how do i know weight loss surgery is for me?

If you really cared about someone, you wouldn't give them a lapband. Non-invasive? It is far and away THE MOST invasive, injurious, expensive and painful WLS, and the least effective.

Talking about Hilary, it's good to see that you advocate free universal healthcare, based not on what doctors recommend, but on what patients want.

Single payer ...  Be still my racing heart!

Okay you are the experienced one on the lapband since I see you had the RNY... But I believe the the Doctors know what to do in this and what to recommend. I never stated that we should give patients what they want but simply said that they need to have a fair shot at getting surgery... However everything has to be in place and when you talk negatively about the lap band it shows that you know nothing about what you are talking about. People come to this site to get encouragement and someone points them away from this then it is abuse. When George Bush asked for more money for the military Hilary and the bunch blocked it just as you are blocking this person from positive outlook of getting surgery. We are here to share experiences and not snap at each other for our opinions. Perhaps you would be better to start a thread of your own on the subject of attacking opinions that don't line up with yours...

Most doctors have stopped doing lapbands, because they create dangerous complications, and cause more problems than they solve. The surgical group I went to performs about 600 weight loss surgeries a year. Several years ago about half were bands. Last year they did 2.

Nationally, surgeons removed more bands last year than they put in. Many hospitals, including the Mayo Clinic, will no longer do band placements. The manufacturer themselves no longer says their products are permanent, and will need revision within 10 years.

It won't be long before all insuranceolicies specifically exclude the band, because it costs them far more money than it could ever save. Thank goodness they can no longer claim bands as preexisting conditions and refuse to pay for their removal, when removal becomes medically necessary.

I have never been negative about WLS in general, but I certainly have been honest about bands. WLS has saved my life, and given me a quality of life I never would have had without it. I think that every person that has a medical necessity should have the option for WLS. Most, because of surgery, do not. Military families DO.

Your original post reads as if your intent was to have military families have a lower standard of medical necessity. Again, I say medical necessity should be the only standard, and should have nothing to do with any other factor.

I have family that is career military, so I'm very familiar with the system.

For posterity

 Oh my god, he's calling you a democrat. I haven't laughed this hard in years! Stop it, you're killing me.

No one is blocking the military from benefits. Tricare covers WLS, for everyone that meets medical criteria. Which is more than you can say for most private insurance plans.

More gains on military medical benefits, education benefits, and retirement have taken place under democratic congresses and presidents than republican. Get your facts straight.