Donna!

Hi Lucy, I was banded at SWLC by Dr Cobourn, back in April/06. I can't say enough good things about my experience and highly recommend them. I have recently celebrated maintaining goal for one year and reached goal in twenty months going from 251 lbs. day of surgery down to 119 lbs. presently. Wishing you all the best on your journey,

I lost 132 lbs. in twenty months roughly and an average of 1.54 lbs. a week. I have been maintaining for one year.

All former patients of Dr. Joffe should make sure to contact his office or the College of Physicians and Surgeons to find out how they can access copies of their medical documentation. If you were operated on at a hospital you should be able to request the hospital to fax copies of your medical information to your family doctor. You will need to send a release form requesting this. I went through this when my previous weight loss surgeon Dr. M. Deitel had his license revoked for five years many years ago for this type of behaviour and I am glad I had the tenacity to follow through on getting copies of my medical file. There are articles in yesterdays National Post and today's Toronto Sun and Toronto Star on Dr. Joffe for those interested.

I was banded by the SWLC back in April/06 and can't say enough good things about my surgeon Dr. Chris Cobourn and the clinic. I also hosted the Bandster dinner last Thursday night at The Pickle Barrel and it was great seeing Michee again and meeting MacPherk. It was a fun night! Definitely check out the SWLC website and message forum for support and to ask any questions. Best wishes,

Joanne does that include lifetime no charge in case of any complication such as needing new port, band, etc? If so that sounds great for you. :smile2:

I'm not a TLBCer but I met Jill at the 2007 Bandster Bash and all I can say was she was very friendly, selfless and classy and knowledgable. My friend and I had left our money upstairs in our hotel room and Jill insisted on lending us both money so we could buy a glass of wine even though she didn't know us from Adam. I wish her all the best and hope we see her around the bandster community and the lap band boards as a fellow bandster.

For people looking for a top notch Lap Band clinic in Canada offering lifetime fills at their Mississauga location be sure to check out The Surgical Weight Loss Centre in Mississauga, at www.obesitysurgery.ca. and they offer all this for $16,000. Not only do they offer excellent aftercare but they also offer an extensive network of doctors and nurses at many locations across Canada that are trained to do fills by Dr. Cobourn personally. I was banded in April/06 and have been at goal for one year this December, and am thrilled with my lap band journey.

Also check out The Surgical Weight Loss Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, www.obesitysurgery.ca they charge $16,000 and that includes lifetime fills at their Mississauga location and lifetime warranty for any complications. They are fantastic and have a large network of nurses and doctors that are trained personally by Medical Director and surgeon Dr. Chris Cobourn across Canada in many cities to do fills. The SWLC message board and chatroom is second to none and accessed by patients across Canada. They also offer support from the dietician Billie Jane and the fill nurses Tammy and Sue, patient coordinators, etc. and sponsor local support groups for their patients like the one I started in Mississauga. Dr. Cobourn and Dr. Mumford are also available to see you by appt., email or telephone call when needed.

An invitation to patients of The Surgical Weight Loss Centre clinic to come out to the Thursday, November 20th, Mississauga Lap Band Peer Support Group Meeting that I facilitate at a community room location in central Mississauga. The meeting is at 7:30 pm (room open at 7 pm) and if you contact me I will give the information of the location, etc. or you can go to the SWLC message board and check out the announcement I have posted under Support Groups http://www.obesitysurgery.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2907. Dr. Frank Lista, who is a plastic surgeon will be the guest speaker with a presentation and answering our questions regarding plastic surgery after weight loss. Please RSVP me and I look forward to seeing you there!

Mine understanding is that TLBC is only covering three years for fills now for new patients compared to the past when it was lifetime. So you may try to negotiate that also as SWLC is $16,000 and lifetime fills still.

Just curious, is your group non profit? Do you have paid advertising on your site?

Just an early reminder to new bandsters and familiar ones of the Mississauga Lap Band Peer Support Group for Surgical Weight Loss Centre patients that Billie Jane the dietician from the clinic will be our guest speaker on Thursday, September 18th, at 7:30 pm. Billie Jane will be doing a power point presentation and answering your general questions. She will address Meal Planning which will include bandster friendly foods, snack ideas, etc. If you have never been to one of our meetings please check out the Peer Support Group info posted as an announcement on the Surgical Weight Loss Centre Message Board Forum under the General Lap Band Surgery Discussion Section http://www.obesitysurgery.ca/forum/viewforum.php?f=4. for further info on the group and the location. I will post again the week of the meeting to ask people to RSVP and also email those of you who's contact info I have as members. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Look forward to seeing you! Donna Facilitator for the Mississauga Lap Band Peer Support Group for SWLC Patients

Reminder for pre-op and post-op patients of the Surgical Weight Loss Centre for peer support group in Mississauga, this Thursday, August 21st @ 7:30 pm. Copy of Email sent out to members today: Hi Everyone, Hope you are all enjoying your summer whether you are on vacation or just relaxing at home. Just a friendly reminder that we meet for our monthly peer support group this Thursday night in Mississauga. (Private message or email me if you are a pre-op or post-op patient of the Surgical Weight Loss Centre for location details.) I won't be able to facilitate this month as my 12 yr. old daughter is flying home from Vancouver that night but another regular and valued member has graciously agreed to facilitate the group in my place and with your help. This meeting will be a regular check-in and support meeting for returning and new members to vent, ask questions, share victories and support one another as we do best! A reminder also that coffee will be available at the meeting (regular only) and you are allowed to bring in bottled Water and Snacks (as per community centre rules.) Have a great meeting and I look forward to seeing you all in September when Billie Jane the dietician from the Surgical Weight Loss Centre will be our guest speaker on Thursday, September 18th. Please if at all possible send me an email or private message to let me know if you are attending the meeting this Thursday night, so I can let the replacement facilitator know how many to expect for planning. Regards, Donna Facilitator for the Mississauga Lap Band Peer Support Group for SWLC Patients:thumbup:

Neefam, the link to the Canadian Lapbanders Yahoo Group is health.groups.yahoo.com/group/canadianlapbanders

Hope to see some of you out at the Bandster Luncheon this Sunday, August 17th, at noon in Burlington. For more details go to Canadian Lapbanders yahoo group and contact Sue who is hosting it. :whatchutalkingabout

I don't think the odd drink of wine will hurt but I paid $16,000 for this band and don't want to screw it up. Carbonated drinks don't bother me but I know they are not good for the band which means beer also. Again it's your comfort level and the risk you are willing to take but this is my second weight loss surgery. Also Allergan the manufacturer of Lap Band states no carbonate as over time it can impact the band.

Hi Michee, The luncheon is Sunday at 12 noon at Sotiris Greek restaurant in Burlington. Sotiris Shish Kebob - 905-634-8813 437 Plains Road East , Burlington Let me know if you are coming so I can let Sue know and if you are bringing a guest. It is open to bandsters from all clinics.