What's the lowest BMI someone had that got the band? I'mjust curious if I would even qualify for the procedure. Thank you all for your help!!

Most insurances will not cover you for less than a BMI of 35 and that's only with at least 2 comorbidities.

If you mean qualify as in finding a surgeon who will perform the surgery on a lower BMI patient and you are paying out of pocket, I would suggest Mexico.

I mean my BMI is 33-34, but I'm so sick of it. I have heart disease in my family history and thats what scares.

I have heard of BMI's as low as yours being banded in Oz... But we have been banding a lot longer, and use it as a prevention method, as well as a "cure" here.

I CAN FEEL YOUR PAIN.....I have a BMI of 36.8, with hypertension, sleep apnea, and incontinence

(I sneeze, I pee). Anyway, I am hoping that with the 2 comorbities, I will qualify for the surgery. Out of the 5 children in my family, there are 4 of us on blood pressure medication. My oldest brother, 57yrs old, has about 3 months to live because of a massive heart attack that he had 6yrs ago. My grandmother had a stroke @ 42yo and died on her back porch; my dad had quadruple by-pass surgery @ 46yo. So, let's just say that I, too, am worried about the heart disease...let me know what your ins co. says about the lower BMI

I have heard of BMI's as low as yours being banded in Oz... But we have been banding a lot longer, and use it as a prevention method, as well as a "cure" here.

Can you explain this a little more?

If you want the Lapband you'll probably need to go to Mexico with a BMI that low.

Since the Mexican Healthcare system isn't run by insurance companies, they don't have strict guidelines and red tape in order to get the Lapband. It's a good option for you if you want the Lapband and can't find a surgeon in the U.S. that will band you.

In Australia, rather than making a person get to a BMI of 40+ they will band you at 35ish (It does vary from surgeon to surgeon, but 35 tends to be the starting BMI for banding in Oz)

The docs here have been banding since the early 90's (the really early stuff began in the late 80's) and I guess that they see that it works well to prevent people becoming super morbidly obese.

If you want the Lapband you'll probably need to go to Mexico with a BMI that low.

Since the Mexican Healthcare system isn't run by insurance companies, they don't have strict guidelines and red tape in order to get the Lapband. It's a good option for you if you want the Lapband and can't find a surgeon in the U.S. that will band you.

But if I were to pay it out right for the procedure, is there still red tape...? I mean I guess a doctor would almost have to look at it like a cosmetic procedure at that point. But for me its more for health reasons.

Here's a link to a good thread for lower BMI bandsters, perhaps someone who frequents there can also offer some assistance:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=26697

They're starting to consider banding people as low as BMI 30 in Australia now. But personally I dont know anyone that's been that low.

Its pretty much because statistically, people that become obese tend to only get fatter. So its a preventative. Cheaper to tackle a smaller weight problem by banding than for the health system to maintain a diabetic for 40 years!

There are tons of ads around here that say you can get the LB if you are 60 pounds or more overweight. Of course, you will have to self-pay at that weight, but the docs are willing to do the procedure.

I live in Washington and subscribe to another chat group at; SmartBandsters@yahoogroups.com.

There is a nurse there (Jessie Arhoni [ she also wrote a L.B. book] ) that also works for one of the surgical clinics (Northwest Weight Loss Surgery, http://www.thelapband.com ), and she has posted the following in a reply to a very similar question last Feb. (the blue was the statement she was responding to): "Vicky: //At 54 pounds over weight, no doctor in USA will give me a lapband even if i will self pay// Actually that's not true. I know three who will do it if your BMI is greater than 29.9.

:clap2:

If you BMI is <30 your risks from surgery are greater than your risk of remaining overweight. That is why they won't do it."

I'm pretty sure if that is true here, it must be true in other areas of the country. Maybe you should make some phone calls, or plan a trip to the Great Northwest?

HTH

Cathy H.

errrr----her name is spelled Jessie AHRONI-- and her book is: Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding: Achieving Permanent Weight Loss with Minimally Invasive Surgery

sorry about the typo.

Cathy H.

Most of us, I think, are familiar with Jessie.....as well as Sandy.

Oh, I DO know what you mean. LOL :biggrin1:

Cathy H.