Hello all,

I found this great site via google.

I have a BMI of 36.6, I am 5'10" and 255 lbs. I am very depressed and think about my weight all the time.

I really want to lose 70 - 90 lbs.

Is Lap Band right for me?

Well, I am 5ft 10, was about 248 or so, BMI 36 and I lose all my weight relatively easy. In fact not only did I lose 100% of excess weight, I lost about 120%.

The lapband appears to actually work BETTER for lower BMI patients than it does for heavier ones. Not the least because we're often still able to exercise relatively intensely from the get go.

It also appeared to me that I found good restriction much more easily since my band fit better from the start - less fat round the stomach, doctor was able to choose the smallest band for me, and there's been less remarkable loosening as I've lost weight becuase of course there wasnt as much fat there in the first place.

There was plenty elsewhere though!

I have a few questions if anyone can help me:

1. After the procedure do you always feel hungry?

2. After you lost the weight do you have to pay for another surgery to remove the band?

3. After the weight lose do you have an excess of skin and need to get a body lift?

Thanks in advance to anyone and everyone that can help me with these questions.

Dave

I have a few questions if anyone can help me:

1. After the procedure do you always feel hungry?

2. After you lost the weight do you have to pay for another surgery to remove the band?

3. After the weight lose do you have an excess of skin and need to get a body lift?

Thanks in advance to anyone and everyone that can help me with these questions.

Dave

i too had a bmi of 36 - lost 70lbs.

yes i was hungry after 1 month post op - healing & that lasted till i was able to get restriction. longer for some - i needed quite a bit of fills over a long time....but it did happen.

don't feel the need to remove the band unless there is a reason to do so - i was self pay.

thankfully, no excess skin issues. i have pretty good skin/genes & wasn't heavy but for 4 yrs in my 30s'....hit 40 next month and w/exercise i've snapped back well.

Dave once you get to the correct fill level after a band, then you are supposed to be satisfied or full with about 1/2 - 3/4 cup of food. This is how you are able to lose weight, but you have to follow the rules. The band is made to be a lifetime implant, and many have had them for a long time, but sometimes there are complications where they have to be removed, that percentage is pretty small though. On the excess skin issue everyone is different, it depends on your age and the elasticity of your skin, one advantage to the band is you lose slowly and this allows your skin to retract better than very very rapid weight loss such as you have with a bypass surgery. I believe I remember reading that about 20% of band weight loss paitients need a plastic surgery after they are at their goal weight. Hope this helps.

Debbie

GREAT replies!

Thanks for the info.

Can I bug you all with one more question?

So I want to get this done ASAP (bet you never heard that before). How do I start? Should I:

A. Go see my primary care doctor

B. Call the insurance and ask them

C. Find a Lap Band doctor and go see him

Thanks in advance

David

GREAT replies!

Thanks for the info.

Can I bug you all with one more question?

So I want to get this done ASAP (bet you never heard that before). How do I start? Should I:

A. Go see my primary care doctor

B. Call the insurance and ask them

C. Find a Lap Band doctor and go see him

Thanks in advance

David

call your insurance to see if they cover any kind of WLS.

then get it writing - each coverage has different requirements. mine (bcbs) you had to have 2 comorbids if your bmi was under 40 and they needed to be really extreme....that's not the case w/every policy - which is why you should get a copy of your's directly.

all the while research lapband drs in your area - most experienced w/the best aftercare!

good luck!!

all the while research lapband drs in your area - most experienced w/the best aftercare!

good luck!!

Thanks

I tried clicking on the "Find A Lap-Band Surgeon" in the upper right corner of this site but doesnt seem to be working.

Thanks

I tried clicking on the "Find A Lap-Band Surgeon" in the upper right corner of this site but doesnt seem to be working.

start a thread for questions about surgeons in your area - city, state, country....

once you get some names - you can do a search here on them and get the good/bad.....worth a start.