Question:
re refrequence of band refills

I fit is true that as long as you continue to get refills that you can continue to lose weight (the band will continue to work). How often can or should you get the bad refilled...    — [Deactivated Member] (posted on January 10, 2003)

January 10, 2003
Hi there a while ago I had researched the lap band and had talked to some bandsters, they said that you can get filled up to three times. But allot of them I spoke with were just fine with one fill or two. They didn't seem to need the third fill. I could be totally wrong about this since its been awhile since I looked into it. I ended up choosing Rny, because of my sweet tooth. I just didn't want to fail again. But that was a personal decision that I came to.
   — Monette L.

January 10, 2003
Help me understand ... what are band refills? If a band is in your stomach, how do you refill it? ... just wondering. Thanks,
   — Betty Todd

January 10, 2003
Betty.. the band is AROUND the outside of the upper portion of the stomach, in order to constrict the stomach to create the pound, the band is 'filled' with a sterile solution to inflate a ring that is within the band itself. (Bandsters, correct me if I'm wrong please!) Think of a twist tie at the opening of a bread bag.. the tighter you twist the more secure the opening of the bag. A small hole MUST be left so food can pass through, the point behind fills is to allow a banded person to get to a point where enough food gets through for nutritional needs, but not so much that is slows or negates weight loss. I hope this helps you. ~Peace
   — Joscelin

January 10, 2003
Yes, a definite advantage to the lap band is its adjustability. However, there IS still a maximum amount that the band can be filled (4.0 cc for the bioenterics band, for instance). You should have a fill only if you haven't lost weight for a good 3 weeks or more. Each time you have a fill, there is a certain amount of trauma to your stomach, so the idea is to get away with as little fill as possible (especially since there is a maximum amount of fill allowed). I really researched the band, and have several on-line friends who swear by it, but decided on the lap RNY instead for myself, because I know I just don't have the self-discipline for it (sweet-eater), and I didn't feel I could lose enough weight with it. Good luck!!!
   — Patricia E.

January 11, 2003
Yes! That's the best thing about the band! There is NO limited amount of time in which weight loss should occur. People have lost weight over years and years if they want with the band. Frequency of fills: it seems like most people need 1-4 per year. It's a five minute procedure. Not a big deal. And not painful. Lap band actually requires LESS medical follow-up than the other surgeries because we don't have to get blood tests, etc.
   — M. B.

January 11, 2003
By the way. The band can withstand over 200 fills. It's wrong that someone said the band can be filled only 3 times. That is misinformation! I have a 9 cc band so I have A LOT more room for fills! I have never heard of someone not losing all their excess weight because their band was already too full.
   — M. B.

January 13, 2003
I just had my first fill one week ago with no problems and I have never heard that you can only have the band filled three times. It is different for everyone because a different amount of solution is put in for different people. My doctor put gave me a fill, made me drink some water and when I was a little too constricted took some out. I have the right amount now. The whole process of the fill took about five minutes.
   — Genn2973