Thoughts on Teens having Gastric Bypass

I think giving kids the band is terrible.  They are giving them a device they know is likely to require a second surgery to remove/repair/replace in less than ten years and they know that most banders do not lose all the weight they want to lose; most don't come close.  It's like setting kids up to fail.  As well as exposing them to the risks of infection and the risks from general anesesthia and everything with a very low chance of a good outcome.

My daughter, age 22 and  is in her 5th month of the 7 month pre-sugery diet for RNY.  One, I wouldn't have considered this had I not gone through this first.  Two, she has been through countless diets, plans, and medications for weight loss from early in her teens.  Three, she has watched me go through this, has the rules bible already from my clinic, has done the seminar and nutrional meetings, and she made the decision on her own.  My thoughts on this are:  yes it will be scary as hell waiting in that surgery waiting room, BUT, I do not want to see her go through what I did for 20+ adult years when she can do it now.  She will personally be in my home for at least the first week of recovery.  Can she afford the vitamins and protein right now?  No way.  Will I help her with these indefinitely?.. yes, just like any other medical treatment I would help a child with and just like I help her with other commitments now.  As she finds work after surgery, we will work on budgeting this.  Could she have handled this at 14, 16, or even 18; I doubt it.  I feel she is ready for it now and she is making all the right moves.

Oh, at the surgery center's seminar, they passed around the two available bands.  I gave her my opinion on it and was hoping she would lean towards RNY.  She took one look at it and said, "I don't want that thing insdie of me."  Yes :-)  Plus the docs at this center appear to be less impressed with the band but still allow the choice.

 
I agree Kelly; they are setting these kids up for failure.  I was very surprised when I heard that this hospital agreed to the FDA trial.  

The only requirements that I'm aware of (and I have not really looked too far into it) is that they be over 300 lbs and 15 or older.  This hospital treats kids up to age 21.  The only reason I even know about it  is I saw a flyer in the exam room looking for volunteers to join the study.   

 I am 17 years old and have been working toward having gastric bypass since I was 15 years old. I am just waiting to do bone maturity x-rays in June. It has been a long and hard process ,but I stuck with all the pre-op preparation.

It depends on the teen's readiness and maturity. This was certainly a last resort. I made sure I put a solid effort into all of my other options. I would not recommend it for most teenagers. However, the few I know that have had it are at a significantly higher level of maturity than most and a really scary place. 

I have been a self-sufficient person most of the time and have matured fast then most teens have to and I am ready. However, most teens have enough trouble keeping their room clean not to mention a managing major surgery and the aftermath.

Make sure he eats balanced and exercises regularly. If the problem gets worse instead of better look into it. Most of all you need to ask him how he feels about himself and what does he want as far as health and body-image.

For me this surgery was about deciding to that I need more help to fight what has been a life long losing battle with obesity. It was also about the fact that what I loved as far as activity and opportunities were being stripped away because of it.

VSG, yes.  RNY, no.