Lap BMI cut off?

Curious if anyone knows if there is a cut off to have the surgery laproscopically? Is there a BMI cut off? I will be having surgery with Dr. Barba, any of his patients, please let me know what he had to say, I haven't had the opportunity to meet with him yet. Thanks, Melissa B.

Hi, I had Dr. Barba. They say their cut off is a bmi of 50. Dr. Valin in New Haven does lapbands for people over 50 bmi. Good Luck, Joanne

Melissa, I think every doctor has his/her own cut off. You can check with several different docs and get several different answers. I had Dr. Bell in New Haven, and I don't think he has a BMI cut off, mine was 58, it is an individual decision for him. He is quite skilled laproscopically. Pam

Hi, Melissa! My BMI was 54 when I had my procedure, and I know that my surgeon has done Lap-band on larger patients. I suppose it all depends on the doctor.

Hi Melissa, I had laparoscopic RNY on 11/22 with Dr. Barba, and my BMI was like, 49.8. Afterwards, Dr. Barba asked me if I had followed the liquid diet, because my liver was still (apparently) fatty and enlarged... He also said he had a hard time with it and was glad he had another skilled surgeon with him, or he would have had to do the open...So, my suggestion to you would be that if you want lap RNY, at least with Dr. Barba, to get your BMI under 50, say a 46 or 47...BTW, I think the world of Doc Barba; he's very skilled and compassionate...Good luck, and email me if you want. Heather 326/???/150

I'm having my surgery with Dr. Barba on 3/16 and I was told that I would be having open surgery. My BMI is 56, but for some reason I expected lap surgery because I don't carry a lot of weight in my middle, I'm pear shape. I thought that would have something to do with it, but apparently not.