Great question. I too was offered the choice between the Realize band and the LapBand. My doctor said he had no real preference, so that left it up to me to do the research and make the decision on my own. I chose the Realize band, and here are some of the contributing factors for my decision.
-Low port profile. Also the port is attached using an intra-muscular attachment system....no sutures are used to attach the port to the stomach muscles.
- The "Realize your Success" online. Realize band is the only company with an interactive post-operative website geared specifically toward your individual weight loss tracking. I don't know if LapBand has followed suit with anything similar. I must say it is a feature I am glad to have and I use it almost weekly to track everything from weight loss, food diary, appointments, band fills, photos and tracking reports.
- Ultimately the DR decides what size band you will receive, but as I understand it, the Realize band offers the greatest range of sizes, thus allowing for a more aggressive fill regimen, if needed.
I have seen recently that Realize has had a voluntary recall, due to a possible weak point in the connection between the port and port tube running to the band. Info about that recall is on their site. The design has been changed to reinforce that area.
The choice is yours. Do your research and decide what you think will work best for you. Good luck.