Help!!!! What's the difference in Lap Band and Realize Band

Hoping to have weightloss surgery just stuck between lap band and realize band. I dont see and major differences in the two. Can anyone out there help me out.

I don't think there is a whole lot of difference, mostly just in the basic shape, but they both do the same thing, the same way. People have lost weight with both of them.

Thank you very much. That's what I was thinking after watching all kinds of different videos on it that's the only difference I've seen. Did you have either one of the procedures done????

I have the Allergan lapband, I didn't have a choice because they just came out with the Realize band when I had mine done and that is what my surgeon used. Now tho they just try to convince folks to do the sleeve since it is more effective and has less problems than either kind of band.

There are no major differences -

One of the minor differences is the way that the Port is attached to the abdominal wall.

The Lapband is sutured (and sometimes flips over and cannot be accessed to be filled)

The Realize port has a 'receiver' with titanium clips that clips into your body, and the port is 'seated' into that receiver.

My doctor has never had a Realize band that had a port flippage problem.  He places both Realize and Lapband -- he let me choose.

I chose the Realize for 2 reasons
1.  it felt softer to me (he has samples of both in his office)
2.  I liked to port/receiver design better

I have the REALIZE Band. I had my surgery on 2/28/11. My surgeon only does REALIZE. I look at it as the "new and improved" LapBand. I also think (and this is just me) that people use the term "lapband" , like we use jello. bandaid, kleenex, kool-aid; we use those terms even if we are talking about another brand (i.e. Band Aid, when we are actually using a Curad brand). As I said, this is what I think. And I may be wrong.

I've saved this from a late night of Googling to find out the answer myself. It's a long explanation (sorry) but it includes all the info & then some. Again, sorry for the length of it.


Differences between REALIZE and ALLERGAN bands:
Clinical outcomes (slip rate, erosion rate, weight loss, etc) are very similar between the two bands. The Allergan band is the original band (Allergan bought the Inamed band company which bought Bioenterics company - these are the old names of the same band)
Surgically, there are subtle differences such as:
The Allergan band comes in many sizes, REALIZE band is one size.
Allergan has two port sizes; REALIZE is one port size.
Allergan ports are stitched to the muscle fascia (the tough white stuff on the outside of the muscle); REALIZE port has neat technology that attaches itself to the muscle fascia and may have slightly less port pain the first few days after surgery. The REALIZE ports have a neat tool that places the port and secures it with a handheld instrument making it really easy on the surgeon. (Don't tell anyone but they could teach monkeys to do this stuff.)
Allergan band tubing has little arrows printed on it pointing the surgeon to the tab end of the tubing which is a nice feature in the operating room.
Allergan ports are smaller around (circumference) and taller - perhaps easier to palpate for fills.
REALIZE ports are bigger around and less prominent. Think small stack of silver dollars versus taller stack of quarters to create the mental image.
Allergan tubing is closer to the septum (the area that you aim for with the needle for adjustments/fills) and perhaps more susceptible to needle sticks requiring port replacement.
REALIZE ports have the septum farther away from the tubing - the tubing is a little more protected.
Both bands are now easier to unbuckle in the event a surgeon has to reposition the band.
The REALIZE band comes with a neat instrument that helps to pass the band around the upper stomach.
The Allergan AP bands have "pillows" in the inflatable portion of the inner balloon that prevents balloon-to-balloon contact. The REALIZE band does have balloon-to-balloon contact. Some people think that this contact may cause issues years later but long-term studies have not shown this to be the case.

The Band sizes are as follows:
Realize Band (Swedish Band) Fill up to 9cc
Realize Band -C (Swedish Band VC) Fill up to 11cc
LapBand APS Fill up to 10cc
LapBand APL Fill up to 14cc

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOU REPLIES. HELPING OUT ALOT!!!

 Does one restrict movement more than the other...say sit ups , etc?

My surgeon said that the main differences he sees in the two, other than the slightly different port design (which IS significant, I think) is that the Lap-Band comes primed with like 3.5 cc's of fluid and the REALIZE band does not.  I chose the Lap-Band specifically for that reason but the joke was one me... I was back in his office the day after surgery to have 2 cc's of that removed because I was completely swollen shut.