Weight Loss Surgery Options In Canada

Lap-band/Gastric Bypass Questions?

Hello.

Again, I have other questions posted about weight loss, and like I said, I have finally decided to talk to my doctor. In a much earlier question I asked for weight loss options and said that I weighed 265lbs. Well, at a doctors appointment sometime last week, I found out that I had actually gained weight and the new number is 290lbs. I am 5’5 and 16 yrs old, with a BMI of 48.3%. When asked to list some options for me, he suggested laparoscopic banding.

The questions I’d like to ask are… what are the prices like here in Canada. Who is the best surgeon to go to? How should I go about getting this procedure. Is it available to teens my age? Any other additional information from people who’ve had it done would be wonderful…

Additionally, this surgery is not for aesthetics. At this point the surgery is because my weight has become a serious and impairing health issue.

If you have a BMI of 48 that is high enough, so if you were an adult, you would definitely qualify. Yes, I have seen and heard of some surgeons doing it on minors, however, they have always been those with extremely high BMI’s 55+, so I don’t know if 48 is high enough. However, all you can do is try.

If you are serous the only way to know for sure is to speak some surgeons in your area (not just one). One of them may be willing to do it. This is also how you should “go about getting this procedure” and they will be able to tell you how to get qualified to do it.

If you go to http://www.obesityhelp.com/ I would guess you can find a list of surgeon’s in Canada. However, I don’t know if it they have information on Canada or not. However, they do have a lot of very good info on all types of weight-loss surgeries. If they don’t have info on Canada, I would ask your general doctor for a referral. He will know a good surgeon.

I personally think they should do it for you or any other minor who qualifies, but is mature enough to understand that what is going on. I don’t know statically the numbers of obese teens who get skinny, but I don’t think its a stretch to say 6 year-old’s who are obese have any better chance of getting skinny then any other adult, which is not a very big chance. Unless you are one of those lucky ones who can do it, most obese people don’t get skinnier as they get older. Why not get started at 16 and reduce the damage. I had to have my first knee surgery at 15. If I had lost the weight then, I wouldn’t have bad knees now. Yes you are a minor, but a 16 year old is old enough to understand the consequences of this decision, however, that is my opinion.