Smaller Band Vs Larger Band: Is This True?

[Twillwood 17]

After my surgery (I was banded on Feb 16) my Doctor came out to the waiting room to speak with my husband and tell him how my surgery went. My husband told me that the Doctor told him that he used the smaller Allergan band on me and that it would mean that I would lose more weight. I am wondering if maybe my Doctor meant to say that it would be easier for me to lose weight because of the smaller band? I am just wondering if anyone else has heard this? Does band size really have any effect on how one loses weight? I figured I would post my question here amongst the lap band experts!

Also my Doctor fixed a place where I had a hernia as well...has anyone else had this done? and does this make the recovery more painful? I am back to work and school, but boy I am beat --> and I am thinking that the hernia "fix" may have more to do with the lingering pain.

Thank you in advance for everyone's feedback!

[B-52 7,113]

It is my understanding there are 3 different size bands. The smaller the band, the less saline it takes to make it tight, less adjustments. I don't know if it will make you loose more weight, but

you will get tight faster than those with the larger bands.

[morelgirl 177]

I had the hernia repain also. My surgeon said he always checks for one and repairs it if he sees it because he finds one in 50-60% of his patients. Which I think makes it fairly common.

[Sarahbear0429 25]

I was told the NEWEST bands come in AP small and AP large. My doc decides which to use when he gets inside and can see the size of the stomach.

[horsegirl315 114]

i was told by my dr that men carry their fat around their organs, while women do not, more under the skin. so when they put a band on a man, they usually put a larger one, because most of the time, there is a lot of fat around the stomach. if that is the case, the more weight the person loses, the more they would have to go for adjustments, since the space between the stomach and the band, which is essentially fat, is constantly shrinking

[transforming jlaroux 78]

I have a 14 cc band. I've had 5 fills, and lost 80 pounds in 9 months. I have been pretty consistent, and when I'm not losing, I evaluate how much I'm eating and if my food is more than 1-2 cups, I call and get a fill.

[bornready 42]

My surgeon fixed a hiatal hernia, the PA said they are common in obese people. I asked her if that could be the cause on my acid reflux, and said it was the total cause of my acid reflux. She took pics of my insides and showed me the before and after pics. Very cool! I don't know about the band size, but I have a 10cc band, at least that is what I was told when I got my info back from Allergan after I registered. We never discussed different sizes =)

[1shauna1 129]

I had a hernia repair also....I don't know if it makes recovery longer, but that would make sense....you're now recovering from 2 things instead of one. Take it easy at work and don't lift heavy objects.

[Twillwood 17]

Thank you so much for everyone's responses.

I am actually so happy that my work week is now over...I am super exhausted. In my head I just expected to power through the post-op stuff...but in reality I am a weenie and I don't like to admit that to myself. This recovering thing is a lot harder than I expected!

It totally makes sense about healing from two procedures rather than just one because of the hernia repair plus the lap band. I am now officially 1 week post-op and I can honestly say....whew...glad that part is over (needing pain medication all the time, wishing I were in bed while I was at work or sitting in class). I am so ready to keep this

journey moving along and keep on healing.

I guess I was curious about the band sizes because I am surprised to feel restriction, especially when everything I have read and been told says that I would most likely not have restriction until I get a fill. Of course this could be because I am still swollen from surgery.

Anyhooo....back to making sure I get enough Protein and healing!

[Miss Meow 12]

My doctor says that the "restriction" that you feel after surgery is actually from being swollen. As you heal that feeling will go away and you will feel hunger. Just be prepared for it.