Question:
almost 17yrold female needs wls
my name is yvette i had wls 3yrs ago i feel great but I see my daughter suffering like I use to does anyone know of a Dr that will perform the lapband surgery on a 17yrold please help me I live in maryland call 443-9834237 with info or email [email protected] — Evee2222 (posted on March 30, 2007)
March 30, 2007
Yvette,
I am in CA and I know my surgeon has a minimum and maximum age requirement.
I believe the minimum is 18 and the max is 65. Every surgeon is different.
It would be best if you did some research in your area. Also, I know I had
to "prove" years of battling the buldge as a prerequiste for
surgery.....being 17yrs old, she might not meet all of the requirements and
qualifying factors - my insurance and medical group had their own
requirements in addition to the surgeon. Good luck.
— jammerz
March 30, 2007
I think its 18 all over,I dont know but in South Dakota it says 18 for lap
bannd.You couls see if their was in exceptions.
— Sandy Hanson
March 30, 2007
I went to my dr.s we site after I made a comment it it says minimal age
14.His name is Dr.Obrien and he is in Sioux Falls Sd.At sioux valley
hospital.If you have any quesions let me know I have a profile on this web
site.
— Sandy Hanson
March 30, 2007
Dr. Ren is in New York and performs the Lap-Band on teenagers. However,
she's on TV a lot and as a consequence is very busy.
— Virginia N.
March 30, 2007
Is your daughter suffering from: high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes etc?
My surgeon won't perform surgery on anyone unless they have major medical
issues.
— Gayelene
March 30, 2007
It might not be the doc you have to worry about but the insurance company.
The surgeon who did your surgery - what is his policy? I don't believe my
surgeon has a set min/max age - it's more of a case by case basis. And
like another poster said, she may have to prove years of failed dieting.
Brightest Blessings. ~Sarah in VA
— platypus
March 30, 2007
Okay, so I am going to ask the question no one else is asking... have you
tried getting her into a structured diet program with a nutritionist?
Weight watcher's, etc are okay, but they are NOT run by dieticians. Have
you gotten her into counseling (she is NOT too young) to help her to
develop better coping mechanisms than eating? I wish my parents would have
done that for me. How much weight does she have to lose? Does she have
any health problems? Is she active or does she spend all her spare time on
the sofa watching TV or just lying around. Be a good example and take her
outside and do some physical things. With her dieting and getting active,
she should be able to lose weight. It won't be as fast as with the
surgery, but it will be healthier for her. There are surgeons who will
operate on teenagers, but alot are hesitant to do so as this surgery is
still relatively new and the long term studies are not in yet. And, just
like it was with you and I when you are qualifying for the surgery, you
must have comorbidities that are associated the obesity. I heard something
on the TV a couple of days ago that was really sad about childhood obesity.
This is the first generation of children that have a life expectancy
shorter than their parents... and all due to the obesity.
— Kari_K
March 30, 2007
While I don't dispute any of the worries expressed here about having
surgery too young, and even share in those worries, can we stop here to
remember what it was like to be an overweight teenager? I daresay this
girl has dieted, and dieted, and dieted yet again, and has been accused of
being a couch potato, and urged to just get up off her fat backside. And
why should it be any easier for her to do these things than it is for us?
How effective WERE these things for us? I remember all the tears I shed as
a heavy teenager, even though I was not nearly morbidly obese in those days
and couldn't have qualified for surgery if it had been offered. A year is
a long time in the life of a kid, and the years of high school are precious
and can't be recaptured. If weight-loss surgery gives this girl a chance
at a senior year of happy memories, I say she should be given the chance
for it.
— Kay B.
March 30, 2007
I absolutely agree with the one lady that said "Dont any of you
remember what it was like to be over weight and a teen?" I remember it
so well. and I know that my daughter also has been dieting and she even
exersizes (sp) everyday and she even got her high school letter for being
in swimming this year and its one of the longest and hardest sports our
school has. Even the kids that are on football and basket ball wont go back
into swimming.. but enough of that.. my daughter is bigger to. I do not
think she is "obese" but according to her drs records she is..
and she is 5ft 10in. so not only does she stick out because of her height
she is also bigger around. :( but if she would want the surgery i would do
everything i could to help her get it.. and i know how much she has
dieted.. even tried doing the "stick her finger down her throat"
Yes i do have her counseling and we are working on many things. But the
fact of the matter is, if she feels or her dr feels like wls would help her
then i will back her up in her desission. and she is only 16
Paula A
— japaad
March 30, 2007
I think Dr Thomas Chua in Milwaukee, WI does surgery on younger people. He
is at Sinai Hospital
— michelles123
March 31, 2007
Yvette, I have not heard of any surgeon performing wls on children. They
must be of adult age. If she is 17, there isn't much longer to wait, but
she will need insurance coverage which means full time college status after
age 18 to be covered by your insurance, or she needs a full time job that
covers wls on their insurance. Don't be in such a rush for your daughter
though. I know you feel badly for her, but she has to be ready for the
changes and lifetime changes are much greater for her, because hopefully
she will have an additional 20 to 30 years compared to you. Just give it
some serious thought, or she needs to anyway. Take care, Patricia P.
— Patricia P
October 1, 2007
I read on this site Maryland has a law that insurance can't deny someone in
Maryland if their over 40BMI, and work for a company with more than 50
people. Not sure about age thou.
— hk25carter
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