Lap Banders from Pittsburgh?????????

I am starting my WLS Journey and was wondering if anybody on this Pa Forum has gotten Lap Band/ Realize Band from Pittsburgh. 

If so who was your Dr.?

Where did you get it at? 

And how was the experience? 

Would you do it again?, If not what would you do different?

Thanks.

 

Hi!  I am on my journey to get my lap band.  If all goes according to plan, I will get my realize band in March.  I go to West Penn Hospital and Dr Urbant is my doctor.  He is a sweetie.

Best of luck on your journey


ellen

not a lapbander but wanted to wish you luck and welcome you to the site.

I am on the road to getting a Lap Band at Allegheny General, Dr. Uchal/Dr. Colella.  This fall I attended seminars at St. Margaret's, Magee, and AGH before selecting.  We're really lucky that Pittsburgh has so many great choices, so take advantage of that and attend more than one...I didn't know there would be such a difference in how I felt about each one.  It's an imortant decision as the process for LB doesn't end with the surgery and you need to find the right long-term fit for you.  I'm not sure where you are in your process, but the first thing to do is to calculate your BMI now and get a copy of your insurance requirements and go from there (they can direct you usually to finding your specific info. online.  If you have to complete a 3 or 6 mo. diet requirement, set that up NOW with your PCP...you can start on this even before you attend a seminar (even if you switch to doing the weigh in's with your surgeons program everyone seminar I went to would accept what you'd already completed with your PCP).  A caution about starting the diet, make sure you know what information has to be collected at these weigh-in appointments...I put myself 2 months behind by not knowing everything and ended up creating my own form for my PCP visits based on the forms given out at the 3 seminars (insurance doesn't care what the form looks like, neither does my surgeon, as long as the right information is collected- Weight, Exercise progress, Education, etc.).  Feel free to contact me if you need more information on my experiences so far.

My insurance is UPMC, so it covers that only, but it does cover WLS.  They have one of the Countries biggest Bariatric Centers(according to website).  I will go to seminar next tues at Magee.  I am 6'2 and 365 so my BMI is over 35-40.

What made you decide to do LB? 

What is the difference between LB/Realize???

There us alot of negativity towards the LB from other forums of the different WLS, but i dont want to take that big if a risk.  Yes they are all risks, but MORE risks come from all the organ stapling/cutting.

Thanks. 

OK, more than you probably want, but here's some info.

Magee does have one of the largest programs.  I have a LBT friend (who actually just switched to wanting the RnY- best decision for her) who is attending the program there now and she loves it (she told me their 6 mo. program is right now converting to a module based program, ie. last monthly visit she had to fill out a form, weigh in/that's it).  The other hospitals in the area send hard cases to AGH- they do lots of revisions, etc.; not that I should be anything but an easy case, but I wanted the best and they were by far the most LB friendly seminar that I attended and had an insurance person there to answer questions-which I loved (duh...no one else did-crazy as MOST of the questions were ins. related).  I also decided a smaller office was best for me as I've sat in too many huge waiting rooms at Magee for other things waiting hours to get in (didn't appeal to me for fills)...I decided with LB I wanted an office I could get to know and one where they'd know me, but everyone's needs are different, I think I'd highly recommend you schedule several ( I believe both Magee and AGH are Centers of Excellence for Bariatrics, whatever that means).  I had a negative experience with my St. Margaret's seminar...very anti-LB and the Dr. (Means) was a pompous a.. IMHO.  His words 'You'll have a hard time convincing ME to give you a LB if you have diabetes!' I don't have diabetes, but I wanted to leave at that point. A lot of it was the WAY he presented things), but like everything else, I'm sure he's perfect for others though, and he may be a great surgeon...you have to find your fit.

LB was my choice as it's reversable if needed and adjustable...even RnY people sometimes stretch their pouch and have to get revision surgery to make it smaller.  Also I already know I'm good at dieting...I can stick to a program and can lose weight (it just comes back on when I'm done), so the work and the slow weight loss don't bother me.  I think you just need to know all the pro's and con's of each and know yourself and what you're capable of handling.  You'll hear over and over that the "LB is only a tool"...it should be a logo.

LB is the newer version (exception R.C.-see below) and is precurved so it forms a cicle around your stomach.  It comes with both a high and low profile port (some have to pay extra for the low profile, and some Dr's. won't offer it if they think you need the higher one to find it) and the LB itself comes in two sizes (surgeon picks the size when they see your stomach I believe).  The biggest difference is that it has individual pillows that inflate and don't touch each other (so a search for a pic)...so as the LB sites say 'you get 360 dgrees of even pressure on the stomach'.

Realize is basically the first band, but they just came out with an improved one...Dr. Curry on OH here offers it (I think he said he's only the 2nd surgeon to offer it-started Nov.) so you can look at his site (think he called it a Realize C).  The Realize one most surgeons offer is the old one so know what you're getting...still is not pre-curved so it forms more of an almond shape around your stomach (Dr. Curry's words), the new one is pre-curved like the LB.  The biggest difference still is that the part that inflates is one continuous balloon and it does crease along the inside when it's full-think of taking a long balloon animal balloon and forming it into a tight circle, you get creases in it on the inside edge.  There is also the spot at the end of the balloon where there is a small gap and no balloon or where the stomach may get piched (that's part of the whole debate).

I haven't found ANY reliable information that shows any of the statistics for the LB vs. Realize having a statically significant difference; and I'm talking in every area from complications to weight loss.  Some will argue this point, but when you really look at the data, studies, etc. I haven't found differences that held up.  One of the things that concerned me was the issue of the creases in the Realize (issues of possibility of stomach pinching or erosion of the band because the balloon touches itself at those creases...over time the band would wear?).  Dr. Curry even went so far as to have a silicone model of the stomach done that show the crease differences on LBT http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/pics-info-new-realize-c-band- 83453/ for me, which was great.  I still have questions about the place where the Realize C comes together at the end since that isn't visible.  Realize advocates also love the Realize website they can access after surgery which give you tracking, information, diet etc. (not a big plus for me personally but for many this was their deciding factor.  LB is supposedly expanding their site to do the same in the future...haven't heard when). 

Another difference is the Realize comes with clips on the back side of the port (special tool surgeon uses to clamp these to you) to attach it to you vs. the LB port is sutured down (you'll find people on both sides saying one or the other is more secure...again, I haven't found reliable info. differences).  Some say the Dr.'s get incentive $$$ for pushing one over the other (so much $ for each one they do)...this is a hot item with many.

I haven't made my decision yet. I see my surgeon in a week and I want to look at each of them closely (he brought them to my seminar, and he said there he has no preference, so I hope he will be able to inflate them for me at the office).  Do a search for photos and you'll see the differences.  I think anything that hasn't been around 100 years and will be in my body for the rest of my life is a big decision.  Don't take what I or anyone else says as truth...do your own checking.

Negativity is everywhere out there and once people make whatever decision is right for them, I think they want to feel good about it...and for some people, like other parts of their lives, that means being negative about others choices.  I don't mind debate on both sides as it gives you information...I do mind when people get negative. 

Great Information......Thanks.  I will check out both bands on 1/13 at Magee.

LapBand and Realize are just the brand names of two gastric banding systems. They're the same thing.

Oh forgot, Realize comes in one size, but is adjustable (thus the gap debate at ends of the balloon), it has a low profile port (only) and the way the port is configured some say there is less chance of the needle hitting the tubing at fills (making a leak), although the leak stats aren't very different.TMI I know, but I can't imagine at least not holding these in your hands if you have a choice...to me it's at least like buying a car (that you'd be driving FOREVER)...they all get you there, but you need to look at the features.

I am currently going through Magee's program and so far I am happy with it. I have my first appointment with the Doc. after my 4th class of 6. The reason I really like Magee is it seems they are giving a lot of attention to making sure you have all your bases covered for insurance. Not saying that other programs are not doing this, but this helps a great bit. I guess I cannot really give a detailed opinion of the whole program until I have surgery, but so far so good. You pay a bit extra, but I figure all my information will be with the group and I will not have to track stuff down once it come time for the insurance. I also picked Magee after doing my research and opinions of others. Don't be afraid to ask questions and attend the free seminars of the different programs to see which one is right for you. I can see how one Doc. at a seminar can turn you off to a certain group. The one who did mine was very open and discussed the different options and took a lot of questions.