Chickie

I couldn't feel mine unless I really looked for it when I was first banded. My port is in my belly, next to my belly button. Now I am at (and under) goal weight, I can feel it when I lay down, and feel myself up. I cannot see it at all. Perhaps you can feel it because of where it is placed? And there will be some swelling around the port site for a while post op. That is pretty normal.

Fantastic news! I am so glad that everything went as planned. Congratulations Alexandra.

I am glad I was banded. It gave me what I needed. But, if I was to lose my band, regain and not be able to be re-banded for some reason, I would look at the RNY and VSG.

I might be mistaken, but the size is the difference. The low profile port is smaller and flatter than the regular port. (as I understand it, I may be wrong)

Congratulations Nile!! Way to go!

Hello! A BIG welcome to LBT form a fellow Aussie (Brisbane, QLD) It is totally normal to second guess yourself closer to the big day. Its a massive life change, and I think, to be expected. Best of luck!

I picked 63kg / 138lbs as my goal. It put me at the higher end of a healthy BMI, but I ended up far, far below that at 49kg / 107lbs.

I am at gola weight. I have been for over a year now, and I don't, and never did have that feeling. I mean, I was happy that I was losing, thrilled when I got to goal, but for my money, while losing weight was a big thing in my life, there are other more exciting things to feel thrilled about. I think I have just put weight loss into perspective. It's great, but its not my whole life.

I would imagine that to replace the port, another surgery would be required. Perhaps they could do it with a local? I don't know... I do know that a lot of people who have tummy tucks have their ports replaced while the surgeon has them open. I didn't have my port replaced during my tummy tuck last year, and I had the larger "regular" port to start with, and at 107lbs, I cannot see the port. I can feel it, but it is well placed, and it cannot be seen, naked or clothed.

At over 2 and a half years post op, my hair is still as thick as ever. No loss at all.

I think I think about what I eat more than I did before. I make sure what I am eating is as nutritious as possible. Before, I didn't think about what I was eating, I just ate. And that was the problem. If I had stopped, and thought about what I was doing to myself, I would have never have eaten all that junk. For the most part, making better choices comes very naturally.

Hi Short c! I think you would be hard pressed to find an American bandster who has been banded 10+ because the band was only approved for use in the US in 2001. In Europe and Australia the band has been in use since the early 90's, and while there have been reports of people having their bands removed, I personally know a few long term bandsters who are still very happy with their bands 7, 9 and almost 11 years later. Best of luck!

I am an Ovo Lacto Vegetarian. But most of what I eat is organic and whole (un-processed foods). I try to eat muesli, fruit and yoghurt every morning. Some salad, and veggie based Protein at lunch, and something similar at dinner with fruit for afters. I also exercise daily (I run 5km a day, and weight train about 3 days a week) And I honestly think that the way we exercise is as important as the way we eat. Actually, aside from me being veggie, Jacqui and I are very similar in the we we approach banded life.

The band is right for you if you are prepared to work with the bad (eat right exercise and stay away from liquid calories) But really, the question is best answered by your doctors. Best of luck!

It is very likely that you will have a slight rebound in weight. When we go from full liquids, to mushy / solid foods, we are taking in more calories than we were before. Its pretty normal.

I think this is the whole point. We know the band works. But we also know that the band takes hard work, and dedication to our new lifestyles to make it work. And that takes an amount of maturity. At 12 years old, there is no way that she has the amount of maturity required to make the choice to be banded, let alone the maturity to make it work long term. Lipo at what age 10 or 11? Let me just say, if a child (I have an almost 11 year old son, so I speak with some experience as a parent) was to have lipo, it would be the PARENT making that choice, not the child. No child at age 10 or 11 has the slightest idea what they are getting into. Even at age 12, there would be no way that the child would fully comprehend that there are risks attached to any surgery.

No. But at the same time, a 12 year old is not going to understand full what is happening, or be able to comply with a banded lifestyle, even with support from her family. A better idea would be to educate the child on what would be a better choice (food wise) and help her to develop an active lifestyle. And if she loses weight, fantastic. But if she doesn't, she will be learning a better way of life. And when she turns 18, if she elects to be banded, she will have a head start on the rest of her banded peers. It's not about approving, its about not using being banded as a quick fix. And that's they way it came off to me. The lipo didn't work, now on to the next quick fix. I cannot imagine having my 11 year old son banded. Maybe having been banded for almost 3 years, I fully understand what it takes to make the band work, and I understand that it really isn't a suitable device for a child.

Even if I had all the money in the world I don't think I would bother having my breasts done. Honestly. They just aren't bad enough to warrant more surgery. I have been through enough in the last 2 and a half years. And you are right. I don't know that I would look any better clothed than I do now. So why waste the money?

The Mother is a moron. No way in hell is a child as young as that mentally able to deal with the lipo she had, let alone banding.

I actually get off the rack bras too. I end up paying up to AUD$120 for them, but they are worth it, and really, by the time the bra fitter and I have tried every single bra in my size that they have in stock, I end up with at least 2 or 3 bras that are as good as a custom made. My actual cup size is no longer the problem, it's now more the fact that I measure as a US 26-28, or an Aussie 4 to 6. The DD cup I can buy anywhere, its the back strap that gives me grief.

If you are on liquids, and are not hungry on the amounts you are eating, I say you are doing just fine. If you *are* hungry, I cannot see the harm in adding a little more. If you are supposed to be on solid foods, no way are you eating even nearly enough.

For my money, banding is a effective as it is made out to be.

You were banded not quite 2 weeks ago, correct? In that case, I really wouldn't worry too much about what you lose (or don't) till you have had your first fill. In the first 4 to 6 weeks we should really concentrate on healing. Any weight you do lose before your first fill is a bonus, really. But at 2 weeks out, and 12lbs down, I think you are doing really well. Congratulations!

I think it is pretty normal to freak out before any major surgery. Let alone a major surgery that will alter your life in a dramatic way. You will get through this! Good luck.

If I lay down, and feel myself up, I can feel the port. Can I see it? Nope.