Hello I'm 17 and am just staring the process this week...my mom calls tomorrow to set up all my appointments...yeah i cant wait for this life changing event...any special advice?? How was the first steps and what was it like?

I was not able to have my surgery until I was 19. My insurance would make no exceptions to get the surgery until I turned 18. I began the process after I turned 18, and had my surgery 5 months later. I know that the process can begin before turning 18 with my insurance company, but you cannot ask for approval until the patient turns 18. For example, my insurance company requires a 6 months pre-op diet to secure that the patient is dedicated, you can start that before you turn 18, and then time it so surgical authorization is sent in right after the patient turns 18. Good luck with your daughter. If she would like to talk about the issues related to her weight as a young teen, I would be more than happy to be a support to her.

How old did any of you have to be before being allowed to have WLS? My daughter is 13 & considered morbidly obeese for her age. I am concedering talking to her Dr. About it but was hoping to hear from any of you first. Thanx angelic

By LAP RNY I mean Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.. I think it combines both methods very well. Did you have open RNY?

Hey, glad you're here. I don't post much or even get on the internet that much, but I thought I'd say hi. It is good to see teens like myself here. I had the surgery when I was 18 last June and turned 19 last February. Now you said, the lap rny.. do you mean lapband or roux-en-y gastric bypass?.. they are different.