If you're getting your surgery out of the country...

[ElfiePoo 109]

or in another state, etc...please keep in mind that just getting the band put in will not give you restriction and until you get restriction, it will be as if you were not banded.

Yes, there are rare instances of people losing weight without getting their band filled, but this is *extremely* rare. Yes, there are rare instances of people getting minimal fills and only 1 or 2 and having restriction and/or losing weight, but again, this is very rare.

From reading this forum, it takes most of us *several* fills (which will depend on how aggressive your fills are) before we reach restriction. I had 6 or 7 aggressive fills over a 2 month period (at 4 weeks postop and then every 2 weeks) before I reached restriction.

I mention this because I've seen a number of posts from people who get their surgery outside the country and then are unable to get all the fills they need because they can't afford to fly back as often as needed. If this is the case, then make arrangements for your fills somewhere closer, but do make arrangements.

Otherwise you're going to be one of those unhappy people who just can't understand why they've only lost 25 pounds 6 months after surgery...or worse, gained back everything they've lost and blame it on the band. It won't be the band that is at fault.

[elcee 3,341]

Well said Elfie.

[Humming Bird 275]

..........

Edited February 22, 2010 by Humming Bird