Ok, So I go to get banded on Wednesday the 27th, yes in just a few days. I have told my surgeons office that I wanted them to put in a Realize Band. After extensive research in forums/blogs and chat rooms I feel like I made a mistake and need to revert back to LapBand AP bands. I have heard so many different things about the Realize band and it's literally all I can think about. I don't want to have the wrong band, I don't want my port to show, I want one that is tried and true and has been proven to work, but I also want new and to have a slim port...I really need advice because my days are dwindeling...PLEASE HELP!!

You can have a lap band and a small port. There is a new lap band AP port II that has a port as small as if not smaller than the realize band. It is the one I have... it is only about the size of a dime. It's tiny. The lap band has come a long way and in my opinion still far out weighs some of the negatives to the realize band. It all depends on your doctors contracts and whether or not they have access to it but it is being more and more widely used. I had a SLIP (single incision) surgery with the port II and it is wonderful! Good luck with your decision!

I think that I can make a couple of points about this. First let me say I have the Lapband brand and I too wondered about the Realize band for different reasons. Some say you lose faster with Lapband than Realize. I think part of that is because you need more fills. If you have a doctor that is quick with the fills then it may not make a difference. My doctore fills until you feel restriction and then backs off until you can drink without any problems. You may get several cc put in a time. If you doctor only puts in .5 cc at a time then, yes the weight loss may take much longer.

As far as the high vs low profile port....when that was my concern until I realized that if I loose enough weight for this to be a problem then it is a problem I would much rather have than the extra weight. I am planning on PS in the next 5 years (after my WLS is paid off) and they can reposition my port then and maybe give me a lower profil port or put in deeper.

Neither is going to be a "bad decision". You have already made the right decision by getting banded.

Why did I decide to get the LB? Well I decided that if LB would get me quicker results then that might help me keep on track. 7 months later and 100lbs gone, I am happy with my decision. I think I would have been happy either way. I guess only time will tell how things go.