Is there a certain criteria in order to have Lap Band Surgery?

They usually want you to be a certain amount over weight. I wanted gastric bypass but I was 20 lbs to light. I didn’t want to gain the weight in order to have the surgery so I went on a diet and exercise program. My husband and I both lost the weight and we did a commercial for the diet plan. You can see it here!
http://www.bariatricsolutions.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=67&Itemid=96

Judi @ Correct.

Also, for Patty, EVERYONE will always suggest that any one coming to seek lapband surgery lose weight naturally OVER the use of the surgury. It is possible to get the surgury done and then quickly regain whatever weight is lost: As a matter of fact, the band is supposed to FORCE you into reducing unreasonable food intake… whereas anyone with any genuine interest in improving their health should be able to start taking responsibility with the type and amounts of food being eaten.

If the patient is just unwilling and wants the “easy way out”, then go for the surgery, however, as a very last resort. It’s a lot of pain to deal with, whereas a little self control would be enough in virtually every case.

You also have to be in good health overall, or conversely, at death’s door. Surgery under general anesthesia (sp?) is inherently dangerous, but even more so in an obese patient, so the rest of your health had better be in good shape. The only exceptions I’ve heard of are people who are going to die without the surgery. My mother, mother-in-law, and step-father all had the surgery. My mother is the only one who kept all the weight off. Think long and hard before deciding this is the right choice for you.

Lap band is not as dangerous as gastric bypass but still a serous surgery.

Thanks, Judi…I just realized in reading your response that what the parents had was gastric bypass!

If the patient is unwilling to alter their eating habits gastric banding can have catastrophic results. I have known someone who after discharge from hospital went for a slap up meal ruptured their stomach and ended up in multi organ failure. I admit it is extreme and due to where I work I see the failures not the successes but I thought I’d mention it.

Both my mother-in-law and father-in-law have had the surgery done. My MIL had it 18 months ago and my FIL had it just last month. She’s lost about 100 pounds since and he’s lost about 40 (although some of that was the pre-surgery diet they make you go on). They both went under lots of testing to get approved, although I’m not sure what was for the doctor and what was for the insurance company. But they had everything from psychological testing to basic heart and breathing tests before being approved.

My MIL has done very well with the surgery and has been able to stop all of her previous medications for her diabetes because of it. It hasn’t been easy though. She almost died on the table and had a hard time adjusting to the band at first. If she eats even a bite too much it gets stuck and she has to force herself to vomit it back up. Very unpleasant to say the least.

A friend of mine also had the surgery over a year ago and has barely lost weight at all. She figured out that she could eat all the ice cream she wanted because it’d fit through the band. She cheats constantly.

While the lap band can be great for those who really need it, you do have to be committed to losing weight. You can’t expect the band to do all the work. You still have to be careful with your choices, you still have to limit certain foods and you still have to exercise.