OKCurt

I had it done April 28th. Very happy with the result

Crystal light. They even gave it to me in the hospital. Decaf tea/coffee

How long did it take the small scars to completely heal over so the red lines were not visible?

I also had to inject lovenox. It was painless really. The needle is very small and injected into the fat near the belly button. The nurse told me not to rub the area after the shot to prevent bruising. I was nervous the first time, but there was really nothing to it.

I had it done April 26th. The recovery was just like those who had just the band. Gas pains, sorness in the port area, etc. I felt just fine after a few days. Just follow the post op instructions and diet and you should be fine. I'm glad I did it. I've lost 57 pounds total since my first consultation.

For me, the hardest was just after surgery when I was on liquids and having cravings. My daughter started making cookies and some tacos. I was mad at her. All I asked was to let me get to the soft food stage and then it was on me. It wasn't that she was eating cookies and tacos, it was me having not having advance notice so I had to smell it at my worst point. Once I got to eat food again, I was fine.

Basically it comes down to your insurance company. There are different requirements. Some only require you to be X amount overweight while others require supervised diet counseling. The pre op diet to shirink the liver is a different issue and most are required to follow that for a couple weeks pre surgery. Some insurance also require an overnight stay while others only cover outpatient. It all depends. In my case, I did not need 6 month diet counseling. I just needed to be 100lbs overweight with a co-morbidity like hypertension. I was required to stay in the hospital over night.

Today I had my second follow-up appointment and the doctor said no fill was necessary, but as I continue to lose stomach fat, a small fill will be needed down the road. I was banded with plication on 4/26/11 and need one more pound to get under the 300 mark. So far I've lost 54 pounds since first consulation. 36 pounds since surgery averaging about 3lbs per week. I look forward to reading your experiences with this procedure.

Congratulations! I'm right behind you. Can't weight

The recovery was much like everyone else who has posted after getting banded. Gas pains the first couple days and some sorness etc. I was in the hospital overnight, but I know of others who were strickly oupatient. I only needed pain medicine the first couple days. I was required to give myself lovenox injections for 10 days to prevent help prevent clotting which was a breeze. I continued to breathe in the lung exercise device they gave me, and walked at least 5 minutes 6 times a day. Every doctor is different so your post op instrutions may differ somewhat. I was comfortable knowing my doctor had the "center of excellence" rating. I took two weeks off work, but could've easily returned after 1 week. For the most part, I stayed the course with the post op diet because I didn't want any issues. For me it was 3 days of Clear liquids followed by 2 weeks of full liquids (Protein shakes etc). Then to mushies, soft food, etc. At my 6 week follow up, the doctor told me I could move to solid food a week earlier than my diet plan stated. I think those that are getting the combination will be happy with the result. I'm guessing I was around patient #20 or so that he has done this procedure on, with many more scheduled.

Bazookadoe, At my first consult, I was 354. On my surgery date, they weighed me at 336, so I had lost 18lbs on the pre op diet. 336 and now I'm 303. So actual weight lost from surgery date of 4/16/11 is 33lbs. Good luck to all who have the band and plication. I'm real happy with it so far.

sugar free popsicles were my best friend

I'm very happy that I had the procedure done. Including the pre op diet, I've lost a total of 51 pounds. I'm averaging a bit over 3 lbs per week. My doctor was very pleased at the 6 week post op appt and said I definately needed no fill. They billed my insurance the same as the band so no issues there so far.

I had it done on April 16 and including the pre op diet, I've lost 51 pounds already. I'm very happy with the results and I didn't need a fill on the 6 week follow up appt

For me everything was very managable after a few days. I took two weeks off work and I felt good enough that I could've gone back after 1 week.