I'm a teen 17 to be exact and I'm having issues finding a doctor thats not too far and that will band a minor. Its been stressful but I believe it will be worth it in the end....I hope... although I have been hearing about how you have to lose weight before you get it done. I don't understand that because if you could lose the weight in the first place then why do this? The reason I want to do this is because I want to feel better about myself and be healthy and I can't lose it on my own I have tried almost everything and all has failed. But my first concern is to find a doctor. If anyone has suggestions would love to hear them.

hi guys guess what im also 15 i lost 50 pounds so far anyone have recomendations on what differnt foods to eat or who makes the best??

My surgeon here inCalifornia does teens at CedarsSinai, but he has to take a growth platelet x-ray which shows whether or not a person is still growing. That is why they use the age 18. But a lot of people stop growing years before their 18. I did mine at 17 and my growth platelets had already showed maximum growth so the surgeon was willing to do me. If the x-ray would have shown an open platelet then they wouldn't have been willing to do it as well as the insurance company. That is why they set the age of 18 for growth periods for your bones etc. Good luck

Hi every1. Im new 2 this. I jus wanted 2 know if any1 from ny got the surgery and if so where do u do your fills??

Wow, ok so i know im behind on this one lol.

But i go to newhope also : D

(mabey ill make a new thread about it)

it would clear up alot of the "where do i go to get it" questions.

hmm....

yes, i believe i will. :]

hey im 17 turning 18 in march and i live in california and i know my dotcor has done a good amount of minors. i still havent had my surgery yet but hopefully i can dec 19th =]

i really thought when i was starting into the whole idea iof having this surgery that there would be no other minors i could talk to but this awesome there is actually ppl here around my age.

So I changed my mind, I figure anyone that is lucky enough to have the surgery regardless of age is good enough as for where to go, I'm in aus soo I don't have any experience with the states but I've heard numerous accounts of that Dr Ortiz in mexico, could give that a try maybe?

I personally think that more people should get banded at a younger age, as long as they are done growing. I wish I could have gotten banded at 16, and went to college not being the "fat chick". But waiting until your 18, is not that bad either, I am 18, almost 19, and I'm getting banded on December 26th. :]

I wish all you minors luck finding someone who will band you! BUT if not keep hope and wait until your 18! Getting the band is worth the wait I think :]

I personally think that more people should get banded at a younger age, as long as they are done growing. I wish I could have gotten banded at 16, and went to college not being the "fat chick". But waiting until your 18, is not that bad either, I am 18, almost 19, and I'm getting banded on December 26th. :]

I wish all you minors luck finding someone who will band you! BUT if not keep hope and wait until your 18! Getting the band is worth the wait I think :]

yeah its totally worth the wait, so don't get discouraged! I first looked into the band when I turned 18, so I didn't ever have to look for a doctor who would do the surgery on a minor... but I didn't get banded until last month, 2.5 years later at age 20. Looking back, of course I wish I had decided to go through with it at 18, because I have lost almost 30 pounds in the pre-op and since surgery, and I am like 5 pounds away from the weight I was when I first looked into the surgery (and the weight I was when I first started college.. ugh). But it wasn't the right time for me, mentally, and waiting so long actually helped to prepare me for this lifelong journey. If I had come to college at a lower weight, who knows what would have been different. im guessing i probably would have done worse in my classes, had a different set of friends, but probably would have dated more guys than i did. But at least I know now that the friends I have and the guys I dated liked me, just for being me.

There are pros and cons to everything. Good luck to everyone on their journey!

I just turned 16 in January and hopefully by this summer i should have a surgery date.

Come to new york i started the program when i was 17 now i am 18 but i could have started it before i just didnt know about it ...but come to new york!!!!! Send me a pm ill give you phone numbers

I was in that same position. A little over a year ago (I was 17 & a half) was when I first went to find out about LAP-BAND® & it turns out my surgeon was willing to band me, but my insurance said I had to be 18. My surgeon didn't ask me to lose any weight, but I did actually have to gain about 10lb in order for my insurance to approve. Where are you from & how far are you willing to drive?

you look great after you got it. like now from your profile pics. lol im 15 and i just got it on tuesday

hi im 16, almost 17. i am 190 pounds but i am 5''11. do you think the surgery would be alright?

hi im 16, almost 17. i am 190 pounds but i am 5''11. do you think the surgery would be alright?

Wajann, I checked out your BMI out of curiosity and though I don't know your muscle mass, you are barely outside the healthy BMI range. You're almost normal and I hate to say this but it doesn't sound like surgery will be possible for you. Most surgeons won't perform surgery on anyone who doesn't have at least a BMI above 30 with two life threatening complications.