How the Lap-Band actually works, fills and refills

[Jeanniepenini 0]

Hi Wendall, thanks for your fantastic support, you are an insperation to bansters, i will follow what you say and pray that things improve, once again thanks Wendall. Best wishes jeannie x

[TracyinKS 7]

I love this thread thanks to whomever bumped it!

I've had 4 fills and had been holding my sweet spot since AUGUST............. HOWEVER I am noticing that I am eating more now.... so looks like fill number 5 is in my future.

[Ilene62 0]

I too had a 3 cc first fill with the VG band. My fill nurse said they are learning to be more aggressive with the larger band, but 3 cc didn't do it for me. I've had two more fills. Now at 6.2 cc. I can definitely feel restriction (for the first time), but I'm still able to eat a normal size meal if I chew well. The VG band definitely requires fine tuning. I keep reminding myself to be patient.

[Wendell Edwards 73]

I too had a 3 cc first fill with the VG band. My fill nurse said they are learning to be more aggressive with the larger band, but 3 cc didn't do it for me. I've had two more fills. Now at 6.2 cc. I can definitely feel restriction (for the first time), but I'm still able to eat a normal size meal if I chew well. The VG band definitely requires fine tuning. I keep reminding myself to be patient.

A big part of the problem is that some doctors do not follow the Allergan recommendation for a 4.0CC first fill for a VG band.

[Ilene62 0]

Your before and after photos are awesome. Inspiring. You mention Allergan regarding the VG band. I want to do some research on the VG band, but when I googled Allergan, nothing specific about the VG band came up. Do you have some suggestions for sites I can check out? Thanks.

[Wendell Edwards 73]

Your before and after photos are awesome. Inspiring. You mention Allergan regarding the VG band. I want to do some research on the VG band, but when I googled Allergan, nothing specific about the VG band came up. Do you have some suggestions for sites I can check out? Thanks.

In terms of how they work, all the Allergan (Inamed) Lap-Bands are the same. The differences are in the size of the band and the capacity of saline. There are major differences between the older bands and the newer "AP" series of bands. You might want to contact Allergan directly, but in all likelihood they are going to refer you to your doctor.

[WildCat Mom 1]

I was banding in Sept and I am relatively new to this site. What does Pb'ing mean?

[WildCat Mom 1]

Wendell,

What does it mean when people say "sweet spot". I have had two fills. My first was for 1cc and my second was .5cc one month later. I don't feel like I lose 1-2 lbs in a week, it is more like 1-2 lbs in a month and I get discouraged. Any hints?

[Wendell Edwards 73]

I was banding in Sept and I am relatively new to this site. What does Pb'ing mean?

Hi there!

Lap-Band patients have a unique vocabulary to describe different things. Here's a LINK to a great post about the different language that is used:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f73/abbreviations-what-they-mean-7959/

To answer your question directly, a "PB" is a "Productive Burp", which is a small amount of vomit.

[Wendell Edwards 73]

Wendell,

What does it mean when people say "sweet spot". I have had two fills. My first was for 1cc and my second was .5cc one month later. I don't feel like I lose 1-2 lbs in a week, it is more like 1-2 lbs in a month and I get discouraged. Any hints?

I talked to Inamed about how many CCs in a Lap-Band made for a "Good fill".

Their answer surprised me:

"It really doesn't MATTER how many ccs are in the band. The only thing that matters is whether or not that CC amount provides EFFECTIVE RESTRICTION" (Emphasis added)

So the trick then is NOT how many CCs are in the Lap-Band, it's whether or not the band works well at that level of fill.

One more thing...

"The Sweet Spot" is just another way of saying "Effective Restriction".

The problem is that people expect "The Sweet Spot" to last.

It doesn't.

And neither does "Effective Restriction"

Not until the entire residual fat-pad on the outside of the stomach muscle is melted off, and that takes TIME.

[Alexandra 55]

I talked to Inamed about how many CCs in a Lap-Band made for a "Good fill".

Their answer surprised me:

"It really doesn't MATTER how many ccs are in the band. The only thing that matters is whether or not that CC amount provides EFFECTIVE RESTRICTION" (Emphasis added)

So the trick then is NOT how many CCs are in the Lap-Band, it's whether or not the band works well at that level of fill.

One more thing...

"The Sweet Spot" is just another way of saying "Effective Restriction".

Wendell, I am really wondering how that answer could have surprised you. What did you expect them to say?

That is exactly the response I would have hoped they'd give. A good fill is only "good" for the person for whom it is working well. There is no right or wrong amount, any more than there is any right or wrong shoe size. It is what it is for each person, and can and will change over time as the interior anatomy changes.

[Wendell Edwards 73]

Wendell, I am really wondering how that answer could have surprised you. What did you expect them to say?

That is exactly the response I would have hoped they'd give. A good fill is only "good" for the person for whom it is working well. There is no right or wrong amount, any more than there is any right or wrong shoe size. It is what it is for each person, and can and will change over time as the interior anatomy changes.

I was still capable of being surprised back in 2004, which is when I asked them that question. :bounce:

[18 again 0]

Thank-you for all the information. I don't get my first fill until Dec 7/07. Iam finding that I can eat anything, I am always head hungary. I can't wait for my first fill.

[dandydeb 0]

Wendall, thankyou for the excellent summary of fills. I am going to schedule my surgery in 30 minutes and appreciate the info.

[Wendell Edwards 73]

Thank-you for all the information. I don't get my first fill until Dec 7/07. Iam finding that I can eat anything, I am always head hungary. I can't wait for my first fill.

Head-hunger is ALWAYS an issue for me. When my band is properly adjusted, it's less of a problem. It took 4 fills for me to even KNOW that I had a Lap-Band, but once the proper level of fill was given, and effective restriction kicked in, physical hunger ceased to be a problem.