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I am fine right now, but this Slimband Calgarian is really happy to see that there is some support for us still!😊

Hi everyone, I am really considering lap band surgery. I do live in Ottawa so my options for what I've been able to see are Slimband or Smartshape. I found the information for the Dr, that does the fills for Slimband here in Ottawa but can't find the information for Smartshape. Would anyone be able to recommend Smartshape over Slimband? thanks, E

Originally i asked my facilitator through Hospital Angeles who i would see in my area. Did they not give you a referal? Unfortunately i think the lady i found, i found by sheer luck. I just kept searching online for anyone i could find. Unfortunately she is no longer taking new patients. I think that being near toronto you should be able to find clinics near you that will do the fill. I only say that as i wasn going to orriginally go through with "slimband" which i believe is based in toronto. Sorry i couldn't be of more help. I really hope you are able to find someone.

Just wondering what your experience with their people has been to this point. Mine has been mostly positive but somewhat mixed. I cannot get them to send me a copy of a receipt for $8000 I've already paid. Getting frustrated with that. It's a big chunk of money, I don't understand their resistance. Also when are you being banded by Slimband and what made you choose them?

@@freshair, I'm a Slimband patient and I love them! The staff are so nice and helpful. I've lost over 70 lbs and I do eat whatever I want. Ive made lifestyle changes and try to eat healthy, but I want to be a healthy person, not just a thin person. I'm young and single and I don't cook, I eat almost all my meals through take-out or prepared at the grocery store and I've still lost that much weight. I think it's still a business and all companies are a little creative with their advertising. Even Weightwatchers commercials say you can eat what you want and we all know that isn't true. You can eat what you want as long as it's less than the 30 points you get for the day or whatever it is. You can't eat big macs and milkshakes all day and expect to lose weight. Slimband has changed my life!

Strange how people join support groups to put us down. I paid Slimband I am enjoying my 40 lb loss and looking forward to 40 more. It is important to follow your doctors rules for all wls. I support my friends choices for their WLS and wish them well in their journey

Slimband, Toronto Aug 2014

I've had the Slimband since 2011. Dr. Yau was the surgeon. I've been having some complications, and there is nobody to go to with this anymore. If there is a class action, please notify me. Thanks! Bryn ... bryndayman@hotmail.com

Hello Everyone! First off let me say that I have been lurking here for awhile and I can not thank you enough for all the posts. They are really helping me with this decision. I am considering the Slimband (Canada) and I am just trying to make sure I have done my research. I consider myself a professional dieter. I have been on them ALL. And when I say all I mean ALL. I do not think there is one left that I have not tried. I can lose the weight on pretty much any program, but it never stays off. Am I scared of surgery?? Of Course, but I am also scared of going through a great loss and another failure, it is having a devasting effect on my moral and self esteem. I told myself the last time, if I gained it back then that was it, NO MORE, I just had to accept myself as is and learn to live in my body and like it. Well here I am and once again I can live like this, it rules so many thoughts in my day. What scares me more than then money or the surgery is .... is this just another "weight" related thing I have tried. I am battling with myself on that one. Will the band be the tool that I have needed all these years, or is it just another thing I try... I would appreciate any comments or suggestions and thanks again for the support you have shown others, it has been a huge comfort to me.

I am a SlimBand patient but lucky because I live just outside of Toronto so it was just car travel. I have been happy with SB care so far they have steady emails and have been responsive to my questions by phone. Fills have been pretty simple also. DeeW99 used SmartShape and I think she has been happy with them also. I would be curious to compare more the differences and or the similarities. I only learned about SmartShape after my SlimBand surgery so maybe I didn't do enough research. But sure was happy that Cibo Clinic (which has now shut down) didn't rely to my first enquiry.

I am to have surgery on August 9th. I am wondering if I should plan to stay in the Toronto area overnight and head home the next morning. I haven't been told yet from them but am wondering if anyone here has used their clinic.

:biggrin: hi everyone..this is going to be im sure very much me rambling..i just found this site and besides a vlog that im doing on my laptop i think its also important to articulate my thoughts on this process and my soon to come transformation. today im 203.5, 5'5", my birthday just passed this past tuesday..i decided just recently to pursue this journey. i had a consult at the slimband centre in toronto on thursday. to give you a little background on me.. i had gastric bypass in 2001 in toronto with dr. joffe..it was a pretty quick process i really wasn't mentally prepared for the weight loss and the attention that went along with it. now don't get me wrong i was used to male attention but at 255-260 a lot of it was from the wrong kind of men.as i started to lose my ego kinda went out of control, i didn't obey the food plan, i didn't exercise, i didn't tell anyone...at all. so i ended up regaining some of the weight..since then i have lost some again and kind of reached the 200 point numerous times. i have been able to get below that a few times to as low 176 through dr. bernstein (a pretty popular & expensive) program here in toronto. so i have decided to do this..in canada we have to pay for this surgery out of pocket and its not cheap.. $18k to be specific..but i feel that this will be worth the initial investment. i am again this time not going to tell anyone which makes things slightly awkward. at my consult i was told instead of having the day surgery at the clinic i have to go to the hospital for an overnight stay so that means someone has to pick me up..who the heck is that going to be..i don't know..i have a little more than a month to figure it out..im thinking my ex since he and i are really good friends..i dont know..and the time off work kind of screws some things up.. the surgeries in hospital are only done on mondays..so i guess i will have to take the week off work..sucks..im in sales so time away from work is crucial..i was told that the earliest date available would be may..so im hoping for a cancellation or something so i can get it earlier..im also going to be working on another designation for my career during my post op time so i hope it will not interfere with my concentration..im thinking if i get the surgery in may i should be down 50 pounds by new years..im hoping i think im going to go now look at some you tube lap bandsters to get me pumped.. oh and i guess a little more personal stuff..im single, no pets, i live in downtown toronto alone, i love fashion, tv shows: 30 rock, the office, seinfeld, clothes, ..wow when i write it down doesn't seem like i have many interests..believe me i have more but i think im all typed out.. talk to you soon everyone! hope to talk to many of you..

hi everyone..this is going to be im sure very much me rambling..i just found this site and besides a vlog that im doing on my laptop i think its also important to articulate my thoughts on this process and my soon to come transformation. today im 203.5, 5'5", my birthday just passed this past tuesday..i decided just recently to pursue this journey. i had a consult at the slimband centre in toronto on thursday. to give you a little background on me.. i had gastric bypass in 2001 in toronto with dr. joffe..it was a pretty quick process i really wasn't mentally prepared for the weight loss and the attention that went along with it. now don't get me wrong i was used to male attention but at 255-260 a lot of it was from the wrong kind of men.as i started to lose my ego kinda went out of control, i didn't obey the food plan, i didn't exercise, i didn't tell anyone...at all. so i ended up regaining some of the weight..since then i have lost some again and kind of reached the 200 point numerous times. i have been able to get below that a few times to as low 176 through dr. bernstein (a pretty popular & expensive) program here in toronto. so i have decided to do this..in canada we have to pay for this surgery out of pocket and its not cheap.. $18k to be specific..but i feel that this will be worth the initial investment. i am again this time not going to tell anyone which makes things slightly awkward. at my consult i was told instead of having the day surgery at the clinic i have to go to the hospital for an overnight stay so that means someone has to pick me up..who the heck is that going to be..i don't know..i have a little more than a month to figure it out..im thinking my ex since he and i are really good friends..i dont know..and the time off work kind of screws some things up.. the surgeries in hospital are only done on mondays..so i guess i will have to take the week off work..sucks..im in sales so time away from work is crucial..i was told that the earliest date available would be may..so im hoping for a cancellation or something so i can get it earlier..im also going to be working on another designation for my career during my post op time so i hope it will not interfere with my concentration..im thinking if i get the surgery in may i should be down 50 pounds by new years..im hoping i think im going to go now look at some you tube lap bandsters to get me pumped.. oh and i guess a little more personal stuff..im single, no pets, i live in downtown toronto alone, i love fashion, tv shows: 30 rock, the office, seinfeld, clothes, ..wow when i write it down doesn't seem like i have many interests..believe me i have more but i think im all typed out.. talk to you soon everyone! hope to talk to many of you..

I went with SWLC and Dr Couburn. I had a really awful experience with the Slimband salesgirl ( yup I'm calling her a sales girl) she was bad mouthing the other bands and clinics and was saying that they were lying about their stats. She was actually yelling at me. I sent an email to her and slimband saying that her sales pitch was discusting and that they should never contact me again. It all left a bad feeling so after looking at CIBO and Credit Valley also I decided that SWLC was the best fit plus Dr Coulburn has great reviews on rate your MD.

Glad to see some fellow Slimbanders! How would you describe your overall experience? Were you happy with the facility and how you were cared for?

Hi, Do you know of any fill doctors/nurses in Toronto, Ontario CAnada, other than Slimband

I notice a lot of neighbors to the south in the forums. Is there anyone out there scheduled for surgery in the near future from Canada? I am scheduled for slimband surgery on Dec1st.

I'm in Toronto so getting it done at Slimband. 15 and 13 - perfect age for boarding school LOL my daughter is 4 1/2 acts sometimes 2 and sometimes 40 - :thumbup: my mornings were rough - afternoons and evenings i loved being pregnant. dh makes fun of me sometimes because i spent a lot of time on the cold bathroom floor kinda like when i was in my early 20's minus the parting the night before HAHAHAHA

I'm booked in for my Slimband on August 12 at 11am i think i'm going to be sick. i hate change - at least instant ones but i know this is whats best for me. i'll be nervous as anything the week before and scared to death the day of but i do know i'll be fine. it's going to be a long 2 months until my surgery date but at least i'll be on vacation the entire month of july to keep my mind off it.

Hi, I am very new to this I have only been looking into it for awhile. I need help I am reading so much information on this blog on goods and bad surgeons. I do not what company I should go with? I am looking at slimband as it sounds that they can get me in the quickest ( I hating when I really want something). But I have heard good and bad things I would just like some advice from people who have been banded recently. Also does anybody know if someone does banding in Calgary and how long does it take to get in if they do? Any advice would be very helpful at this point. How do I research the surgeons? Thank you Very confused

Hi folks, I am very new to this site and to the world of the "Lapband!" Seen commercials for "Slimband," so I checked it out. With the package they sent me, I now have an understanding of how it all works. HOWEVER, I am apprehensive to do this procedure because of all the negative comments I have found on the web. I get that there is going to be people that have struggled with their weightless and others that have had success. I am hoping to connect with people that can share a little of their experience. What are some do's and dont's that you have discovered that were not mentioned to you? I'm sure many people have made the same forum before, but I thought I would try to see if any one is willing to share their experience! Thanks for your time!!! GQChick

I don't believe Slimband uses the Allergan Lap-band but you would have to ask them to be positive. They were using other bands at one time.

Ok. I think we all need to settle down and take a few deep breathes. Attacking each other will not lead to an understanding. But perhaps there will not be an understanding between everyone because everyone's journey is different. Now my initial post has nothing to do with how the band works or doesn't work. I have lost 110lbs with the band, so I'm quite thrilled about this. Others have not had any success. For those who have not had success, I don't think it's fair for anyone to accuse you of not working with the band or sabotaging yourself. I don't know you and am therefore not going to judge you. I'm in this for myself and I have no desire to "pick" on those who haven't had a good experience. So what was my reason for coming on to this forum? Even though I have had success (therefore I'm pleased with the band) I had the sugary done in 2007 and was guaranteed a LIFETIME SUPPORT SYSTEM for $18,000. This included all fills, refills, correction surgeries, etc. And now Slimband is not honouring their agreement with me (and other banded on TLBC). Again, many of us (I've been contacted by 62 TLCBer's) have had great success and therefore we are very please with the band. OUR CONCERN is Slimband as a company. Bottom line, they are not professional. They lie. They don't inform patients of changes. They are condescending. If you make a complaint and call they will hang up on you. Their customer services is a disgrace. A surgeon at Slimband has a tendency to yell at patients post surgery. IN SUMMATION, the band is great (for me at least). Slimband as a company is great for those who are succeeding and don't have complaints but for those who have the opposite experience, it's a horrible experience. So shop around. Other places do the LapBand procedure. Ultimately it's an individual choice. Please stop hurting others with attacks. Talk about your own experience with the understanding that yours is unique and unlike others. It's not the band! It's Slimband!

Hello all, Now I can't give any details just yet, as myself and many others are in the process of a class action lawsuit, but if you are reading this and are thinking about getting a lapband through Slimband please don't do it. Please look into other places because there are others. When I can share more information about the concerns about Slimband I found out today, I will post again. I know it might be frustrating that I'm not sharing specifics but for right now, I needed to get the word out that those who are thinking about get banded with Slimband, please don't. And if you have a surgery planned with them, I think you should cancel and go somewhere else. Again, when I am able to share this information, I will.

Hi i am wondering what is the word of slimband and dr Yau.if we have a emergency who do we contact .i am having a endoscopy with another doctor who doesn't know much about the lapband.and i am nervous .Has anyone had a endoscopy with another dr.besides the band doctor ,thanks.how much is it to file a civil lawsuit.