Confused and in CHINA!

[mmejia 0]

Hello Everyone,

I would appreciate any suggestions or answers you can give me. The truth is I am a singer in China. I am on 6 month contracts and am coming home for 7 weeks in December before I start my next contract.

I have decided to get the lap band done while I am home. I was comortable with everything about the surgery until I started reading about the "SOFT SPOT" part of the fill process.

I will only have one time to fill before I leave back to China and even that is an exception because it will only be four weeks post op.

I want to do whatever it takes to be successful but I am a little discouraged thinking that you really are not restricted until the 2nd or sometimes 3rd time you are filled.:frown:

Also some people have said they fill very little your first time.

What should I do? Can they fill me more because I won't have another fill for a year? I know all people are different and don't get me wrong I am willing to excercise and eat right but I would also prefer that the band be at its full potential when I leave the states.

There is ONE lap band surgeon in Hong Kong about an hour away from me, but they don't deal with many cases in a years time so I am not one hundred percent comfortable. Also the nurse said I could come see the doctor and then he would then decide if he could do my fill.

Sorry for such a long post but any help or information would be greatly appreciated. I want to go into this fully prepared and knowing what to expect.

Thank you so much.:smile:

[thatDEgirl 1]

My personal opinion is that you shouldn't get the band if you do not have easy access to safe, aftercare. The band is not a place and go device, fills are needed regularly for the band to work and things *can* go wrong. Do you have a plan for the what if's?

Just my opinion of course :-)

[mmejia 0]

Thank you so much for the responses. As far as the plan for complications... there is a surgeon in Hong Kong. If I needed to come home I also have the ability to do so at a moments notice. I only plan on being out of the country for 1 more year at the most and I want to spend that time losing weight not gaining. Right now I am diagnosed with PCOS so losing is VERY slow and I really need a tool to help me. Some people have recomended the sleeve but I feel like the lap band is the least invasive and a surgery I have been researching since 1999. I know the most about this surgery and feel the most comfortable with it.

[mmejia 0]

One last thing, surely there have to be bandsters out there living abroad. If you are out there can you help with suggestions. I am sure it is possible I am just not sure how safe it is.

[mom2twins 0]

Like everyone has said "every one has a different experience" with their band. I did wonderful and am three weeks post-op. I'm not sure how much of a fill I will get in three weeks. My big thing is that I am not eating as much as I know I probably could. I am so scared of eating too much that I stop very quickly after I start eating. I have however been eating a little more every few days. I will agree that if you don't have a doctor close by for the "unforeseen emergency" it could be a problem. You also said that leaving and coming back was not a problem, however if you are in pain or have something that could affect your health, that is a long plane trip to begin with even if you are healthy. It is your choice when and where you have it done, but why not just have the doctor in Hong do the procedure from the beginning? There are several people who go out of the country to get their band put in place and do follow up with centers here in the states. Just a few things to think about. Have you read the complications section of this site? It did open my eyes to a lot of things I never even thought about before I had the band put in, however I was glad to know what "could go wrong if". Good Luck with your decision.

[IM_LORI 0]

If you don't have easy access to a qualified skilled lap band surgeon, you are not a good candidate for surgery. As you've seen in the prior responses, some people are tight after surgery with no fill, some people need 4,5,6 + fills. You can not just jump ahead and "tighten it up" per say. One persons sweet spot is not the same as the next. Each persons stomach size, band, is unique, as well as their body's response to the band. Some people get stomach swelling, and the band gets TOO tight. Also, you may get a great ideal fill, and 6 weeks later, you've lost weight, and that includes internal fat around your stomach and your band becomes looser, thus time for another. Also, complications are COMMON! belching, getting stuck, sliming, puking, heartburn, acid reflux, swallowing difficulties, and to not have a good surgeon to supervise you and give you close follow up, you are setting yourself up for failure. The band is not something you slap on your stomach, go home, and wait for the weight to fall off. It a long, complex process that requires frequent, close monitoring. It's a great too, but I would highly encourage you to reconsider the timing of this. Perhaps when you are done touring, you can dedicate the time it requires and focus on your weight loss! :smile: Good luck

[Renob 1]

So check if there are any docs doing the band in China Im sure there are. Get your band here in the states and let the doc over there do the fills, dont wait another year, lots of weight related bad stuff can happen in a year!! Shoot in a year you can be almost at your goal weight is you put in the needed foot work.

Edited September 1, 2008 by Renob

[mmejia 0]

Thank you again all of you for all the suggestions and help.

Dr. Angus Chan in Hong Kong is a trained and qualified lap band surgeon that will be able to see me when needed. The only thing with this is that in Hong Kong although the obesity epedemic is increasing, they do not deal with may cases per year. This is why I am chosing to get the lap band in the US. I plan on living in the Us so I figure this is the best choice.

I am aware of the complications that can occur and thats why if I did not have a surgeon close by I would NEVER consider this surgery.

These opinions although difficult to hear have really helped and given me a good prospective on what to expect and what to consider.

I am fully aware that this is SURGERY. A major decision. I am not expecting to "slap" this thing on and for it to just magically make me skinny. I think we all know at this point NOTHING does that. I plan on working very hard to get my weight off but need this tool to help me along the way.

I just want to clarify that there is a registered bariatric surgeon that does this surgery in Hong Kong its just not as common as the states but there is somewhere I can go for aftercare.

With that being said the ideal situation does not always happen and I have yet to be on the other side of the band. I appreciate all of your help and support and I will seriously consider all that has been said and look forward to any other posts that may help me on my journey.

thank you again

[emily111 3]

I just got my first fill and it was at 6 weeks. The doctor said its not safe to have one before then.. so for 4 weeks i did not lose anything. I had my first fill on thurday and he would only put 1cc I was so mad but he said he had to be safe. So thats my experience with it. Dont worry get the surgery you will find someone to give u a fill. :smile:

[HeatherO 7]

If it were me, I would go for it. However, I would schedule the surgery as close as possible to the beginning of our arrival in the US. That way you can make the most of your seven weeks before heading back out again. You also really want to schedule your fill at least a week before you leave in case there are any hiccups. Make sure you travel with your medical records for the other surgeon.

If you do not want the Hong Kong surgeon to do fills, you should schedule a trip back maybe two months out to get a checkup and fill.

My first fill was under flouroscopy and was an aggressive 6.8 cc. It then only took me two fills to get to my sweet spot, but I was lucky.

[Bamagal 1]

Ok I went to Inamed/Allergen Lap Band and found 2 clinics in China

endorsed by Lap Band.I would call them and see how they feel about filling other doctors patients because that is always a problem.

(quote)CENTRE FOR WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Susan Lim Surgery

6 Napier Road

#02-17/18/19 Gleneagles Medical Centre

Singapore 258499

Tel: 65 6475 7133

Fax: 65 6475 7233

Email: enquiries@susanlimsurgery.com

Website: .::susan lim surgery::.Singapore

Raffles Weight Management Programme

Raffles Weight Management Clinic

Raffles Hospital

585 North Bridge Road Level 12

Singapore 188770

Tel: (65) 6311 2340

Raffles Weight Management Clinic provides specialist treatments for

weight problems covering the full spectrum of body mass index (BMI).

Whether your BMI is <18.5 (underweight) or >32 (severely obese), our

specialists can help you achieve your healthy weight.

Our team of specialists including endocrinologists, bariatric surgeons,

plastic surgeons, dermatologists, dietitians, physiotherapists, and

acupuncturists offer a range of weight management services:

Medical approach Managing weight through medication,

exercise and healthy eating.

Surgical approach

* The use of intragastric balloon

* Bariatric surgery or lap banding(/quote)