Ebeth, I think you will find most of us on this site, wish we had the opportunity to have surgery earlier. At eighteen it is hard to imagine another 20 years of being big, of putting your hopes and efforts into every new diet that comes along, only to be dissappointed time and time again. I am now 38, and have been big for the last .....forever (battling for the first 5 years, and then big for the next 15...and getting bigger) yes - in that time I have had my 3 gorgeous daughters, but you can have the band during pregnancy..............I regret missing out on a lot of "life experiences" in my twenties and early 30's due to being self conscious and physically unable to participate.............. If you promise to change your life, and not regret one moment of time - then go for it!!! Be thinner and happier - give yourself the power to participate!!! Good luck - Karen