Here is a copy of the post I made to the other thread:
I spoke with a gentleman at Allergan (no longer Inamed, it's Allergan now) yesterday about the AP band. I wanted more info as I'm not yet banded and wanted to know what the advantages are and if I could request, of even if I should request, the AP band. Apparently it is FDA approved for the US, but will not be available until the summer at the earliest. He did mention the list of differences listed above, I guess the biggest difference that will make a difference to patients is there is an easier release mechanism to remove the band if need be.
The VG band already has the ribs or baffles noted above because of the larger inflation volume of a VG. The VG is also already curved like the AP band. From what I gather, those two things is what makes it "Omniform" technology. The AP also has more of a 360 inflation around the stomach as opposed to the 10cm or 9.75cm (4cc) bands, which (according to him) have more like 260 or 280degrees (the rest being the buckle) inflation, and the VG which has more like 280 or 300.
I asked what that should mean to me as the patient, is this easier on my stomach? Does this reduce the risk of my stomach folding over in the non-inflating areas of the current band? He said he has not heard of many cases of this happening and that the 360 degree inflation was not developed specifically to combat any problems that exist, it was simply an upgrade to the existing band that they did when they designed it to be easier and less traumatic to remove. It was possible to design it that way, so they did.
According to this gentleman (I'm not posting his name because I don't have his permission) there are NO plans at this time to discontinue any of the bands Allergan already makes. They still plan to manufacture and offer the 10cm and the 9.75cm (the 4cc) bands as well as the VG band.
Hope that helps!
__________________ Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati (When all else fails, play dead) H371/S327/C:AWFUL Fell off the wagon in a big way, got back on with my first fill ever 4/29/08; second fill 4/2009 Small AP June 21st, 2007 by Dr. James Wagner @ Hurley in Flint, MI |