How the Lap-Band actually works, fills and refills

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

The all illusive sweet spot is not all that easy to find. And it's not that easy to keep. Every time you lose weight, you're losing fat around your stomach which loosens the band. Then you need another fill.

Once you get close to goal, the fills will last a lot longer.

[peaches9 3]

I was banded on Feb. 7th, 2008 and just had my 1st fill yesterday. Got 3cc's and as of now still have no restrictions in my 9 cc band. I was in and out of the dr.s offc in 10 mins. My port is fine and nothing feels any different....Dr. said wait 10 days and if still no restriction return for another 2 cc's....hoping to find my "sweet spot" soon....

Dear Lisa' Be patient, you'll need more than 2 fills to get you to your sweet spot in a 9cc band. The fills go like this...

1st fill you got 3cc

2nd fill you might get 1.5 cc's

3rd fill you might get .75

4th fill you might get .5 you get the idea???? They build you up slowly, and 1/2 the previous fill each time until you get restriction.

Good luck:wub:

[mommy 0]

Isn't there a way to keep this post front and center? I don't want it to get buried. All the newbies need to have easy access to this post.

Ok this is my first reply doing this. Not sure what a thread is but I wanted to say I agree with you. I get on this site and I feel alittle lost. Still wonderful site for info!!:cursing:

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

A thread is just a lot of pages on the topic that was started.

You should be getting emails once you have posted that tells you someone posted after you in the same subject.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. The main home page is all broken down for different areas. For instance, it's broken down into age groups, questions, food and recipes etc.

This was thread was started because so many people have questions about why they have had a fill and still don't have restriction.

[mhazelrigg 1]

I had my first fill almost 4 weeks ago. I went on a vacation, which my doctor said was fine, three days later. I was able to eat whatever I wanted, no problems. Then this week I am in pain when I eat.

I go for my next fill on Monday. I started feeling restriction yesterday! What gives? I have tried to stay off the scale, but it is as engrained in me as eating. It is what I do when I wake up!!

I have not lost any since my fill. I am trying to stay patient, and I know that I am 31 pounds better off, but that is NOT enough for me. Today I am at the weight that I have been at for about 3 years. I gained 30 lbs in the 6 months before my surgery. URGGGGGGGHHH.

In the last 3 weeks, I have been struggling with Diet Coke and White bread. (Croissants to be exact.) I get upset about my weight, eat a croissant or two, wash it down with a diet coke, get on the scale, get upset, eat a croissant or two.....you get the picture. But then yesterday, I had a croissant, and it hurt. I am at a loss!!

[SHARONCRIST1955 0]

I dont like the scales. So I wait until I go to the Dr.'s office and I weigh there. I really did not know how this worked with the lapband. I am so glad that Wendall explained it. Now I know. I am going to think of more questions to ask my Dr. He always asks me if I have any questions and I say know because I cant think of any right now. I will be haiving my first adjustment on April 29th. I thought gosh I am not losing anything. I am on the pureed foods now.

[sharon2u 0]

Michelle, you are aware that your not supposed to have any bread products and no carbonated drinks with the lap band, this could be your problem see all of that bread can form into a ball and not pass through like in the good old days and for the soda the air in the carbon could be getting to your belly and causing the pain. When I get my fill I am not to have any solids for the first 2 days or so due to swelling after the fill and then about a week later I can feel my restriction causing me some pain if I try to over eat and well with my past history of having PB's too frequently I have just told myself to watch it. I have lost 86 pounds since since September 2007 and I cannot wait for the 100 pounds to be gone and then after that another 25 and I will be back to my old self. I am enjoying buying new clothes in smaller sizes it is a good feeling not to have to buy plus sizes anymore but for the heck of it I do browse around just looking back and remembering where I came from and the changes I ahve made, just to be sure I will not go back to that old size of me. Sharon

[BANDIT GIRL 1]

This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a Lap-Band.

The ALLERGAN protocol for Lap-Band fills calls for a six-week delay after surgery, prior to any fills. The purpose for the six-week delay is for the patient’s stomach to heal from the surgery, as well as allowing time for the Lap-Band to “Seat” or “Nestle” into the fat pad between the stomach wall and the interior wall of the Lap-Band.

Prior to receiving an EFFECTIVE fill, it is VERY uncommon to have any restriction from a Lap-Band. Some patients will NOT lose weight, or may even GAIN weight until they have received an effective fill in their Lap-Band.

Normal weight loss with a properly restricted Lap-Band is between 1 and 2 pounds per week.

The normal cycle of fills, restriction and weight loss is as follows:

1. The patient's Lap-Band constricts when the patient receives a fill. Swelling for a few days after receiving a fill is very common. Many doctors require a patient to go on a liquid diet for a day or two after receiving a fill. A fill may have a “Delayed Action” of up to 4 weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to 4 weeks after the fill. That is why the ALLERGAN protocol states that fills should not be performed on patients who will not have access to medical care for at least two weeks after a fill.

2. The patient's stomach capacity is lessened as a result of the restriction caused by the Lap-Band.

3. The patient loses weight because they cannot eat as much food.

4. The residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the outside of the patient's stomach reduces in size because of the overall weight loss in the patient.

5. The reduction of the residual fat-pad causes the Lap-Band to become loose again.

6. At that point, the patient needs another fill, because the Lap-Band is loose, and the patient has a loss of restriction, which allows the patient to eat larger amounts of food.< /span>

7. The patient receives another fill and the process starts all over again.

Most Lap-Band patients receive several fills to adjust the Lap-Band as their weight loss progresses, and there is less and less residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the exterior of the stomach wall. Once a patient has lost all of their residual fat-pad, fills become less common. As the Lap-Band patient progresses in their weight loss, the effect of very tiny fills (Less than .2ccs) becomes greater and greater.

It is not uncommon for a late-stage Lap-Band patient to experience a significant difference in restriction with as little as .05cc of fill.

hello wendell, i know this post is old but i was wondering if u r still here and would like to congratulate u on your success! i would love to know how u have been and if u have had any complications being banded this long? i am currently going through a program to get banded and praying for approva.

[shelleyrn 0]

Sharon-i too was banded in sept of 07 and have only lost 31 lbs. (i guess i shouldnt say only 31 lbs.) but my question to you is how many fills have you had and how are you sure you have the right restriction? how many cc'c are you at? i know everyone loses differently. are you exercising and what type do you do? your doing a great job! keep up the great work!!!

[JillS 0]

Wendell if you are still here. Besides the band what else do you do to loss the weight?

[PaulD 2]

Hi Chris,

I am in the exact smae situation as you, I just had my second fill and if I don't pay attention when I am eating especially the first few bites, it pretty much can ruin that meal.The times I do remember(and I am getting better at it) as long as I chew really well and space the mouthfulls out I could probably keep eating for a while, the only reason I stop is because I portion out my food.

I thought the idead was... when you get restriction, the food stops at the band (for a while) and you get full sooner? Thus you eat less, Is that the way you understand it?

Paul from Boston

Edited April 13, 2008 by kathyline

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

The first few bites are going to go through the band into the stomach

though, and that's what hurts if it gets stuck.

[cruisemissile 0]

i have not had my first fill yet. I am hungry.

could that be it?

will it be a huge change when I get my first fill?

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

It sometimes takes more than one fill before you feel a huge change, especially if your doctor doesn't believe in an aggressive fill.

If you're hungry, you are definitely ready. I see you only had surgery a couple of weeks ago, so you are in what we call "bandster hell"

Most surgeons make people wait 6 weeks after surgery for their first fill.

[lookatmenow2 0]

hi, i had my surgery 25th feb, i have had one fill and have only lost 17lb. that is a little dis heartening... however, i am hungry once again, will this improve with my second fill>>??