident and that makes me want to help her through this. However, I started looking this up, and am a little worried about the side effects. Has anyone experienced the slippage problem? Or is that rare? She's only 15, and I feel like this is a really, really big deal. I need to know if I should be alright with this, and if I'm just worrying about nothing. Thanks!

Hope

Isn't that up to your friend?

I would hope that her surgeon will educate her and her parents about the lifestyle changes after the band, what she needs to do for the rest of her life, what is involved with aftercare with the surgeon, the risks, the benifits....

As a friend, you should just be supportive.

Slippage can occur, but it is not common. Your friend is trying to make a positive change in her life. I believe banding is about the only bariatric procedure being done on teens in the US. I could be wrong, though. You should not try to change her mind either way. Gaining knowledge to talk it over with her is great, but it is ultimately a decision for her and her parents to make. If it were my friend on here, I would want her seeking information to be a sounding board for me, but then supporting me whatever decision I make, even if she disagreed with my choice. True friends don't always agree, but are there to lean on eachother for strength.

I would hope that her surgeon will educate her and her parents about the lifestyle changes after the band, what she needs to do for the rest of her life, what is involved with aftercare with the surgeon, the risks, the benifits....

As a friend, you should just be supportive.

hummingbird you said what I meant!

hope - I think most surgeons have age requirements for the band from 18 to about 60. There are exceptions, of course. Especially if it is a life saving WLS. So many surgeons might consider her too young. But if she's serious she should look into it and do a lot of research about the surgeon, how many surgeries he's done, etc..what kind of team works with him - is there a nutritionist, a nurse? Who does the fills? What tests are required pre and post op? There are many questions that need to be answered in choosing the right surgery and surgeon and a good surgeon should be able to explain the pros and cons and any possible complications.

That aside, you sound like a good friend who will be supportive when the time comes because if she does have WLS she will need a lot of support.

hummingbird you said what I meant!

Yea kelly, you don't exactly have a way with words.

Hope - Be supportive of your friend, that is what real friends do. Being that she is so young she can either head down a lifelong battle with obesity, or she can do something to change her quality of life, something many of us wish we had the option to do at a much younger age.