Cassie

Hey Lauren! ok lets start off with question number 1, normally people should get there band tightend about 3 times , but everyone is diffrent and that isnt always the case, I had to go in a couple times because I got the bad case of the flu a year and a half into surgury causing me to have to unfill the band because i was sooo sick and couldnt get anything down, but as soon as i got better I got it refilled. you just have to wait till you find your sweet spot. fills in mexico are done very well and all they do is incert a needle into your port threw your stomach (its not bad at all you can barely feel it). at my point when i was 13 i wasnt really worried about loose skin i just wanted to be skinny, but fortunatly i nipped it in the butt because i really do not have loose skin at all, i think the younger you are your body snaps back faster. At first i was imbarrassed when i told my friends and stuff, but then i just learned to embrace it. and trust me its not the easy way out atall, the lap band is just a tool to use that actually works. but your still doing it by yourself you got to know this is going to be a lifestyle, you eat to live, NOT live to eat. i can see why you would feel that way, but girl its a beautiful thing!

these are my before and afters for you before: and After: And I dont feel resticted from any food, i can eat anything i want if i take my time and chew it

Yes I totally saw that last night, and thats what the lap band MAKES you do You can eat whatever you want, but all you have to do is chew chew chew and think about what your eating and you lose weight

the surgury diet wasnt hard for me but I know it varies from person to person, just take you time and chew chew chew! and about the drinking thing, I dont recommend you drink at all since your not of age yet, I dunno what to tell you about that since im 17 too and I dont drink. I just dont feel comfortable answering that question because we are young.

Today has been the 4 year mark since I went to Dr Ortiz to have the lap band I am so happy its like my new birthday!!

Hey God4me! your "sweet spot" is when your at the point where you have made it to your goal weight and where your body is comfortable, and you wont gain or lose weight. I hit my sweet spot about two years after my surgury, but it depends on the person how quickly they hit their "sweet spot" and it feels amazing because you dont have to worry about gaining the weight back!

LOL well thank you and I am glad I helped you out! I dunno about reruns I dont think there will be any

Hey Andrea, sorry it took forever for me to reply! now to answer your question, the first month I lost about 35 lbs, 15 of that was in the first week! the second month I slowed down probly 10 lbs, and once that happends thats when its time for a fill after that I continued to lose all the weight I needed and here I am today! and about jogging and stuff, I walked an hour after surgury all around the hospital, and the next day I walked all over mexico shopping, so jogging i would say maybe two weeks after your surgury to be safe, double check with the Drs to be sure Thanks good luck Cassie

Hey guys, I'm comming up on year 4 of being banded on March 17th. Im so excited, its feels like my second birthday I get every year! But I realized there are alot of teens on the site and I was wondering if you would like your questions answerd by another teen? feel free to ask Thanks guys Cassie >

Im comming up on my 4th year in March. I hit my "sweet spot" (where you're at your goal weight and you dont loose or gain) about 2 years ago. I will bounce back and forth with 5lbs but will never go over or under. If your asking about complications, I have had none, and I am very happy with my results Cassie

Well congrats! I bet you are so excited!! wait till you see the clinic its awesome!! and thanks for the luck haha I will need it The OCC is the best place to go you will be in good hands

Hey Guys My name is Cassie and I was the second child to ever come to Dr Ortiz for the lap-band surgery four years ago. I have always tried to help people who were interested and many of the people I have talked to actually got the band! I have always wanted something big like Oprah to happen so I could share my stories and help others. My dream has finally came true, I get a chance to tell the word out about this amazing surgery which as changed my life for the best. Oprahs Producers found me a week ago today and asked me about my experience with the lap-band. I sent them pictures, and before I knew it my mom was on the phone non-stop talking to Oprah's people!! They were busy planning our trip out to Mexico to visit Dr. Ortiz and his team, and everything would be filmed!! When I first found out I wasn’t sure if I want to laugh or cry. I was so excited to see everyone again, they welcomed me back with open arms and were so AWESOME! They even invited me to watch the surgery be preformed, that alone was pretty much the coolest thing I have ever got to witness. I was sad to leave the OCC but I had an amazing time. The camera guys were very nice and tried to make me feel as least awkward as possible. That was kind of hard because they had a camera in my face everywhere me and my mother went. But it was a very cool experience. Now I am getting ready to leave tomorrow for Chicago, and I’m so excited! We get to stay at the Omni Hotel and get limo service to and from the airport and to the Harpo studio. On Thursday I get to meet Oprah herself and sit down on that comfy white couch of hers and share my story to the world. I hurd an estimated 64 million people watch her show a week and it is shown in 135 countries world wide. So if this doesn’t get the word out I don’t know what will!! well I better finish packing, I have a long day tomorrow. Thank you OCC, I Hope I make you proud! Cassie

Thank You all so much for your suport I really just want to get the word out about the lap band I know it WILL help so many people it's truely amazing thank you again... Cassie

Her producer found me on the OCC website! then looked me up on myspace crazy huh?!?

I am So excited! But I am a little worried about what she will say about the surgery I know she is a big believer of natural weight loss but hopefully I can help open her eyes this is a beautiful thing! Thanks so much OCC Cassie

aw thank you Teri!! it dose feel great, haha i'm so happy to hear how kyle is comming along make sure you send me pictures!!! Cassie Thank you! I was 13 years old when i got the surgury, i didnt get any plastic surgury anywhere, sinice i am young my body sortta snaped back. and i understand youre worried for your child, i was there with my mom too, she would have done anything to make sure i was happy. and this surgury deffinatly helped me out alot. i love the person i am today, and i know i wouldnt be like this with out the help of my family. the best of luck to you and your son! Cassie

Hi Everyone, Ok I am new to this forum, and it says I am a Newbie but please let me reassure you I am not. I am the 2nd youngest to get Lap Band Surgery by Dr. Martinez and Dr. Ortiz. I am also shown in Dr. Otiz's book. I have been starting to get more e-mails from other teens wanting to get the surgery done so I know I need to post here to help any other teens looking to answer any questions they may have. So if you have any questions or need to just talk please, I would like to hear from you. Thanks Cassie

Hey Vanessa! I have one thing to say JUST DO IT!! TRUST ME!!! It will be the most wonderful thing you have done for yourself. before i got my sugury, i reseached with my mom for a couple months, we were a little septical at first, because i had to get it in Mexico. But after i talked to the doctors, and talked to the first teenager who got the surgury, i just did it. and to tell you the truth, if i had to i would do it all over again! I cant even explain to you how much this makes you feel better as a person. It has changed me, to be the happy outgoing person i am today. Just Do it Vanessa, what do you have to lose except pounds you wont regret it, i promise Cassie

Brand New Pics!! i took this picture tonight so it it BRAND NEW same with is one! I'm being kinda Silly this is me and my BEAUTIFUL family And this one is me on vacation Tell me what you think!

Hi Kyle, I spoke to your mom and sounds like both of you are doing very well. I hope I answered all the questions you both needed. Please e-mail anything that comes up. I also filled your mom in on post-op and how I am doing today. Hey...let's echange pictures real soon. Cassie

Hi Everyone, Ok I am new to this forum, and it says I am a Newbie but please let me reassure you I am not. I am the 2nd youngest to get Lap Band Surgery by Dr. Martinez and Dr. Ortiz. I am also shown in Dr. Martinez book. I have been starting to get more e-mails from other teens wanting to get the surgery done so I know I need to post here to help any other teens looking to answer any questions they may have. So if you have any questions or need to just talk please, I would like to hear from you. Thanks Cassie