I weigh 193 and BMI of 34 and I am scheduled to have lap-band on Feb. 8. Has anyone had the surgery that is less than 200 lbs.? I am very excited but a little apprehensive.

just curious how you got your surgeon to do the lapband with a BMI of only 34????? I know most surgeons around here will do it if your greater than BMI of 35 with comoribites such as high blood pressure....diabetes and or sleep apnea.....

Congrats.......hope you do well on the band.......keep us posted

I'll second the question, how did you get a surgeon to agree to do lap band surgery with a BMI of under 35?

most doctors will do the surgery as long as you pay for it

I have a friend who had the bypass 4 years ago with a BMI of 34, granted she was over 200 pounds as she's 5'10" tall. Now she weighs 140-145 pounds. She even had insurance pay for it. So surgeons will do it.

My understanding is that if your willing to pay cash for the band and you have a BMI of 30 of above you can have it, if your Dr thinks it is best for you.

Insurance companies won't even look at you unless your BMI is 35 and you have co morbitities.

To answer your question Mom, yes I have heard of people having the band under 200. If you trust your surgeon and he believes that it is the correct tool for you, then you have to trust your self and you will succeed!

Good luck

Actually here is a thread for Lower BMI Members:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f15/lower-bmi-ers-2008-a-48150/

I was straight up at 200 on day of surgery (my highest) with a BMI of 37. A lot of insurance companies, mine included, do not pay for anything below 40...so self pay was my only option. You will be fine, there are many members on here that have lower than a 34BMI, which is obese - and for that surgeons will perform your surgery not just because your self pay. Good luck!!

I was 180 the day of surgery. 195 was my highest.

I was 194 at surgery, down from my high of 208. I was self-pay.

My surgeon took several things into account:

1. I was good at losing weight but couldn't keep it off

2. My knees and back were beginning to bother me

2. My entire family of aunts and uncles on my dad's side are morbidly obese

His view was that I was taking a preventative step to get my weight under control and keep it there....I'm SO glad he was open. I've started running again and feel so much better.

It's insurance companies that created the BMI rule. Do the research and you'll find the makers of lapband suggest even those with a lower bmi of 40, even 35 are candidates.

Do the research and talk to your doctor.