lap band

                                                                 

With the Inamed's newer Advanced Platform models everyone has there bands primed with a set amount of fill at time of surgery.   While the majority of bandsters will need fills later on I have personally known of about three who didn't until they were at least 6 months and one year out and over who still lost weight.   It's rare though certainly.

Bands generally aren't designed to work without being filled. They are fitted 'loose' during surgery because the stomach swells in protest. Once this has gone down a surgeon will start filling and real (as opposed to swelling) restriction is what people are aiming for.

The problems come when even with fills you don't lose weight, or you're too full and choke on your own spit, or the darn thing moves around...Then you come to this board and start researching!