Gastric Sleeve: Am I a candidtate for BMI right at 30 with pre-diabetes and high blood pressure?

[jld]

Hi all,

I've looked around the forums and haven't found anyone else who has asked this question, so I am wondering if anyone out there has found a doctor who would consider me a candidate for gastric sleeve surgery. My BMI is exactly 30, I do not want to deliberately gain weight to increase it, but I do have other risk factors which are that I'm insulin resistant (PCOS) and have high blood pressure. I am 60-70 lbs above my ideal weight. Anyone? Thank you!

[ambercard]

Dr Almanza in Mexico does surgery on people with bmi of 30 and higher

[ANewCindy]

Amber is right. I have a BMI of 30 and just had surgery with Almanza. Im not sure what the other doctors in Mexico require.. but look at them. Good luck.

[Kelly Jo]

You won't qualify in the States for insurance to pay. If you are looking at self pay, who knows. Insurance requires (most of them at least) BMI of 35 with 1 or more comorbidity.

[Dee Leshuz]

Mexico has no BMI requirement, period.

[grammargirl0309]

Hi, When I had my sleeve, my bmi was at 30. I was 202 at 5 feet 8 inches. I knew I would NEVER qualify for WLS in the States. First off, it's an exclusion under my insurance, but even if it wasn't, they would make me gain all this weight just to prove that I was "fat enough." I knew I would just keep getting bigger. My knees hurt; my hips hurt. I had elevated LDL cholesterol and I was sick of being fat. I'd tried every day five times over and knew I needed a tool. I had the sleeve done in January, have lost 65 pounds and have not looked back. I am thin! I have so much energy! I love the way I feel. DO IT. You won't regret it!

[TRG]

Dr. Ortiz just did mine 5 days ago and I feel great. I am also at a BMI of 30 and they never said anything about this. It was no problem.

[itsmytime]

Doctors in Mexico will often do surgery for BMI of 30 especially since you have co morbidities. I know that Dr. Cirangle from Lapsf.com does sleeves on people with lower than 35 BMI's with diabetes or sleep apnea. I don't know a lot of other doctors in the U.S. who would perform it. I am not sure how severe your pre-diabetes and blood pressure are so you might be able to convince a doc in the states. You might have to self-pay. I wish you the best in finding a doc!

[WoWGurl78]

Hi all,

I've looked around the forums and haven't found anyone else who has asked this question, so I am wondering if anyone out there has found a doctor who would consider me a candidate for gastric sleeve surgery. My BMI is exactly 30, I do not want to deliberately gain weight to increase it, but I do have other risk factors which are that I'm insulin resistant (PCOS) and have high blood pressure. I am 60-70 lbs above my ideal weight. Anyone? Thank you!

I know this post is a little over a month old but I had my gastric sleeve done on Wednesday 6-27 by Dr Clayton Frenzel. He is in the DFW, TX area. He will do the gastric sleeve if you need to lose 50 pounds or more and/or with comorbidities. I have no complications from being overweight (luckily considering my family genetics are against me hypertension, diabetes, heart problems). I was tired of struggling to get below 200 on my own even when I was strict on healthy diet & exercise. My bmi is 38 right now. If you're able to go to the DFW area he will do a free consult & takes insurance or cash pts. I was a cash pt cos my insurance would rather me be overweight than spend money on any bariatic surgey including the lap band. Good luck to you