Surgeon/hospital that will do WLS on BMI 70+???

Hi!  I am new to the board, hoping to have WLS myself (BMI 43), and now my sister is becoming interested, too.  My surgeon told her he wouldn't/couldn't operate on her until she was less than 55 BMI.  She weighs around 450 lbs, and I am becoming increasingly concerned about her  health.  I just don't think she's going to be able to diet her way to 55 BMI.   I told her that she may have to travel to find someone to help her, but that there had to be SOMEBODY out there that would operate on her.   She lives an hour from Charlotte, NC, so the closer to there, the better. Any info/help that I can pass on to her would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks!

Unfortunately, I do not know of any surgeons in North Carolina--I live in Indiana and my pre-op BMI was 72.  I have found that surgeons/centers who will not operate on anyone with a BMI of over 55 tend to not be Bariartic Centers of Excellence and they are trying to keep their complication rate as low as possible by not taking patients with higher BMI's. I would look for a center that is a Bariatric Center of Excellence.   Good luck!

Actually, this surgeon (who is going to be my surgeon also) DOES work at a Center of Excellence!  And he says that the hospital won't let him operate on anybody with BMI over 55! 

Wow!  The hospital must be trying to keep their complication rate low--I would look for another hospital and another surgeon.  There are many surgeons out there who WILL do surgery on people with a BMI in the 70's--you might also try posting on the North Carolina forum.

My BMI was 83 when I saw the surgeon (440lbs @ 5'1'') - I was told I had to lose at least 40 lbs before he would do surgery, and I was placed on a supervised diet.  It took a couple of months to get all of the pre-op testing done and the surgery approved/scheduled - in that time I lost the 40lbs without too much trouble.  It is likely that even if you find a surgeon willing to do it, which many will be I think (look for the most experienced surgeons in your area, with the most training), your sister will most likely be put on some kind of diet for at least a little while.  Most of us here were required to lose some weight before surgery, usually more than the standard 20lbs a lot of pre-ops are suggested to lose.  Its of benefit to her to do the best she can because it makes surgery easier on both surgeon and patient. 

I'm in Colorado and I had surgery at 440 lbs and I'm about 5'7" (maybe 5'6"), my BMI was about 71 or so.  My surgeon, Dr. Frank Chae, didn't blink an eye about my weight.  He didn't put me on a pre-surgery diet nor require that I lose a certain amount of weight. The hospital is also a COE. What sold me on Dr. Chae was his laid-back nature, the fact that he is sought out to certify other facilities as COE's, and most of all, his low, low complication rate. I would highly encourage your sister to search high and low for a surgeon who knows how to handle patients of our size.  I, personally, wouldn't even look at a surgeon who has done less than 1,000 of these surgeries.  Maybe post a similar post in the NC forum and see what NC folks have to say. I wish both you and your sister the best of luck! Jana

Hi, I live in Michigan.  I am having the gastric sleeve, but my surgeon usually does Duodenal Switch.  When I was the support group meeting this evening, there were two people who weighed over 500 pounds.  He did surgery on them and they are doing well.  His name is Marek Lutrzykowski.  He is a very good surgeon and has a very low complication rate.  A lot of people come from Canada to have him do their surgeries.  He has a website www.oaklandbariatrics.com. Good luck to you and your sister Bernice

Hi there, I weighted 410 and my BMI was 70.4.  My doctor requested that I lose weight before surgery, but I didn't.  My surgery was long (4.5 hrs), but successful and uneventful.  And, I'm 8.5 months post op with no complications. I had surgery at Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Towson, MD.  It is also a Center of Excellence.

Hi!  I'm from Lumberton and used a doctor in Fayetteville, NC.  My BMI was 63.5 and no one ever said anything about delaying my surgery because of my BMI.  I had to go on the "Cabbage Soup Diet" 10 days before surgery to shrink my liver, but other than that it was smooth sailing.  My surgeon used Cape Fear Valley Hospital in Fayetteville and as far as I know, no problems occured because of my size.  What is your sister's BMI?  If it's close to mine, I'd look into Dr. Davidson or Dr. Classen at Village Surgical Associates.  PM me if you need information.

Hi there!   My BMI was well over 60 when I had my DS a few months ago. Doc requested I get under 400 which I did barely lol I was 395 on surgery date but I did it.  Only problem was my liver wasn't small enough to get my gall bladder and that will prolly have to come out later.    My liver was actually surrounding my gall bladder Aside from that I've been fine with no complications. Dr. Wilson is in Houston Texas and I know thats quite a trip ... but as a last resort at least she'll have options. Good Luck! Stephanie