I have a BMI of 29 now. I have lost some weight but starting to gain it back but it has gone up and down for years. Im hoping to find a surgeon in the US that will perform the surgery. I live in VA so i hope to find someone close. PLEASE HELP

Most surgeons require you to be obese at the very minimum. With a BMI of 29 you are not even obese.I assume that you must be self pay? I don't know if you would be able to get a surgeon in Mexico to band you I very much doubt (although I don't know) that anyone in the US would be happy to do it.

You do realise don't you that the band is not a magical solution? It is a tool that you have to work with. You need to make healthy choices and exercise.It is possible that if you commit to this you may lose the weight without the band.

I am not saying that it is right or wrong that you cannot get a band unless you are heavier, just stating what seems to be the situation at the moment.

With a low BMI like that I'm sure you understand that insurance will not cover your surgery. But if you are ready to pay for it yourself I don't see why any surgeon would not agree to band you. I know that my surgeon definitely would but he's in NYC which I imagine is a little far for you.

I would start by researching surgeons in your local area, and then calling them to find out if they will operate on a low BMI self pay patient.

Mariasha- can you give me your surgeons information? NYC isnt TOO far.. Especially if you know he will. How do you know he will do my surgery?

Elcee- I'm sure you as well as all other overweight individuals know that I have tried those things you stated and if I could commit to those things I would not be here doing surgery research. My bmi is 29-32 now I've been way higher before and tend to Yo-Yo so I'm not sure that surgery is a change for my body completely or my mind also! I'm quite positive that surgery is going to be a life changing experience and give me the ability to make the changes i need too. I'm also at high risk of developing 3 of the co morabilities due to family history and have been told many times if I don't lose a significant amount of weight then it's almost inevitably!

Mariasha- can you give me your surgeons information? NYC isnt TOO far.. Especially if you know he will. How do you know he will do my surgery?

Dr Fielding at NYU. I know people with low BMI's that he has operated on. He is one of the most experienced surgeons out there (over 4000 surgeries) and just a really great caring individual.

Check out his bio here.

http://thinforlife.med.nyu.edu/about-us/meet-our-doctors/dr-george-fielding

Ok, I will look into him. Thanks so much!

What is the lowest BMI you know of?

and if you hear of any others closer to me please let me know.