lsuza

I am sorry if I offended anyone - I was once a victim of malpractice because my physician didn't take the time to update himself on updated technology and I don't want that to happen to anyone else... The data and stats are not my opinion - its facts printed in clinical trials and FDA data- Im not not making it up nor am I endorsed by Allergan in any way

It's first generation product which hasn't had a update in years - if you want old, outdated technology then go for it - it's your body but if you do the correct research you will see that product is antiquated. It is effective, just not as effective as Allergans band 62% vs 43%

Your doctor is a moron and probably is telling you that so you don't complain. You are a fool if you believe everything your doctor tells you without researching things yourself. There are MAJOR differences in the Realize Band and the Lap Band AP: If he has no preference then he doesn't know what he is talking about- when you inflate the Realize band it creases and folds on itself in 3 spots like a triangle. The LapBand AP form fits itself to your stomach with 360 degrees of even Fluid distribution. The "artists rendition" pic on their website is a scam - the Realize Band is not pre-curved, it's straight - The LapBand AP is pre-curved. In other words your stomach had to fit itself to the Realize Band over time because it has no curves and is folded on itself. The LapBand AP immediately fits itself to your stomach when it's implanted since it's pre-curved. This makes the Realize Band: 1) highly susceptible to crease-fold failure and erosion 2) impossible to get an even distribution of fluid so your entire stomach is fitted to the band 3) its only has one fluid reservoir, the LapBand AP has 7 mini reservoirs with indentations in between so it doesn't crease on itself and erode. $) It comes in 2 fill volumes 10 and 14cc depending on the patients anatomy. It says clearly in the Realize Band directions NOT to fill it past 9cc or it can erode or break. The LapBands are virtually unbreakable. The Realize Band only comes in 1 size and will burst if you overfill it. 5) When Allergan did a study which was similar in design and technique to The Realize Band - their outcome was 62% excess weight loss at 36 months, the Realize had 43% The Realize band is not even as advanced as Allergans first generation band which came out 7 years ago. Allergan is already on their third generation band. The Allergan band is also available with a low profile port as well. Their port applicator is not a great device, re-operation rates increased 15% when that item was introduced into the study. The doctors overseas don't even use or stitch on top of it because unless they hit it at the perfect angle, the ports don't stay in place. If you look at both bands inflated you will see what I mean. Again I challenge you to ask your surgeon how he determines which band (old 14 year old technology/Realize Band) or current technology (LapBand AP System) Please also keep in mind Johnson and Johnson are paying doctors $10,000 per month per physician for advertising costs to use the Realize Band. Allergan doesn't pay off doctors - that may have something to due with his decision. The Realize Band is 14 year old product in a new box which is why they are focusing on marketing their website -NOT their band.

Realize is the best band out there? really 14 year old technology, one size only and it IS NOT the widest band out there, the LapBand APL is - Oh yeah please keep in mind the port applicator increases re-operation rates by 15% because it doesn't work well and your scar will be twice as large because their port is much wider

Based on what are patients losing weight faster?- Please provide some data on that

Any of these doctors who "don't like Inamed" remember - you built your practice on the LapBand and you have made thousands of dollars off the LapBand - Not the Realize band

your doctor is wrong- there is absolutely NO data stating the results are better and there are less difficulties - it sounds like he is being paid by Johnson and Johnson - Otherwise it really makes no sense to put in 14 year old technology band in a patient when Inamed is selling a Third Generation product. The new studies show LapBand has a 62% excess weight loss at 3 years - the Realize has 43% so Im curious as to where he is getting his info from. Just because he is a surgeon don't think he can't be paid off. The Doctor on Realize's website Dr. Ponce did the study for Inamed which proves their band has higher weight loss yet he switched to the Realize band because they paid him off. The only surgeon using the Realize Band are hacks or guys on the take.

The Realize Band is 14 year old technology -outdated and obsolete - Johnson and Johnson is doing what they do best- putting sub-par products in new boxes to try and get a piece of a market share pie (pardon the pun) The Realize band is an old band in a new box- you're crazy if you get that thing

which band did your surgeon put in?

The bariatric surgeons you are referring to are either on J&J's payroll or stupid - Please explain why you would want a First Generation Product that's 14 years old implanted in you when you can have the opportunity to have a third generation latest technology implanted in you. Plus it's the only band where you can leave 3-4cc in at placement so you'll be getting faster results. If my doctor uses both I would ask for an explanation of when he or she uses the antiquated obsolete product or the new one - what factors determine his or her choice- which rep is their friend? Does Tiger Woods use different brands of golf clubs each day he plays golf depending on his mood? No, he uses the one which he feels is best. Any doctor who feels 14 year old technology is better than current technology should have his head checked.

Dan Davis doesn't practice in NYC - wrong Address Alan Geiss - Stopped using The Realize Band recently - poor results Those other docs are not top tier surgeons No one has reserched this more thoroughly than me! I am still nervous about it. Look do what you gotta do - if you get The Realize Band your cheating yourself- that's the bottom line.

I originally inquired about the Realize band but my doc talked me out of it. Im a med student and know about the way companies skew data. Where am I getting this from? I asked my surgeon what the real deal is and wrote down everything she said. I asked a lot of questions and took a lot of notes. The first generation Inamed band was not FDA approved until 2001 and even that band has better technology than the Realize. Research was done prior, in the early 90's. The AP band was introduced in Summer 2007 and is the only band with an even distribution of Fluid which allows a custom fit at placement. If you put both bands in front of a five year old they would be able to tell you instantly which is better quality my doctor said. The slip states you are looking at are skewed data to make the Realize Band look better than it really is. What J&J is not telling you is they are not comparing equals when looking at slip data. The information on their site about the Inamed band was from the original trials. Now keep this in mind- all the physicians in the original trial had no laproscopic surgical experience and the Peri- Gastiric technique of implantation was used. The first technique (Peri-gastric) of implantation was associated with much higher slip rates. The average weight loss was around 35-37%. Now years later The Realize band comes out and they use all the doctors that have 5 years of Laroscopic Surgical experience in the study and use the better implantation technique which decreases slippage (Pars-Flaccida technique) They had a 43% average weight loss. Wouldn't you think the outcome would be better considering that? Then Inamed does a trial with over 1000 patients using similar study parameters (Pars Flaccida technique and experienced Surgeons) to The Realize Band. The Slippage rate is now 2.3% and average weight loss is 62% at 3 years. Johnson and Johnson are masters of taking shitty products and marketing them as the best thing around. Go to their website and try and find a picture of their band inflated- You wont cause it creases all over the place (old technology) If their technology is proven please tell me why there have been 100,000 Swedish/Realize bands implanted and 350,000 Inamed bands when the Swedish Band has been out longer? I will take a 62% average weight loss over 43% any day. - there is not one doctor in NYC where the most prestigious doctors in the country are who is using the Realize Band. That's enough for me - when I get my band in 2 months Im getting the AP. When I buy a car, I want a new one, not a 14 year old outdated model.

Lisa 717 - make sure you get the Inamed LapBand AP - The reason this band is better is that it allows for a custom fit at the time its placed. 3-4 cc of fluid will be left in the band when it's placed jumpstarting your success- The AP is the ONLY band that this can be done with because of its low pressure system and Omniform Technology allowing for a even distribution of fluid.

Good at least they gave you a good band - The Realize Band is 14 year old obsolete technology - Don't be fooled by Johnson and Johnsons slick ad campaign - That band is crap and no doctor worth his salt would use it

that problem was caused by poor surgical technique - NOT the band

Any doctor who does the Lap Band can finance the band a 11.99 APR for up to 84 months through a company called CARE CREDIT - tell him to call his Allergan rep for details

which band did you get specifically?

The Swedish band known as the Realize band is 14 year old technology. It states clearly in the directions NOT to over fill it past 9cc or it may break. It is a very old product in a new box. That post from April Anne is clearly an Ethicon Rep - anyone who cant see that is an idiot. My doctor went to the Realize Band training course just to see what it was like and they basically said the Lap Band AP is superior. Also, one of your scars will be twice as big because their port is bigger- None of the top doctors like Christine Ren or George Fielding from NYU will even touch that hunk a junk NO THANKS!

don't get banded in Mexico - people come to California constantly to have them fixed - ONLY get the LAPBAND AP SYSTEM

Dr. Cussatti is a fine surgeon and a great guy

Hello: I can tell you from personal experience doctor Geiss is one of the finest surgeons in the country. He is not just a doctor, he is a pioneer of LapBand surgery. The facility is state of the art and his staff truly cares about his patients. You are getting the best care possible by using Dr. Geiss. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.