I really don't know much info about the realize band so I really can't comment on that but I know my doctor put in 2cc's when I had my lap band surgery. With the lap band I think there's many factors involved in deciding if any fill is going to be added in during surgery. Plus I think it may depend on the doctor. My surgeon said he likes to put something in the band so it's inflated a bit. I am curious to see what other docs do!
I only found out recently that they put 1.5 cc in my Lap Band during surgery. They said it mostly fills the port tubing. I had my first fill of 4.5 cc June 11th. I needed an unfill last week and I thought it would be 4.5 coming out but they pulled out 6 cc. They told me it's mostly in the tubing when they fill you during surgery.
__________________ Banded 4/28/08 First fill 4.5cc 6/11/08 then total unfill of 6cc 6/26/08 Small, incredibly difficult 1cc fill July Fill of 3cc total 8 20 08
i have the Lap Band and had 1.5cc left in the band during surgery. it's really not a lot to feel any restriction though.
__________________ kRiS iN cLeVeLaNd 213 / 172 / 130 Surgery Date: 04.21.08 by Dr. Trace Curry, MD Starting Weight (1.5cc) (04.21.08): 213 Weight at 1st Fill (up to 3.3cc) (05.19.08): 199 Weight at 2nd Fill (up to 5.2cc) (06.07.08) 193 Weight at slight unfill (now at 4.7cc) (09.06.08): 172
I think it depends on the doctor, not the band. My doctor has commented that he never puts anything in at surgery, and prefers to let the patient heal before any fill.
__________________ Banded 10/10/07 Dr Ortiz, Tijuana
I think it depends on the doctor, not the band. My doctor has commented that he never puts anything in at surgery, and prefers to let the patient heal before any fill.
my doc does not generally fill at surgery either...it was just a small amount. I remember distinctly hearing they put some in one and not the other...that is why I asked...Thanks for all the responses!
Everyone that has ever said they had a small prefill has had a Lap Band. However, some surgeons decide to put them in empty. This is anecdotal but it is what I have noticed to be uniform across everyone that spoke about it.
Realize bands are generally empty (mine was definitely empty), no one has ever contradicted this but please speak up if you have had a prefill with a Realize band.
My doctor says that before surgery, he takes the empty band and flushes it with saline to check for leaks, etc. He lets the saline drip out and leaves whatever little bit is left in the band.
I was miserable the day after surgery and he thought it might be that there was too much. He withdrew 2cc's, which is apparently more than is usually left in there at the time of surgery. I instantly felt better and have been great since then. (I'm two weeks post-op.)
He said I might be one of those people who won't need a fill or won't need very much.
Banded 4/28/08
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