lsuza

I would like Dr. Watkins to explain how The Realize Band has a 42.8% excess weight loss at 36 months and the latest lapband studies show 62% how he is coming to the conclusion they are equal. Also how a band that creases on 3 sides that's straight vs a band that is 360 degrees with an even distribution of fluid is equal as well. Also what factor besides the money your getting paid determines which band to use? Am I believe you randomly pick a band that came out in the 90's (the Realize Band AKA the Swedish Band in Europe) vs the LapBand AP 2007 with no criteria to make a determination for your patients?

see that's where you're wrong, it CAN"T curve - it creases which can lead to crease fold failure and erosion, which is why they are not showing it the way it really is. J&J is planning the launch of a second generation band later this year called the VC band, the current realize band does not curve, it creases. I can throw out a frozen dinner, I can't throw out a medical implant without another operation. I never said no one will lose weight on the Realize Band - you just won't lose as much as the Allergan AP band, based on available clinical data. Individual results obviously vary.

With the Allergan band you can put the first fill in when it's placed - it contours itself to any stomach with no restriction due to an even distribution of fluid, unlike the Realize Band so you don't have to wait 4 weeks with an empty band in you. I hope your doctor told you that before he put the band in.

Being a med student with all the medical terms Im learning once in a while you forget and "i" here or an "e" there when spelling. Im no troll or I wouldn't ned bariatiric surgery myself! I am not a proctor nor did I claim to be. I do have a clear understanding of how the proctor thing works. It's all about the $

agreed - i feel J&J showing their band in a pre curved position when it's straight and creases is misleading. If they have nothing to hide show a real pic of the product

Difficulty Swallowing (Dysphagia) Overview <!--© 1995-2008 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.--> What is difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)? Difficulty swallowing is also called dysphagia. It is usually a sign of a problem with your throat or esophagus —the muscular tube that moves food and liquids from the back of your mouth to your stomach. Although dysphagia can happen to anyone, it is most common in older adults, premature babies, and people with problems of the brain or nervous system.

There is no such thing as "one size fits all" That's bs marketing by J&J because the Swedish band only comes in one size - for example, The staplers they sell used in gastic bypass are different sizes depending on anatomy. How come one size doesn't fit all for them? As far as "needles vs staples" same thing - it's not a stitch. If it doesn't need to be sutured in, why are there holes inthe port for stitching? What J&J is now telling doctors because a study was done is that it takes 20 minutes to place the port because you have to dig a bigger hole to seat it flat which is longer than than it takes to place the Allergan band. By the way the little pic of the band on the other post is bs too..the band is straight and they are showing it to look pre curved - more BS marketing by J&J.

Lulac - Post op with the LapBand AP Standard (There is no small) means your band if it was prepped the right way has 3-4cc of fluid while in it when placed. That band custom fits itself to your stomach because of the design, unlike the Realize band which has to be left in empty to avoid dysphasia. You are 6-8 months ahead of schedule in terms of getting to the sweet spot vs having the Realize Band implanted. PERIOD. Anyone who thinks I am making this up please go read the directions for use of the Realize Band which has to be implanted EMPTY -which guess what folks? an empty soft band does absolutely nothing to provide restriction needed for weightloss for most patients because its loose and just sitting there.

If the port flipped its because the surgeon didn't stitch it in properly - The Realize Band port leave a bigger scar, has no tactile response for the adjuster an has to be placed flat and evenly since needles hold it in place, not stiches. Re-operation rates increased 15% once the Velocity Port Applicator was introduced in the clinical trials.

I win? I win what? a new car? Im trying to show you what the band looks like that's all. I have a picture showing the Realize Band inflated - If someone can explain to me how to post here - I'll do it. You wont proof - i got it!

i'm tired - please forgive my poor spelling

again for the third time - The meta study DOES NOT include LapBand AP (third Generation) bands - only the older models. And I m not asking you to take my advice - Im just telling you what the real deal is so your not duped into believe things that aren't true to make an informed decision. Exactly what Elizabethsew said - dont take my work or your doctors word, do your own research = doctors get most of their info from reps which is exaggerated information because they have to time to do their own research. And further the video from youtube IS the Realize band, called the Swedish Band in Europe.

my agenda is to do one thing only - expose the truth so you can make a decision on the facts- not half the facts - now that you have the facts and you still want the realize band- great, good for you - but at least you have all the information to make an informed decison. If you went to buy a car and it looked like it was in perfect condition but it was involved in 3 accidents, wouldn't you want that information before you purchase it. You know what, Im outta here - Everyone go get the Realize Band, knock yourselves out. If my help is not appreciated, lots - o - luck people. I put in 30-40 hours of research, spoken with 4 doctors and went to 3 seminars and have taken my own personal time on my vacation to help others by giving them information J&J is not. If you think you know better than go for it. goodbye

MichelleinCA: The reports J&J are discussing on their site compare Allergans trials with that had the old technique (Perigastric) and their trials are the new technique (Pars Flaccida). I feel that should be disclosed because it makes a huge difference in the slippage and prolapse. That's my point, J&J is not stating that, there just showing the results without stating the study parameters. Also, the one picture of the band is sitting curved when it's not curved, it's straight - that' s deceptive - why not show their product for what it really is - trust me, these are not mistakes.

ok why would you pick the realize band?

Im not trying to make anyone feel bad- but someone needs show them the real deal because some doctors won't -

I didn't say surgeons who use both bands are whores- Surgeons who proctor and take $5000 from each company per event are which was what I was saying. I'll refrain from voicing that opinion but it is what it is.

Heres a link to preview the next potential Allergan Band- dont get your hopes up yet, it has to work as well he AP or they won't release it. The Hydraulics of the current bands play a big part in their success EASYBAND® Remote Adjustable Gastric Band System - Medgadget - www.medgadget.com

The studies are printed in peer reviewed medical journals - i will provide the journal name of the Journals over the next few days.

The next generation band is not a correction - it's wireless and electronic - NO ports. Do a google search for "Easyband" Allergan has bought that company and is bringing that technology here - pending FDA approval and studies.

Im not condemning anything - every single thing I have stated I have document clinical proof and have thoroughly researched - maybe the truth hurts

ShinyhappyMommy -You have one of the older Inamed LapBands, either the 9.75 or 10 size - your surgeon is incorrect, those are not 360 and are single reservior. However they are pre-curved, unlike the Realize band. They are still very good bands and still more more advanced then the Realize band although the fluid distribution is not as even as the AP. You will do fine if you stick with the program - Honestly,don't worry about it. A lot of inameds trials were done with those bands with outstanding results.

Wasabubblebut- If telling everyone you have a "new" band when it came out in 1985 by putting in a new box and renaming it, comparing clinical trials of inexperienced vs experienced physicians and old vs new placement techniques, claiming your band is 43% vs 36% as effective as the Lap Band when in reality its 43% vs 62% as effective as the LapBand, then your right J&J is very ethical. Jpet - Unlike the Realize Band, The LapBadnd AP is specifically designed to reduce creasefold failure - Those indentations prevent the band from creasing on itself. You have the most advanced technology available in the US for banding on your stomach - be happy you didn't get suckered into being a ginnue pig for the Realize Band so the surgeon can "see if it's equal" or not because there's no clinical data to support it being "excellent" lee41 - The placement technique for placing the Inamed band is similiar but your doctor had to have been proctored himself and implant 25 bands before he became a proctor. If it were me, Id much rather use a product a doctor has implanted 1200 of vs 25 of. Since the Realize Band has only been available for implant in the US a few months - please ask your doctor what criteria he used to determine them both being "excellent" I would also ask him explain how he determines who gets old technology vs new technology. There are several physicians who I have contacted who have stopped using the Realize Band because they feel it's inferior in design and behind the ball in technology. Also keep in mind, any doctor who proctors for both companies is a whore, period. They are paid $5,000 per proctoring event from each company. If they are too blind to see the differences in these two products they either are rationalizing it or don't care enough to learn why Allergan has made 3 modifications to this product since it was introduced to provide better weight loss outcomes. ALL Allergan sells is the band in their Allergan Health Medical Division. Unlike J&J who has been bashing the band for years in the US order to sell staplers and equipment for Gastric Bypass, while promoting it outside the US as the best thing ever as the Swedish Band. Now that the FDA has approved it, suddenly banding is a good weight loss solution because Allergan has taken 30-40% Market Share of Bariatric procedures away from the market. They can use the Realize Band to "round out there portfolio" even though it's an inferior product. Look if it's already in you it's too late, just make the best of it and do the best you can. If it erodes in 3-5 years or if the doctor uses the Velocity Port Applier and the port slips which there's a 15% chance it will, your insurance will cover the cost of a new band. Don't feel bad, but next time get second opinions and don't talk to only1 doctor. Medicine is a business and these docs get thousands of dollars for each procedure- as sad as it is they are not all ethical, that's just the way of the world. I am tempted to wait for the Fourth Generation Allergan Band because it will be significantly better but there a few years away so Im gonna move forward with the AP.

Look Im done arguing - I dont' want to spend my one week off going back and forth with people. I was trying to help educate people because I felt J&J wasn't telling the whole. If you didn't know any better, then it's not your fault. If after reading all my posts you still feel it's better - hey go for it. If your band erodes due to crease-fold failure in 3-5 years, I won't be here to say I told you so. Good night and good luck.

Really...mmmm As per Wikapedia: History of the procedure and device The first gastric band was patented in 1985 by Obtech Medical of Sweden (now owned by J&J/Ethicon Endo-Surgery) and is known as the Realize Band or Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band (SAGB). An American company, INAMED Health (now owned by Allergan), later designed the BioEnterics® LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System, which was introduced in Europe in 1993. The Swedish band required a laparotomy to install; the LAP-BAND, however, could be performed via a much less invasive laparoscopic procedure. In addition, the SAGB did not have a self-closing mechanism and thus had to be sutured closed. The LAP-BAND System received food and Drug Administration approval for use in the United States in June 2001. In 2000, a lower pressure, wider and one-piece adjustable gastric band, the MIDband®, was used in Lyon, France <sup id="_ref-0" class="reference">[1]</sup>. Unlike many of the early bands, the MIDband® was designed specifically for laparoscopic insertion. It has swiftly become one of the leading bands placed in France. There are now many band manufacturers (approx. 7-8 in total). The LAPBAND AP Approved in 2007 has no improvements to be like the Realize band. The improvements from the LapBAnd VG (2nd generation to LapBand AP (Third generation are: (360 degrees of even Fluid distribution, a black marker in the window to see that the band is locked, more streamlined design for an easier fit behind the endogastric tunnel and added a large size 14cc. NO SOFTENING OF THE BAND WAS DONE AS FAR AS THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE SHOWS