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Lap Band vs Realize Band ?



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Any input on to which is a better choice

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I think everyone comes up with a different conclusion. My surgeon greatly prefers Realize bands, so that was mostly why I chose to get one.

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This is definitely a personal choice and depends on what your surgeon prefers. I know some people who are 100% stuck on one or the other. I have a realize band and I'm quite happy with it! I've read the realize band port is better for different reasons and is not as likely to flip. I also know sisters who have bands (one with a realize and one with a lapband) both have been very successful but the one with the lapband wants a revision to the realize band because of the port.

Since I only have the realize band, I can't truly say which one is better or if one is better than the other. I think it depends on the person.

Any input on to which is a better choice

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My surgeon allowed me to choose which one I wanted, but highly suggested the Realize Band because I am female. He said the port size is much smaller.

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I have had the swedish band VG ( I believe it is called) which is the version before the realize band ( So same band stucture) and the lapband ap s ( 7 baffles around the band) and I honestly liked the swedish band more.

I had to have a bigger fill in my swedish band but my foods were not limited ( could still eat breads, Pasta, rice so there was some willpower needed).

Now I have the lapband and with a smaller fill I have more restriction but this band seems so much more tempermental then the swedish band. I have had more problems with food getting stuck, pbing and being overfilled.

It is hard to judge which band will work better for you, so do you research and see what you think would work better. For me I miss how easy it was to eat with the swedish band but like how the lap band reminds me to be careful ( but that is a pain too).

My doc doesnt do realize, so I couldn't get that one specifically.

Really, there is no answer to which band is better. People are different, their stomachs are different and their doctors are different. It's like asking whether granny smith or macintosh apples are better.

Realize has pros and cons, lapband has pros and cons. There are also other bands out there like the swedish band, the midband etc but not all are offered in North America so luckily your choices have already been taken down to two.

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My doctor uses Lap-Band only. But I know that there are different port sizes so ask about them.

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