Which brand to choose

[Slim Down Donna 2]

For those of you who have had it done, which band did you choose and why? My physican and office staff said either is fine. They are leaving it up to us the patient to decide. Please help me decide. Is there a pro or con to either selection. What made you decide which band to choose. Thanks for any help. Hubby is being banded Oct. 21 and I hope to be in Nov/Dec depending on insurance approval. Thanks for all your help and advise.

[SteveK 3]

That is a great question. My surgeon's staff also leaves choice up to me. What differences have people seen that helped decision? Marketing information is no help.

Steve

[Slim Down Donna 2]

That is a great question. My surgeon's staff also leaves choice up to me. What differences have people seen that helped decision? Marketing information is no help.

Steve

Thank-You for replying to my post. I thought it was a good question, but no one is sharing. I have posted a couple of times and I do not seem to get any replies. I was just going onto this site to disenroll. I felt like all there was were negative posts and the positive ones or ones with questions were ignored. This makes a pre-surgery patient question this whole process. I wonder if this is going to be a right choice for me. I guess I am getting a little scared. I hope some experienced people will answer our question. Donna

[SteveK 3]

Donna, like you I find myself second-guessing myself. I have, however seen many good and useful posts. Maybe if we keep the discussion going we will gt some input.

My surgery is sched'd for 12/14. I meet with the surgeon in mid-November .

Steve

[Tammy DeMarle 0]

Hi,

I am pre op too. If you look at both web sites-Lap band and Realize- they lap site is more user friendly. You can google the info for vs.

If you re-post this question in a post op forum, you might get a better response. Just sayin.

Tammy

[DawnH 9]

I found this website that may help you. My dr just uses the lap-band AP system so it wasn't an option for me which is fine. I figured there must be a reason he only uses those. Anyways, here is the website http://www.wlshelp.com/lap-band-vs-realize-band.html

Good luck!

Dawn

[crittlebird 7]

Hi,

My doctor has done personal research on this question, and in his opinion based on his research he believes the Allergan band has a better success rate than the realize band. Now he is in a clinic with many other doctors and none of them will participate in his research because they like the realize band and only use that one. But, my doctor likes that the band in wider and fits more snugly and has less slippage problems. He also has the allergan band himself. Before I had surgery I went onto that clinics site and all of his patients do indeed have better success with this band. So, this is the one I chose and it is working very well. Every doctor is different but seeing that he has done his research, I trusted his advice. On that site I read many comments from people who had the realize band and were struggling or not losing much weight, yet his patients were doing well. So, it is up to you on which band to get, but I would suggest getting the allergan band. Also, remember, it is what you put into it and how dedicated you are. Hope this helps. Also, I wish I would have done this surgery years ago!!!!! Good luck!!!

[Slim Down Donna 2]

Donna, like you I find myself second-guessing myself. I have, however seen many good and useful posts. Maybe if we keep the discussion going we will gt some input.

My surgery is sched'd for 12/14. I meet with the surgeon in mid-November .

Steve

Steve we can do this. My surgery is going to be right around the same time as yours. I do not have an exact date yet. We can do this together. Did you see Dawn and crittle birds responces. Wonderful advice.

[Slim Down Donna 2]

I found this website that may help you. My dr just uses the lap-band AP system so it wasn't an option for me which is fine. I figured there must be a reason he only uses those. Anyways, here is the website http://www.wlshelp.com/lap-band-vs-realize-band.html

Good luck!

Dawn

Thank-you for the wonderful site. It is so helpful !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Slim Down Donna 2]

Hi,

My doctor has done personal research on this question, and in his opinion based on his research he believes the Allergan band has a better success rate than the realize band. Now he is in a clinic with many other doctors and none of them will participate in his research because they like the realize band and only use that one. But, my doctor likes that the band in wider and fits more snugly and has less slippage problems. He also has the allergan band himself. Before I had surgery I went onto that clinics site and all of his patients do indeed have better success with this band. So, this is the one I chose and it is working very well. Every doctor is different but seeing that he has done his research, I trusted his advice. On that site I read many comments from people who had the realize band and were struggling or not losing much weight, yet his patients were doing well. So, it is up to you on which band to get, but I would suggest getting the allergan band. Also, remember, it is what you put into it and how dedicated you are. Hope this helps. Also, I wish I would have done this surgery years ago!!!!! Good luck!!!

Thank-you so much for sharing your experience. I think I am going to go with the Allergan.

[Dulci 108]

My surgeon's staff asked me the same thing. After attempting to research it and not finding much objective information, I told them that I was not going to specify a choice. I feel that my surgeon should make the choice based on my anatomy. Once I communicated to them that my decision was for them to decide, they were fine with it.

[DawnH 9]

Thank-you for the wonderful site. It is so helpful !!!!!!!!!!!!

Good, I am glad you found some useful info. I thought it was a good graph that shows the differences. Good luck!

[DebHart71 3]

My surgeon does not give a choice; he and his partners use the Realize Band and that is what I am getting on Monday. I trust my surgeon and know he would not use it if it was unreliable.

[Slim Down Donna 2]

My surgeon does not give a choice; he and his partners use the Realize Band and that is what I am getting on Monday. I trust my surgeon and know he would not use it if it was unreliable.

Good luck to you!!!!!!!!!!! I hope my time comes soon. I can not see any megatives with either band. So I am sure you will do well with the realize. There was a member in our support meeting who had one and she siad she choose it because it was less metal. She lost over 100 pounds and was at goal. She looked and felt great.

[DebHart71 3]

Good luck to you!!!!!!!!!!! I hope my time comes soon. I can not see any megatives with either band. So I am sure you will do well with the realize. There was a member in our support meeting who had one and she siad she choose it because it was less metal. She lost over 100 pounds and was at goal. She looked and felt great.

I am now banded!! I was scheduled for October 17th but the surgeon was way behind and had to reschedule for October 19th. The most problems I have had is getting the liquids I need to stay hydrated. Also I don't think I am getting enough calories since I have been light headed a few times and had to lie down to avoid fainting. I am also tired a lot; I know that some of that is healing from surgery but I am not getting much done with my class (I am working on my Master's Degree online). I will be glad when November 7 gets here; this is the last day of this class and I am taking a three-week leave of absence from school. I really need a break because I am getting burned out.

Debora