Completely opening the band

Pizzaman · January 2, 2008

Candle, I've only seen him once - at the initial consultation. What I did like is there was no "hard sell." It seems like he has a very good staff.

girlygirlz · January 2, 2008

Pizzaman - I have also wondered about what the band would be like unfilled. I think my biggest problem with the band would be only eating a cup or so of food at a time for the rest of my life. I love salad and raw veggies and I hate the idea that I can't have much of that for the rest of my life! 1 cup of salad is not much! So I have wondered if I were to stay at goal for a while and totally changed my eating habbits if an unfill would work? The great thing is that we can try and see how it does. I believe there is a gal from Australia on the site who's band is either unfilled or has a very small fill and she eats whatever she wants but also eats really healthy and she looks fantastic. (She also works out a ton) So I think we need to work the band,get to goal and then see how things are going. What I love about the band is that it can be tailored to each individuals needs. Good Luck! :whoo:

TracyinKS · January 2, 2008

This is the BEAUTY OF THE BAND!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, Pizzaman you can get totally unfilled and see how you do, and then if you start slipping into complacency you can get a bit of a fill until you reach the level where you CAN eat ONE piece of pizza....... but can STOP at a piece.

I think what Laura (fairy) was saying is that getting unfilled is somewhat scarey as that normal pre band hunger will return. She wasn't trying to be mean about it........

new_me_2008 · January 2, 2008

You will know much more when you are about 3-4 weeks post surgery. That is the time you will have the band with relatively nothing inside. It varies for each person.

I am actually on my 3rd fill and although the restriction is getting more, I am still not at my sweet spot. I am actually trying to take note of where the perfect maintenance spot will be for me (that will probably change over time but thought this was better than just draining completely.)

BTW, I can eat everything I want as well - just smaller portions. pizza, rice, etc.....this is probably why my weight loss has been slower than I would have liked.

Good Luck.

TangerineDreams · January 2, 2008

Pizzaman:

I completely understand what you are asking.

I too am hoping I can remove the band once I have reached my regular weight.

My plan is to slowly unfill and then see if I can sustain my weight without any restriction. If I can do that for a period of time, I plan on removing the band completely.

The first priority is losing the weight ... then unrestricting, and then finally removal.

Good luck!

Tang

Daisalana · January 3, 2008

Have you talked to your doctor about that?

I ask just because if you read the Inamed handbook, the band is not a temporary tool. It's to be in for life..

My doc said he would never take the band out unless there were medical problems with it, he would just take out the port and seal off the tube.

Make sure your doc is ok with that, if that's what you want to do with it

Pizzaman:
I completely understand what you are asking.

I too am hoping I can remove the band once I have reached my regular weight.

My plan is to slowly unfill and then see if I can sustain my weight without any restriction. If I can do that for a period of time, I plan on removing the band completely.

The first priority is losing the weight ... then unrestricting, and then finally removal.

Good luck!

Tang

TangerineDreams · January 3, 2008

Laura:

I plan on asking my doctor about this ... why my point is why promote this as a reversable process if they are not open to reversing it.

Either way, first things first, lose the weight and maintain the lower weight.

Justin · January 3, 2008

To be honest, Im hoping to deflate my band when I reach a healthy size. Im not going for what my doctor considers a great weight, Im going for a healthier me. Once I loose and learn, I plan to rejoin the human race. But thats how I feel right now. I might get so used to having the band that it may be second nature later in life. Too early to say, but at least I have those options.

Boo Boo Kitty · January 3, 2008

I asked my Dr about removal after I got to goal, he asked me if I had ever dieted before and failed...well DUH...lol...then he asked me why would I cause another failure if I didn't have to? Yes, I would like to think I have learned a new way of life but to be honest the band keeps me straight. Why risk it?

I was going to have all saline out, and then decided that too was a bad idea. I have had some taken out, but not all. I like my security blanket!