Just got surgery and have questions

Hi Brenda -- welcome to the band!

Yes -- the biggest incision is where your port is --- it will most likely be the most tender one.
I can feel my port (I can feel it alot more now that I have lost 135 pounds).

My appetite returned about 4 days post-op -- and yes, I have had hunger.
What I try to do is to plan my meals on a schedule (as much as possible) and eat  when it is time to eat.  I find that if I wait too long and get too hungry, that I have problems.
My hunger makes me want to take bites that are too big and eat too fast.
Both of those behaviors can cause food to get 'stuck' and that is a really unpleasant feeling.

I CAN eat/drink at the same time but I DON'T most of the time
I feel satisfied with my meal much longer if I wait about an hour  to drink afterwards.
Do I occasionally sip a glass of wine with my dinner -- and immediately after --- YEP, but I am 2 years post op.
Some people have negative effects --- the food in the band does not allow them to sip/drink and it causes them to burp up their food.
For now, you should resign yourself to NOT eating/drinking together.
If you want to excuse yourself to the restroom and 'rinse' your mouth after eating, that might be a good solution.

I believe that hairloss is a side-effect of anesthesia.  I experienced some at the 4-month post-op time -- and it lasted for a few weeks.
My hair is now healthier and thicker than it has ever been.

I did not use biotin or anything else - I just let it run its course.

Congratulations on making it safely through surgery.

1)No, that is not in your head.  My port incision and gas pain was the only post op pain I had and the gas pain lasted the longest.

2)Enjoy this time without hunger!  When I was a fresh post op it took all had to get in my fluids since I was always so full feeling.  I'm not exactly sure when it went away, but I miss the constant feeling of satiety.

3)Physically yes you can, but it is a bad habit to start.  In addition to washing food through your pouch so you will be able to eat more, imagine putting a piece of solid fluid through a funnel then adding water, if it can't pass through the small opening the only recourse is for it to back up.  Believe me it is no fun rushing to the restroom in a nice restaurant or during a family meal as the fluid rushes back up and out.

4) Some lose hair from anesthesia, some definitely lose hair from the dietary changes they are making.  Luckily I didn't, but I took biotin from pretty early out since I was trying to grow out a short hair cut.  My hair is in the best shape ever, probably a combo of a cleaner diet, the biotin, and no more chemical relaxers.  Be aware that biotin increases  hair growth everywhere-I've had to up my defuzzing routine and I don't even take it anymore.

I am up in Bergen County. I have the Realize Band. My surgeon uses both but prefers Realize because it is more flexible/pliable. He said unless a patient has a strong preference for the Lap Band, he uses Realize.