Thanks for the welcome. I'll try and answer your questions. As I understand it, the Realize Band has been used in Europe for quite some time and has not been available in the US for as long. The port has a lower profile and prongs which help it to attach although I believe Dr. K also stitches it in. It also holds a bigger fill up to 10 cc (I think). However, from my reading on this site it sounds like several people are at or very near max fill and don't feel much restriction. I can definitely tell the difference and can't eat anywhere near the amount I used to even though I haven't gotten my first fill yet. I don't know if that's because I'm still swollen from the surgery or if it's the band, or a combination of the two. I liked the port profile much better and wanted the greater fill possibilities because I felt that it might give me more options which may be important at my age???.
As for Dr. Kirshenbaum - He said that the Realize Band is more expensive. I know that he really tries to make the surgery as cost-effective as possible to give more people access to the procedure in the U.S. Maybe that's why he hasn't done them until lately. He did give me the same price as the Lap Band which he said he will do until he completes 10 of the surgeries because then the price of the band to him was going up.
As for the Realize Band website - it's totally great, I just wanted more contact.
Again, thanks for the welcome and the questions.
pt
