Is my BMI to high for lap band??

Post Date: 11/16/06 10:40 am I posted this on the lap board but would also like any feedback from you nice people also! I am scheduled to have the lap band on 12-5. Yesterday I went for a second opnion because I felt like my surgeon was somewhat bias to the lap band. I weigh 335 and have a bmi of 52. My main concern is that I weigh too much to be succesful with the lap band. Is my BMI to high? The second opinion doc said they do not usually recommend the band for someone with a BMI over 50. I am not a sweet eater but a quanity eater. I am SO afraid of failing. Any input/support would be GREATLY appreciated. P.S. Is life with the lapband like being on Weigh****chers or any other diet?

Surgeons will usually sway you towards the surgery they feel most comfortable in doing. With that being said, the only person that can decide if the Lap band is right for you is you. What are your goals? Have you researched the Lap Band out fully? Do you know how many people reach their 'goal' weight or what percent of excess weight do they normally lose? How well do they maintain that weight? etc etc..... The newest research from the university of chicago says that the Duodenal switch is the surgery of choice for the Super Morbidly Obese (the article and a link to it is on my profile), but even in the article they say that the DS may not be for everyone. Really research it out, I'm sure there are Lapbanders that were SMO and made it to their goal weight, but statistically lapbanders generally lose between 50 to 60 percent of their excess weight. My surgeon told me the Lap band wasn't for me for this reason (actually 2 surgeons told this to me. The first one and the 2nd opinion). I was 320 lbs overweight with a BMI of 64; If i just lost between 50 to 60 percent of my excess weight I would still have been Morbidly obese at the end of it. That wasn't my goal. I wanted to lose weight and get to my goal weight. So i choose a surgery that was right for me, which was the one that would get me to that weight...and keep me there. Again, that might not be your goal. Research research research....read read read..until you feel comfortable with your decision, and don't do it just cause you have date. You'll be stuck with whatever surgery you pick for a long time...even the lap band. Scott