lap verse realize

[karen123 0]

ok I have been researching and getting a headache can someone tell me in simple terms what the difference of lap and realize bands are? thnx

[thesuse2000 698]

I don't have anything terribly helpful to say - I think that there are quite a few types of bands from different manufacturers - Realize and Allergan/Inamed and maybe more. The bands come in different sizes - I believe your doctor will decide once s/he sees the size/shape of your stomach which size is appropriate for you.

Just curious - why are you trying to understand this? I would think you just need to find a surgeon - and the type of band is something that they figure out.

[tomatogirl 0]

Basically, they work the same. The differences are subtle and not really earth-shattering. The realize band is softer, the realize band's port is thinner, with a bigger port access area, the realize band is wider, the lap band comes in sizes...

The realize band forum (1/4 of the way from the bottom of the forum homepage) may be more helpful. I'm being banded with the realize band in oct...because that's what my surgeon uses.

[Great2BThin 5]

If you can get ahold of the last issue of Obesity Help magazine (or possibly their website) there's an excellent article on this. One of the biggest differences, I believe, is the Lap band has several pillows on the inside that fills with saline to give restriction and the Realize is one continuous ring.

[Mink 0]

I don't have anything terribly helpful to say - I think that there are quite a few types of bands from different manufacturers - Realize and Allergan/Inamed and maybe more. The bands come in different sizes - I believe your doctor will decide once s/he sees the size/shape of your stomach which size is appropriate for you.

Just curious - why are you trying to understand this? I would think you just need to find a surgeon - and the type of band is something that they figure out.

I had to make this dission at my pre-op appointment. I did not care and told them do whatever they wanted and they said I had to do this and they do not have a favorite. I felt like flipping a coin, They did say there is no differance between the Inamed and realize and they were the only 2 they use. good luck on your choice.

Ps My doctor did say Realize has a lot of web based aid for people using their band i picked Inamed I cant tell you why.