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Hi everyone had to have my port removed a few months ago due to infection and have now decided to have the band removed. I live in Ireland but Chris De Bruyne removed the port in Belgium. Has anyone had this done by Chris? If so was it done keyhole? I've emailed him just waiting for a reply. Would love to hear back from someone whos had it done Thanks

Hi Geri I think you're probably better off emailing Frederik he usually replies on the same day. My hubby came with me. If I were you I would try to arrange the op for a time when you can have someone travel with you. You'll be very sore after the op and it would be better for you if you had someone to look after you in the hotel when you went back. Also it would be hard trying to manage your luggage on your own. Lots of girls have done it alone and managed grand though but I personally would prefer to have someone with me. As regards fills everyone is different I had to have alot of fills the first year and some people only have to have 3 or 4. I didn't tell my GP as I thought he might give out to me and try to talk me out of it. I only told him recently and I had my op 3 years ago!! He was fine about it though. Some people found it easier to tell their GP beforehand

Hi Ger I know its terrible for poor Brenners my heart goes out to her, I sent her a PM. Frederik is fantastic and I'm sure the surgeon he's recommending will be too. The hospital in Belgium is lovely and its spotless the cleaning lady was washing walls and doors when I was there! I'm so sorry I didnt go there for my op. I was thinking of getting a tummy tuck too but after all I've been through with the band and now the infection in the port and the pain theres not a chance I'd do it now!! Fair play to you I'm sure you'll be delighted with the results. Frederik organises everything from the taxi from the airport to the hotel he's brilliant. The hotel is very near the hospital and the train station is right beside it and its only about 3 stop to Brussels centre....not that theres alot there!! Best of luck and let us know how her consultation goes. I'm feeling alot better this week my tummy is not as sore. I still have to have it packed every day by a nurse and that'll have to go on for another 10 days or so. I've gotten over the shock of losing the port but I have to say I'm really enjoying being able to eat fruit and normal food again. I havent touched any rubbish since the op so please God it continues xx

Hi Geri No probs at all, glad to help. If it were me and its just my opinion I would go to Chris De Bruyne. I had first hand expericence last week of Frederik (who organises it) and Chris De Bruyne himself, they were both fantastic. Its a proper hospital which is spotless. There are so many people on here that have been over to Chris and can't recommend him enough. He also has aftercare in Dublin, they come over once a month to do fills and they have an Irish nurse living here who is available 24/7 if you have problems like overfills etc. Frederik organises everything from taxis from the airport to hotel and to hospital, hotel, op the whole lot. I've seen the other end with ACS which wasn't pleasant and I'm just so sorry I didn't go to Belgium in 2007 when I had my op. I was terrified of going abroad as I worried about aftercare so paid 10,000 to have it here and ended up with no aftercare at all. Not sure if I told you this already but theres another thread all about Chris De Bruyne which has fantastic people willing to help you. This is the link http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f11/anyone-know-dr-de-bruyne-chris-41669/ Like I said its upto yourself what you decide to do I can only tell you if I was in your shoes what I'd do. I would be more comfortable going to a surgeon I've heard great reviews about than someone you don't know. If you've any more questions just shout

Hiya (remember me I met you in town in Maggi and Julie a while back :confused:) a crowd called ECFS come over to Dublin once a month to do fills, they work in consultation with Chris De Bruyne in Belgium whos fantastic. It would be worth your while to go in and talk to Frederik Serneels or Chris Duprez they're fantastic. This is his email address frederik.serneels@ecfs.be

Hiya everyone thanks for all the good wishes, much appreciated. Baarbs that pain is wind related and should settle down after a few days though some girls I know had it for a bit longer, don't know why you only get it in the left side though!. Try hold your hands down by your side and slide them down as if trying to touch the side of your knees this should help relieve the pain. I think the wind pain is nearly worse than the pain of the op but it'll send down soon. Best of luck xx

Hi girls thanks for all the good wishes. Gerri Frederiks email is frederik.serneels@ecfs.be he's really quick at replying

Hiya Geri who is the surgeon? Have never heard of it. I was banded in Dublin by a company called ACS in January 2007, it was a complete nightmare the surgeon was banned in Ireland then the company went into liquidation so we were left with no aftercare it was a complete nightmare. I'm just back from Belgium having had to have my port removed. I would highly recommend the surgeon Chris De Bruyne he was fantastic he only charges something like 4300 euro which includes 3 nights in a hotel for you and your partner and you stay 1 night in the clinic - which is a proper hospital with excellent facilities. I was too nervous to go abroad when I had my op and paid 10,000 to have the op in Dublin and it was the biggest mistake I ever made. Chris has a management company called ECFS run by Frederik Serneels whos fantastic, they come over the first Thursday(I think) of the month and provide aftercare(fills) for patients. Hopefully some other girls will have heard of the company but I would research it fully there are alot of cowboys operating in Ireland who havent a clue what they're doing and are providing very bad aftercare. Take a look at thishttp://www.lapbandtalk.com/f11/anyone-know-dr-de-bruyne-chris-41669/ Anymore questions just shout

Hi girls well I came back from Belgium today minus my port! Infection was too bad to replace it. I'm now left with a gaping hole in my tummy which has to be packed daily by a nurse! The port cant be replaced for a few months. The whole set up in Belgium is fantastic I couldn't recommend them enough, just so sorry I didn't save myself nearly 6 grand by going there in the 1st place. Frederik and Chris De Bruyne were fantastic so professional compared to ACS. I wasnt even given support socks for theatre or injections to stop blood clots by ACS which was all done in Belgium. The hospital is a proper hospital and spotless. Gerri Frederik was saying they're looking into doing plastic surgery soon if you want his email address I have it. After all I've been through I've decided I'm going to spend the next few months exercising and trying to eat the right foods and see if I can even maintain the weight I'm at, my band is empty so please God I'll stick to it. Well done to you all and keep up the work xx

Hi everyone great to see all the new bandsters are feeling better. Well I came back today minus my port. The infection was too bad to have the port replaced. Have to wait a few months til everything heals. Chris and Frederik were fantastic so sorry I didn't have my band done there in the first would have saved myself a fortune and would have received much better care. Thanks to everyone for the help and support and a special thanks to Gary

Hiya Chris De Bruynes email is: chris.debruyne@advalvas.be and Frederiks is frederik.serneels@ecfs.be. When you email Chris he will reply telling you he's passed your details onto Frederik and he usually replies really quickly

Hi Ger great to see you posting again and well done on the fantastic weightloss. I haven't lost anymore weight I'm up and down like a yo yo:crying: Thanks a million I'm bricking it for Tuesday. I'm upto 90 because the infection hasn't cleared and I'm on my 2nd dose of antibiotics (4 times a day!!), he said he'll only take the port out and leave out for 6 months if infection not cleared so I've everything crossed it will be, though not looking likely its so sore. Brenners thats great you have someone looking after you now it'll be worth the money if you can get back on track. I'm hoping Chris De Bruyne will sort mine out for it