BANDSTERS

I am in Springfield, and pre-band. First fill means the first time they put saline into the ring around your stomach. When the band gets put on in surgery they leave it empty, your stomach swells enough while healing from surgery that many people notice a reduction in what they can eat just from that for several weeks. Depending on your surgeon, about 3-6 weeks after surgery they will start to inflate the inner-tube of the band. That is what give the ability to change the band over time. Most of the people need 3-5 different fills-a little at a time-to reach their "sweet spot" or their best restriction in what their pouch will hold. Keep searching on this site and check out the Lap Band forum--learn as much as you can and good luck!