rockbandster

Well since you're once again posting misinformation I figured I tell everyone the truth. Forgive me wanting people to make their decision based on facts, not your doctor who has all his facts mixed up. You should tell him to go back and take another certification course because he has no idea what he is talking about. The article cites 7 year old data and bands that aren't used anymore.

Also, Dr. Ponce did a study with the Lapband (older generation) published in 03 or 04 I believe with excess weight loss at 62%.I would question why is using the Realize band with published data at 43% when he himself did a study with the lapband and published his data of 62%. Wasn't he the doctor that was feautured on the Realize Band Website?

Actually no -it creases just like the old one does.. There is little difference in excess weight loss - only about 30-40% at 3 years vs 62% with the Lapband. This is another J&J marketing gimmick. This product is actually called the Swedish Band -VC in Europe in a new Box with a new name. Although it is pre-curved when it hits the 9cc mark it turns into a triangle, exactly like the other one and creases in 3 spots which can crack and leak over time, just like the original. (My doctor has a sample and we tested this out). It holds 11cc, still 3cc short of the LapBAnd APL. Also, they attached the port tubing at a very weird angle, it doesn't lay flat on the band, that's a concern as well because silicone doesn't like being bent as much as it doesnt like creases. In a study of over 800 patients of the original Swedish Band known as the Realize band in the US, they switched to this one in the middle of the study because of leak problems with the original Realize Band. This band is barely equal in design to the first generation lapbands that came out in 2001. There are no pouches or indentations to prevent creases from occuring. I hope your doctor should explained all this to you, especially the potential for crease-fold failure. and please be carefull if he says "I havent seen any problems" becuase the Realize band hasnt been out long enough in the US for most problems to occur. Unless he practiced overseas for the last 15 years, there isnt enough experience to say that. Im not saying you shouldnt get it, but you are entitled as a patient to know everything about this imlant that you wil have for the rest of your life. Once its in, your committed. Do your due dilgence and research and do not just get any band or procedure cause your doctor says its the same thing.

This is not telling the complete story. The Lapband AP data is 62% excess weight loss at 12 months. The data he is referring to (40% ewl with the lapband) is not with the current generation lapband and the bands were not implanted the same way they are now. In addition, they LapBand AP is a low pressure, low volume balloon which what is used today. The old Lapbands 9.75 and 10 is what he is citing in this article. He is comparing the old lapbands with the Swedish(Realize) band which is irrelavent because no one uses the old generation lapbands anymore. Although this is a good article, the doctor is either not up to date on the information which he is presenting or purposly ommiting the current data. Either way, that's a little scary.

There is little difference in excess weight loss - only about 30-40% at 3 years vs 62% with the Lapband. This is another J&J marketing gimmick. This product is actually called the Swedish Band -VC in Europe in a new Box with a new name. Although it is pre-curved when it hits the 9cc mark it turns into a triangle, exactly like the other one and creases in 3 spots which can crack and leak over time, just like the original. (My doctor has a sample and we tested this out). It holds 11cc, still 3cc short of the LapBAnd APL. Also, they attached the port tubing at a very weird angle, it doesn't lay flat on the band, that's a concern as well because silicone doesn't like being bent as much as it doesnt like creases. In a study of over 800 patients of the original Swedish Band known as the Realize band in the US, they switched to this one in the middle of the study because of leak problems with the original Realize Band. This band is barely equal in design to the first generation lapbands that came out in 2001. There are no pouches or indentations to prevent creases from occuring. I hope your doctor should explained all this to you, especially the potential for crease-fold failure. and please be carefull if he says "I havent seen any problems" becuase the Realize band hasnt been out long enough in the US for most problems to occur. Unless he practiced overseas for the last 15 years, there isnt enough experience to say that. Im not saying you shouldnt get it, but you are entitled as a patient to know everything about this imlant that you wil have for the rest of your life. Once its in, your committed. Do your due dilgence and research and do not just get any band or procedure cause your doctor says its the same thing.

it does matter because: 1) There are appetite receptors on your stomach and if the band is not hitting them the feeling of satiety may not be as powerful. Some people have very sensitive nerves and don't need any fills, some need the band to max capacity to feel restricted as you can see from people posting their experiences here. 2) There is not an even distribution of Fluid 3) You cannot get back all the fluid you put if it get stuck in a crease...if you need to draw all the fluid out, say for example you get pregnant, that many be a problem 4) You won't feel obstructed before you have an erosion because 2/3 of the band won't entire your stomach. If the erosion is too severe you can never replace the band. 5) Creases and silicone don't go well together and over time they may crack or leak. This is proven and documented. Try bending a plastic straw over and over again in one spot, it's sort of like that. None of this means you won't lose any weight nor have any issues and I am not trying to scare anyone...however these are things someone thinking about the Swedish band should just be aware of and should know before making the commitment. It's important people are fully educated and not just trust everything your doctor says because they happen to have an MD after their name.

its an old school way to do it...there is no magic trick to hitting the sweet spot. The data from Austalia which is the band capital of the world suggests smaller more frequent fills with an increase in Excess weight loss

This is not your fault. It is your physicians responsibility to educate you on the differences between the available gastric bands. Many of them unfortunatly do not. Overfilling the band too quickly can increase your chances of erosion which may prevent you from ever having a band so do not get caught up on that. Please feel free to reach out on a Private message and I will try and help you...hang in there!

If you are relying on will power you are doomed to failure. You MUST create an identity of a healthy, fit vital person. Then everything will fall into place and this will be natural.

Which Lap Band did you get? The APS or APL and was it prefilled with fluid before it was placed?

I really don't think it's any of your business what I do or where I work. Further, it really isn't safe to post your personal information online so you can stop asking me to do it because I wont. I am not giving medical advice, unlike you and your buddy who think you are band experts and Surgeons. I am providing clinical and factual data, of which you clearly wish you had before you got your band so you're mad at me for stating it. I am sorry you are so angry,maybe next time you'll do more research. I really its a joke that you are arguing with me when I have posted information from a trial of over 800 patients, with almost identical information to the US Realize band trial yet you insist you're right. So the 800 patients in the one trial and the hundreds of patients in the US trial are lying when they only lost 30% of their excess weight in 12 months? And further, the surgeon who claims " the only difference is the website did a trial of almost 1000 band patients with the old Lapbands and had over 60% excess weight loss yet the Realize Bands post only 43% Excess Weight loss at 3 years. Yet somehow there is no difference. How do you explain that? I am not giving advice and I can call myself the President of the United States if I want, it's not a crime without intent to deceive. It seems you know as much about the law as you do gastric banding. This site is for support so why don't you stop wasting time yelling at me and say something that can help someone. Post some facts, not your opinion.

What? I use the website all the time? Go to lapband.com and register for mylapband, there's tons of stuff on there. Please be aware J&J's website push is only because their product is antiquated (14 years old) and cannot stand on its own in regards to technology against either the Lapband AP in the US or the other 5 bands like the Midband available in the Europe and overseas. My surgeon has put in Realize Bands too but if your under the impression he is going to sit there and read emails from patients all day, you're sadly mistaken. That whole "connected"thing isn't realistic for a any busy surgeon in today world when they spend half the time fighting with insurance companies just to get paid. The reality is websites although a nice little tool have zero effect on your weight loss. Support should come from the practice - if you fall off track you need to call the office, nothing can replace human interaction no matter how "interactive" a website seems to be. Its a nice thing but don't hang your hat on it. Which group would you rather be in: The group that loses more weight faster or the group with a cool website? Also keep in mind there is NOTHING on either the lapband website or the Realize Band website ( I have been on both) that you cannot get free from dozens of other websites like sparkpeople.com. Feel good about your choice and focus on your lifestyle changes, that's what will help you lose and keep it off.

It wasnt an angry tone until people attacked me for trying to provide statistical data to help people understand the difference in technology.I try to help and get blasted

I'm not dodging anything..regardless of the amount of training I have or don't, it's probably more than you and your buddy. I have worked with thousands of patients and give lectures on the benefits of surgery and I could care less what you think. I have gotten at least a dozen private messages thanking me for the info which means I have helped someone. I do have a problem because she is giving medical advice and she is not a doctor, you are correct.

Actually I'm a lot more than an OR tech -you can think what you want-you have no idea what you are talking about

I work in the Operating Room with a Bariatric Surgeon who implants Lapbands and Realize Bands and RYGB, I work directly with the patients who are pre op/post op. I also have a lapband and lost 90% of my excess weight in less than 1 year with the Lapband AP. I have seen thousands of patients so I think I know a thing or 2 about gastric bands. My point is unless you have some experience with patients an/or clinical trials, be carefull stating "opinions".

I'm in no way shape or form trying to make people feel bad. My intent is to inform with clinical information. In addition, people should not be giving medical advice on here unless they are an md. Since we are all supposed to be supporting each other, I thought passing on clinical info would be of benefit. People come on here, ask if what the difference in the bands are and people who have no idea what they are talking about post and give misinformation. If we are truly here to support one another, I think anyone bringing clinical information to the table that is objective, not subjective should be able to do that without others feeling insulted.

That's really funny, ask him what his response was at the ASMBS last June when he was on a panel and was asked if it were his mother which band would he put in. I distinctly remember him saying the Lapband. I was there, along with the Surgeon I work for and heard it with my own 2 ears. Clearly you people WANT to be fooled by J&J into thinking your getting a new product when your not so Im out _GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU.

Im not blasting anything or anyone- my goal is simply to expose J&J's deceptive marketing of this product so people can make an informed decision. I hope everyone who gets either band does great on it and loses weight. I do not understand why people get upset when factual information is given here.You are all saying, "well they look the same so they must be the same".Well certain cars may look or be shaped like BMW's but the aren't BMW's. My goal is for people to do extensive research and NOT to just go take your surgeons word for it. People are way to trusting and need to be informed and shouldnt rely on either the Lap Band or the Realize Band marketing to make a choice. Do your due diligence and thoroughly research the implant your gonna be stuck with forever. Please ask your husband if he has documented statistics of his patients EWL for 12 months for the Realize Band vs the LapBand AP. What is the average BMI for the Realize Band group vs the LapBand AP group? How many follow up visits did each group get per year? Just to say well they're the same isn't fair and not adding value. Here is a link to a study of 824 Realize/Swedish Band Patients with 30% EWL 12 months. Long Term complications in 191 of those patients and 135 directly attributed to the Realize Band.

Your doctor should pull out 1 cc..the directions for the Realize Band say not to overfill it past 9cc or it could break.He should follow the directions, they are wirtten that way for a reason. This IS typical and it probably IS a RealizeBand problem. Do not listen to any advice from MacMadame - she is not a medical professional and has no idea what she is talking about - Go talk to your doctor and ask about having the band explanted and converting to a lapband AP or a different procedure. (Bypass,sleeve etc)Do Not take medical advice from anyone on this site. If your band is overflled you are probably either not responsive or the triangle shaped 1994 Realize Band is not working properly in you. I have 4.5 cc out of 10 in my Lapband AP and Im tight with great restriction.Theres no reason the band should be filled that much and you don't feel anything-Talk to your doctor-

Anyone who still gets an old lapband when the AP is out needs to discuss his or her surgeons choices - that makes no sense What study?--if you quoted it before - do it again- show me a 62% EWL with the Realize Band at 12 months

You keep saying that but you can't site 1 reference to back it up....please put your money where your mouth is and show us a proof of your claim...

I'm not spreading misinformation....why don't you back up your claims? You're all talk and no action... Exactly- your talking like a medical professional but you're not so why don't you mind your own business unless you get some certification? Show 1 study that has equal weight loss Realize vs Lapband AP from any source -go for it. Forgive me for my spelling error

Macmadame-Please cite some of these studies, ID love to see them..Talk is cheap..Site a study where the Realize Band and the LapBand AP have similar weight loss. Please provide some clinical proof instead of opinions. If you have read these studies which it seems you have, please validate these claims. Also keep in mind the LapBand is NO LONGER IMPLANTED. Everyone uses the LAP BAND AP THIRD GENERATION BAND. Looking at studies for implants that are no longer used wont be helping anyone because no one gets the old lap bands anymore.

No that's not the question.The triangular shape occurs when its filled which will have to happen for weight loss.It does do squat for restriction until its filled and then doesn't give complete coverage around the stomach You have NO IDEA what you are talking about.