My BMI is only 32 at this point. I was at 35 two years ago. My husband talked me out of the surgery and I went to Duke Weight Loss center for 2 months and I managed to lose 30 pounds. I kept if off for about a year, but never reaching my goal of losing 60 pounds. Lasy year 2010, I started CEAHOW (which is like overeaters anonymous) and again, lost 30 pounds but never reaching my goal. I want to have the surgery now because I know this disease is progressive and I really dont want to wait until my bmi is 35 again. I would like to avoid the problems I have at that weight, which are lower back pain, and slight incontinence along with the problems I currently have, which are, high blood pressure and acid reflux. My insurance will not cover it so I am going to pay myself. Here in South Africa, it is only about $10,000.

So, I am hoping I am not the only one in this boat!!

Hi. I had my surgery with a presurgery BMI of 34. No regrets so far. The weight is coming off slowly, but it is coming off. I am 19 pounds down in 7 weeks. I still have to diet, exercise and make good choices, or there is no weight loss. I was also self pay, but in Mexico. Good luck.

I am self pay and my bmi was 31/32

My surgery came to $12000 usd

My main reasons were health related, begin overweight..forever it's just been hard, as we all know, nothing has ever really worked long term. too many health issues now, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, knee/joint pain, diabetes..and I am too darned young for this (38) sooo I got banded a week ago friday! It certainly is different, but I am down about 10 lbs

I don't have a lot to lose per say, but just trying to improve my overall well being.

I was banded two weeks ago with a BMI of about 35. I had gained and lost the same 30 to 35 pounds twice in the past four years and I finally decided the yo-yo-ing was probably harming my body more than staying heavy. Plus, I could never break past a certain weight barrier.

I'm a self-pay who hasn't regretted it at all. It is certainly no magic pill - nothing is - but I have been able to go back to my old workout routine and the weight is slowiy coming off. I can't wait until I can finally start getting fills in a couple of weeks to increase restriction. I have some now, but I know that may change as I continue to heal from surgery. So I am looking at the pre-fill period as a time to relearn how to eat and to use the healthy habits I learned when I lost weight before.

Good luck!

i was banded at a bmi of 32 1/7.11 by dr ortiz in mexico. it's painful and not a decision to take lightly, but so far i have lost 15 lbs. i highly recommend dr ortiz at the obesity control center. i was self pay for $7000. i paid $1000 extra to have the needle micro surgery so i dont' have any visible scars so i can wear my bikini!

Hi DRP,

Thank for responding. So, the doctor did not have a problem placing your band thought you did not meet the 35 BMI criteria?

Again, thank you for sharing! Vu

i was banded at a bmi of 32 1/7.11 by dr ortiz in Mexico. it's painful and not a decision to take lightly, but so far i have lost 15 lbs. i highly recommend dr ortiz at the Obesity Control Center. i was self pay for $7000. i paid $1000 extra to have the needle micro surgery so i dont' have any visible scars so i can wear my bikini!

Hi Bowe6061,

Thank for responding. So, the doctor did not have a problem placing your band though you did not meet the 35 BMI criteria?

Again, thank you for sharing! Vu

I was banded two weeks ago with a BMI of about 35. I had gained and lost the same 30 to 35 pounds twice in the past four years and I finally decided the yo-yo-ing was probably harming my body more than staying heavy. Plus, I could never break past a certain weight barrier.

I'm a self-pay who hasn't regretted it at all. It is certainly no magic pill - nothing is - but I have been able to go back to my old workout routine and the weight is slowiy coming off. I can't wait until I can finally start getting fills in a couple of weeks to increase restriction. I have some now, but I know that may change as I continue to heal from surgery. So I am looking at the pre-fill period as a time to relearn how to eat and to use the healthy habits I learned when I lost weight before.

Good luck!

Hi CTMom,

Thank for responding. So, the doctor did not have a problem placing your band though you did not meet the 35 BMI criteria?

Again, thank you for sharing! Vu

In Mexico, you only have to have a BMI of 30 to qualify. I also heard on the news that there was some consideration here in the US about lowering BMI qualifications......probably is not something that would happen quickly though. I had a great experience in Mexico, great care, and I did find aftercare here in the states, although it was not easy! I would not hesitate to do it again. I feel full sooner and I stop eating! It is such a wonderful concept to me. I still probably eat too much, but am still losing. I will get my third fill next week. I am excited for it to happen! Good luck in your decision.

Good question, Vu.

Here in the United State, you don't see Lap Bands being advertised or doctors' websites talking about banding people under a BMI of 35 because it is illegal for them to advertise it. They can band whatever size they want (within reason of course) but they cannot advertise it, it is called "Off-label marketing" and they can be sued and cited by the FDA. I have worked in this field and asked my doctor about it and he confirmed it. It is kind of a long explanation, but basically the FDA in the US approves the band for a certain use, say for people with a BMI of 35 with complications or people with a BMI of 40. The doctors cannot then market or advertise the band for people with lower BMIs, but they CAN give it to whomever they want. This is the same reason Mexican surgeons don't need to limit their advertising, because they are not constrained by the United States FDA regulations.

I don't know about SA specifically, but it wouldn't surprise me if there was a similar advertising regulation. But trust me, I really doubt your Dr would have a problem with a 32 BMI and your existing complications.

Good luck!

My BMI was 33 when I was banded. I did not want to wait until it got higher before I did something about it. I am so glad I dealt with it when I did and wish I got banded sooner.

My BMI is only 32 at this point. I was at 35 two years ago. My husband talked me out of the surgery and I went to Duke Weight Loss center for 2 months and I managed to lose 30 pounds. I kept if off for about a year, but never reaching my goal of losing 60 pounds. Lasy year 2010, I started CEAHOW (which is like overeaters anonymous) and again, lost 30 pounds but never reaching my goal. I want to have the surgery now because I know this disease is progressive and I really dont want to wait until my bmi is 35 again. I would like to avoid the problems I have at that weight, which are lower back pain, and slight incontinence along with the problems I currently have, which are, high blood pressure and acid reflux. My insurance will not cover it so I am going to pay myself. Here in South Africa, it is only about $10,000.

So, I am hoping I am not the only one in this boat!!

HI,

My BMI was 34, they didn't want to cover me, but if u have comorbidities, i.e. high blood pressures, cholestrol, etc. unless ur insurance won't cover period. My insurance is covering 12,500. and surgery its 17,500 not counting hospital bill......so rest is up to me......it does suck........keep trying with insurance though unless it is not covered, they try everything to try to have u not do it......

keep me posted.

Linda

I don't think I would spend the $$ if my BMI was only 32... it seems like a huge process to only lose 60lbs. Half the weight would be gone from liquid and mushies. If I only had 60lbs to lose I would just diet and exercise.

I don't think I would spend the $$ if my BMI was only 32... it seems like a huge process to only lose 60lbs. Half the weight would be gone from liquid and mushies. If I only had 60lbs to lose I would just diet and exercise.

Its comments like this that really aggrivate me! I was also banded at a BMI of 32. I heard these negative comments from people of all sizes but mainly from people who were much bigger than I was. I have been on the weight rollercoaster all of my life....done every diet there is and still could not keep my weight at a normal BMI. About 2 years ago I had a personal trainer who helped me get 40lbs off and I ended up injuring my knee in the process. Guess what>>>>the Dr told me to stop working out or I would end up having to have knee surgery so I stopped the workouts and the weight slowly came back on! I see nothing wrong with taking control of your life BEFORE you become 100+ pounds overweight! Everyone has their own story and its a personal decision.

"ONLY 60LBS" IS EXTREMELY OVERWHELMING AND UNHEALTHY TO CARRY AROUND!!! You are wrong in saying that half of the weight would be gone from liquid and mushies....at least it wasn't the case for me. Do not judge anyone who is wanting to improve their quality of living!!! I am not ok with being 60lbs overweight, maybe some people think it's no big deal and easy to fix.

I also get mad when I hear people say that 60 pounds is not much so here is the question. For the people who have much more to lose. When you get to within 60 pounds of your goal are you willing to have the band removed and lose the rest on your own? Are you ready to have no support from others because you "only" have 60 pounds to lose? Believe me 60 pounds of excess weight is unhealthy and it is also hard to lose.

Its comments like this that really aggrivate me! I was also banded at a BMI of 32. I heard these negative comments from people of all sizes but mainly from people who were much bigger than I was. I have been on the weight rollercoaster all of my life....done every diet there is and still could not keep my weight at a normal BMI. About 2 years ago I had a personal trainer who helped me get 40lbs off and I ended up injuring my knee in the process. Guess what>>>>the Dr told me to stop working out or I would end up having to have knee surgery so I stopped the workouts and the weight slowly came back on! I see nothing wrong with taking control of your life BEFORE you become 100+ pounds overweight! Everyone has their own story and its a personal decision.

"ONLY 60LBS" IS EXTREMELY OVERWHELMING AND UNHEALTHY TO CARRY AROUND!!! You are wrong in saying that half of the weight would be gone from liquid and mushies....at least it wasn't the case for me. Do not judge anyone who is wanting to improve their quality of living!!! I am not ok with being 60lbs overweight, maybe some people think it's no big deal and easy to fix.

I agree with you Shelly,

and sadly I initially had the same mind set as it's only 60 lbs why put myself through it.

I really had to think long and hard, it was only getting worse the longer I waited, did I want to wait until I was 100lbs over? was that acceptable?

NO and doing it now with "only" 60 lbs...it still is the right decision.