Hey everyone,

My name is Mark and I am 20 years old (21 in May) from New York City; very excited to be a member here I have been overweight my entire childhood and adolescenthood and have taken it upon myself as my responsibility to better my health and overall worth of self via getting the lap band and the life journey that accompanies it.

I have been researching being banded for a few years now but officially started the process in July 2012 by attending a seminar at NYU Medical Center where I met and chose my surgeon. After completing the six months diet required by insurance and some blood tests, I was finally able to get my psychological evaluation done this past Friday and now everything is going to be sent to my insurance company in hopes of approval. The nurse I've been corresponding with from insurance has been incredibly helpful and optimistic so for now I am in the waiting phase.

I am nervous about the actual surgery and recovery above everything else, having never had any type of anesthesia before.

I have a long way to go but I'm very motivated and excited to begin everything

APPROVED!!!!!! I had tears when insurance called and told me the awesome news

That's awesome