Question:
If you were 21 years old, would you have the surgery done?

I am 21 and pretty much decided to have surgery. My surgeon seems very confident about the long term, but I am still a little nervous, after all I will have to live with this for 60 years (hopefully!)    — Mandi C. (posted on July 22, 2001)

July 22, 2001
I would have this surgery at almost any age. I wanted this 15 yr. ago and had no ins. that would cover it till now. yo are young yet have it now if you want because you may regret not having it later. I am 37 now and I wasted have my life being overweight. If this is what you want go for it life is to shor to waste. But get all the facts first. I would have done it when I was that old if I could have. Good luck
   — Sue R. T.

July 22, 2001
Hey.. I'm 23, though I wish I would have had the surgery at 18 or even 16! You'll be fine! Good Luck!
   — sgeisendorff

July 22, 2001
I'm 21 and I'm now 5 weeks post-op and I can honestly say that this was the best decision I've ever made. I was pretty healthy when I had surgery, except for the weight, and my recovery has been incredibly easy compared to the middle-aged women in my support group. Youth definitely has its advantages when it comes to recovery and because I don't have any joint problems yet or anything like that, it's made working out every day much easier.
   — Emily B.

July 22, 2001
IN A HEARTBEAT! My only regret is that I waited till this year, my 43rd year. I should have had it in my late 20's (as I never had a weight problem until I was 19 or 20). I'm so sorry I waited thinking I could lose the weight on my own. All those years were wasted. :(
   — Danmark

July 22, 2001
HI.. im 22 and im very scared. its good to know that there are other people around are ages. i wish you the best of luck, and i think its the good idea.. you have lots more time to work out, and get to your goal wight. if you have any questions..or just wanna talk feel free to write [email protected]
   — sherry F.

July 22, 2001
Do it!!!! I am 24 and 2 weeks post op. I am very happy to have had this done, right now it is hard because I am still adjusting but I am so glad I did it. My life is going to change for the better. I think that my recovery is easier because I am younger as well. If you have chance to get it done now they go for it.
   — karen Z.

July 22, 2001
Hi, I would definetly say GO FOR IT! I am 23 yrs old and I am 10 days post op.Although it isn't easy I feel it was a good decision. i have dropped already 11 lbs... we have the rest of our lives to live and what better way to live it then to be skinny. i know I cannot wait to go to victoria secret and go shopping and go into all those cool stores and be able to go dancing and have people gasp at the sight of you, I want to be able to fit into a small wedding dress, This obviously isn't the reason I did this, I had terrible terrible asthma which my boyfriend had to do CPR on me twice, and I knew I was going to make it to my wedding alive if I didn't do something. IF you have the opportunity go for it. Don't wait to get sicker and fatter because it may be to late.
   — Jennifer L.

July 22, 2001
Mandi, when I was 21 I was heavy but not morbidly obese. Also, I don't think the surgery back then was as safe or as effective. However, that said...if I could have at 21 had TODAY'S surgeries and lived my younger years healthier and happier, I'd have done it in a minute. But the fact is I didnt have these options until recently, at my ripe old age of 43. I know all things happen for a reason and my life is being played out exactly as it should and I have been blessed in many ways. Bottom line - YOU have your whole life ahead of you. Do this for yourself and your future. Its exciting just to imagine the possibilities isnt it? Good luck.
   — Donna L.

July 22, 2001
I am 24 and I am going to have the surgery,I just haven't got my surgeon yet,My main concern is my 3 kids and what will they do if I die on the table or something goes wrong. But Yes,I would definatly have had this surgery at 21. Good luck to you!
   — Brandy P.

July 22, 2001
ALL I HAVE OT SAY IS HECK YEAH!! I'm not yet 21 I will be next month and I had the surgery done june 19th and have lost 40 + pounds already I think you will be just fine I wouldn't change my decision for the life of me! you will be satisfied
   — Heather G.

July 22, 2001
Hi, I say go for it!. I am 28 and going in for surgery on the 30th of this month. I wish I would have done this earlier. I have been obese since I was 17, and sometimes I think that I've wasted my early 20's being fat. You can't get back those years, and if you can do something that will make your life longer and more enjoyable now, while your young, then do it. If I could go back to being 21 and was able to get this surgery done, I would do it in a heartbeat!
   — [Anonymous]

July 23, 2001
You bet I would!! I'm 25 years old, and I wonder sometimes how things would have turned out had i done it earlier! This is the best thing I've ever done for myself!
   — jammie B.

July 24, 2001
Yes..Yes..Yes. My only regret is that I didn't have this surgery years ago. If you are MO, have the surgery now while you are young and your whole life is ahead of you. I was almost 50 when I had my rny and sometimes think about the life I might have had if I'd had wls when I was much younger. Not that I'm not kicking up my heels and enjoying life now..........
   — [Anonymous]

July 24, 2001
Oh, dear God, YES. If nothing else, I would have saved myself two and a half decades of fruitless dieting and hating myself. There's no doubt about it that having this done is a MAJOR lifestyle change, but, on the other hand, you're at a point in your life where you won't have put in years and years and years with the co-morbidities associated with morbid obesity ... and likely saved yourself some long-term damage in the long run. Go for it, sweetie -- and good luck!
   — Cheryl Denomy

July 24, 2001
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE have the surgery. I totally wasted my 20's being fat and depressed. I've finally had the surgery at the age of 32 and I would love to have those years back.
   — Meredith A.

June 23, 2002
I am 20 years old, I am researching into the surgery and tryign to decide wheather or not to go through with it. i want to but I am a little bit scared to go through with it. My mother has had the surgery and is doing great she already has lost close to 50 lbs her sugery was in May 2002. I know my Dr. is Dr. Liem. I am going to see him on July 3rd. I will then make my decision about submitting to my insurance for approval. I think if youhave cofidence in your doctor, research the surgery thoroughly, and have faith then you should go ahead with the surgery. Like I said I am 20 years old and deciding wheather or not to have the surgery and you are 21. If it is what you want and know that it would helpyou inthe long run then go for it. But always keep your faith with godand keep strong. :)
   — Vanessa W.

October 21, 2002
I was 21 when I decided to have the surgery. I just turned 22 now. I think I made a good choice. I am not afraid ether, I am quite eger. I think being young has it's advantages. For one we have our age as an advantage for a speedy recovery. And second you get to go on with your life. your life is not alredy lived. you get a new chance at life instead of sitting around being an inocent bystander in your own life
   — Angela P.

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