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I'm sorry I had to give the bad news. :grouphug: I recently got my surgery @ TLBC a.k.a Slimband. in Toronto. They aren't equipped to do fills in Edmonton yet. They told me that they were, but I found out from a fellow bandster from Edmonton that she had to fly to Toronto for her first 2 fills (i'm flying to TO on the 15th for my first fill). TLBC hasn't been that Alberta friendly for me. I was told that they just trained someone to do fills in Edmonton, but they are not ready yet and it is important to see the fill nurse in TO for a seminar. ( I was told that the morning of my surgery). Dr. Yau was great but the aftercare sucks, hopefully that will change. If I had to do it again i'd go to the Winnepeg clinic or the SWLC in Ontario. (cheaper flights to Winnepeg)

My name is Leah Davies I am 26 years old and i have been battling with my weight for my whole life,on august 20th 2010 i had the lapband procedure done at the slimband clinic in toronto the procedure was done by Dr. Pavi Kundhal. for the first 3 weeks i was on a strict liquid/soft pureed food diet then i was able to go to solid foods and i started having problems eating the very first day, the food would get stuck and this caused a great amount of pain and if i was lucky it would go down on its own after a few minutes but most of the time i had to bring the food back up in order to dislodge it. So the first time i contacted the Support staff at the Slimband clinic i was advised to go back to soft foods for another few days that maybe the swelling from surgery had still not gone down and once you vomit there is a good chance it will happen again because now that area is irritated. so i went back on soft foods for another week and i was still experience the same issues even with those.once i stared back on solid foods for the second try the problems persisted but i tried my best to get through it. i followed the advise of the support staff to the fullest i would have a hot drink before my meal like i was advised to try, i chewed my food until it was paste i took my time eating and still no relief from the food getting stuck. in October i had my first follow up with the doctor who asked me the same questions do i chew my food? do i take my time? and do i take small bites? and i answered yes to all these questions so he then sent me for my first defill the band was then loosened and even then i still could not eat with ease. i had phone appointments with nutritionalist Arlene who i was very honest with when telling her what i was eating and how i was eating and was advised by her that i was not eating enough to get the bennifit of the band although all the problems i had been having made me scared to eat why would i want to put myself in that kind of pain and discomfort? I was advised to eat 3 meals a day and 2 to 3 snacks to get maximum weight loss well to be honest at this point i would have been more satisfied with not having to chock up everything i ate! i threw up everything from water to meat and everything in between then in December i went for a second defill because this was the only solution and still no relief by the end of December i had my 3rd and final defill because as i was advised by the doctor who did the defill the band was nearly empty there was nothing left to take and the eating problems never got better the vomiting got so intense my nose would bleed and i would cry from the pain this was becoming a serious problem to me. and i had voiced my issues with everyone at the slimband clinic that would listen and still no one could offer me any resolution in this time i had visited to ER on 2 separate occasions because the pain was so excruciating i was concerned with all the vomiting i had done some real damage and i was just fluffed off as to having heartburn.My mother was so frustrated one day and so concerned that she emailed a letter to slimband insiting someone do something to help me i then got a call from Dr Kundhal who i again voiced my issues to he then advised me to go for an upper GI to get a view of the band to ensure it was placed properly so i made an appointment and had that done in February, the hospital did not send the results i did not know that so i sent the results myself through the mail and they were never received so i then had to drive them out to the slimband clinic to ensure they were received made an appointment for the doctor to call me to go over the results on the day of the appointment the doctor did not call so i called him waited on hold for 20 min so my appointment was past due by 40 min and when he answered the phone he had no idea who was calling and when i told him who i was he then had no idea why i was calling, i had to tell him i was calling for test results and he just bluntly said there was nothing wrong with the band.Although when i had a follow up with my family doctor to go over the same test results because she received them she advised me i had a hernia. a hernia which i was advised was repaired during surgery so i mentioned the hernia to Dr. Kundhal and asked him if there was a chance that was what could be causing my problems he advised me no that the hernia would not be causing these types of problems, i am not a doctor and have no idea but i was left to wonder if he even repaired it in the first place if it wouldn't cause problems why bother doing extra work? but i am still unsure as to that point if the hernia he said he repaired during surgery that showed up on my Upper GI would cause problems. so what were my options? i have been in pain and discomfort for 7 months at this point and no one could figure out why and to be honest every person i talked to didn't seem to have any information or answeres no one was familiar with why i was calling even though i had called the slimband clinic up to this time and spoke with a number of people but did not get the feeling of concern for my situation so the day the doctor gave me my test results he gave me one option to have exploritory surgery and i was not ok with this option i could not take time from a new job to recover and the fear of then having the same problems once he told me again there was nothing wrong i was affraid of choking all the time i have had to pull over to throw up i have thrown up in the car in the parking lot and bathroom of work this was not something that only happened once in a blue moon this is really a problem that had been going on for the entire time i had the band in so i decided to have it removed i decided this was the best option for me to reclaim my life i was not getting the assistance and support slimband promises and i feel and still do feel that i did my fair part in trying to get this resolved took time off work for appointments and took tripes out to the clinic on days off to deliver test results i gave them more than enough opportunity to at least try and help me and i have never felt that anyone cared enough to even try so i had the band removed on April 12th 2011so now i am trying to get a refund i spoke with the pre op administrator Robert Hollis who is really just the accountant and told him the reason i had the band removed and requested a refund on April 13th i then called in back today on april 18th and he advised me today they will not refund me my only option is to seek legal action so that is what i am going to be doing but i wanted it to be known whoever reads this that this is not right i did not remove the band because it didnt help me lose weight and i just wasnt happy with it i removed it because i was throwing up to the point my nose would bleed and coughing so hard to get the food to come out that i was affraid i might actually choke to death its scary to not beable to breath i was coughing so hard and painful so i took the band out so that i could stop those things from happening. and i really dont agree with slimband keeping my money or anyones money that has gone through something like that this surgery costs 16 thousand dollars i was really wanting it to work for me to help me lose weight if it had of worked the was it was supposed to i would have kept it in forever with no complaints but it did not help me all it caused was pain Slimband claims this surgery is the best option because it does not require you to make life altering changes to your eating habits except to eat less which is only expected with any weight loss method but the problems i had did not allow me to enjoy going to a restaurant because on 2 occasions i tried i ended up in the bathroom and once running out of the restaurant leaving my boyfriend sitting at the table to throw up in the parking lot i had to turn down lunch invitations from co workers and i was not able to even eat lunch at work because i simply did not have enough time to try to eat anything and in all honesty i was sparing myself the embarrassment of having to bring it up or explain whats is wrong with me so this did change my whole life for the time i had it in because eating less and eating more healthy was never my problem it was the pain and suffering the band caused. i do wish it would have worked for me and i hope to anyone who has it that it works for them but to anyone thinking of getting this surgery please do the research and really think about it and make sure you are aware of all the things that could go wrong because if you have problems like i did there might not be any other option for you either and if you take the band out you will be relieved from the pain and discomfort but the slimband clinic still made 16 thousand dollars off of your negative side effects.I am going to take legal action that is the next step and i will do whatever it takes to make it known that it is not right that slimband break all promises of support and assistance and when i was at my wits end with nowhere to turn for help i make the decision that is best for me and slimband thinks its right to keep the money i paid .

Hi there! I travelled from New Brunswick to Toronto to be banded at Slimband on April 22, 2010. I was treated very well and was impressed the entire time by the staff. I was banded by Dr. Yau and I found him to be wonderful!! I am still abit sore, but I'm very happy that I went there and was banded. Hope this helps!

I ended up going ahead with Slimband and I'm SO glad I did. Dr Yau performed my surgery on April 16th and it was great! He gave me some very helpful advice and his team was fantastic. The nurses made me feel relaxed before and very comfortable after. And so far the followup care has been okay too. Slimband was great for me and I would definitely recommend them. However, as with all health-related issues, the best advice I can give is to do your research and determine the best route for you and your health.

I completely agree with Spartan. Sadly, that's what I thought I was doing with Slimband. I did a lot of research and I wanted Dr Yau so I chose to pay my fee to Slimband who I now realise must be the 'patient coordinators' you mention Spartan. Now I can't seem to get any confirmation from Slimband that Dr Yau will be performing my surgery (or not). It's very frustrating. I think it's important to research your surgeon then find a reliable and transparent 'patient coordinator' before you commit. Good luck in your journey. Exciting times ahead for me but I just wish they weren't tainted with a slightly less than transparent Slimband situation.

hi all! I am happy to see some people recommendng Slimband. I too spoke with Silvanna, and am in the process of trying to set up a date for june. any other info on Slimband would be great to read!

I am highly considering booking my surgery with Slimband located in Toronto and was wondering if anyone has had any experiences with them and are they good or bad? I have done a lot of research and its betwen them and SWLC but slimband also offers 4 yrs of afercare with the cost and no charge fils/defills and have a dr locally in NL.....this makes a big difference to me but if they are not reputable then I would rather a reputable place. Thanks,

Hello I would like to join the April band buddies.. My surgery is April 24th and I am getting the Slimband in Toronto.. I am nervous and excited.. I have to do a 10 day low cal diet.. No carbs, no fat, no fruit.. I guess its not too bad but will be hard to find stuff I can eat...I would love to chat with you all and compare our progresses and different things we do as the time goes along.. Please keep this thread going as I need something to keep me going.. My best friend was going to get it done too but she had hiatis hernia operation a few years back and they were wanting to do her banding in the hospital and costing her an extra 2900 so she opted out.. Now I need a partner or even better a few partners to chat with.. It was nice meeting you all and hope we can chat..

Thanks LessLee! I had my consultation call this afternoon with slimband and will try to see of I can talk to someone at smartshape this weekend. How are you doing after the surgery?

Hi, welcome. I am also in Ottawa. I went with Slimband, and there is a fill nurse in Ottawa who is wonderful also. I didn't hear of Smartshape until after, but have read good things about the Dr. Good Luck!

I also had problems at Slimband. My cousin and I were waiting for the consultation when we overheard a most disturbing conversation between the sales manager and someone on the other end of the phone. When I went in for my consultation I told the woman (cant remember her name) and she called the sales manager in to apologize. Still left a bad impression on me .. The next day I had my consultation with Dr. Cobourn and it was an amazing experience! edited to add that my consutatons were exactly a year ago so I dont know what slimband is like now.

Dr. Hartman in Edmonton does fills for slimband. The # to his office is (780)462-8120

Doddie, Thanks for the good wishes.... I love the gym while I am there, other than Jamal is going to kick my ass and push me hard again of that I am sure! I used to weigh daily and haven't in about 5 years since I was at goal for about 6 months and just after plastic surgery I stopped. It worked very well for me for a long time... but in this case I had my own reasons for not caring if I gained and weighing daily wouldn't have stopped me it would have just made some other things worse.... I think there are merits to judging your progress by the scale and by how you look and feel. I have to say sitting and talking to Dr Yau when he moved my port back in Oct helped a lot. Knowing he is there whenever I need him or call Slimband helps too... at the time Dr Yau and I were talking I just wasn't mentally ready to make any of the changes I knew were coming.... and I knew they were coming and exactly what they were because I had been here before.... that was prebanding so I knew how much work I had to go. I just didn't factor in the migraine headaches that were my body begging me for sugar. Heather

I went to Slimband. There aren't a lot of Slimband people on here because we have our own private community. Slimband was great! Everyone has been so nice and helpful, and the support team is always there for me when I have questions. I am 3 weeks post-op today

I have received unsettling news that I know will upset quite a few of you. Yau is back doing surgeries at Slimband but they are trying t keep it a secret. Since Dr. Yau resigned from his position at Slimband in February of this year, his patients (including those banded under TLBC) have been told that Slimband is no longer treating them because Yau no longer works there. I called Slimband Patient Support last week and asked the following: Is Dr. Yau still working at Slimband? – the answer was no. Does Dr. Yau still work, in any capacity, out of the Prince Arthur medical clinic? – the answer was no. Are Dr. Yau’s patients, including those banded under TLBC, being supported/treated by Slimband? – the answer was no because “Dr. Yau no longer works at Slimband.” The truth is, Yau performed at least one surgery at Slimband (Prince Arthur) on Monday April 7th 2014. This information was voluntarily given to me via staff members that currently work at Slimband. Be aware that Slimband will do anything to deny he is back working there, including taking his name off his parking spot. So why did he resign when he clearly still continues to work there? Well we can’t be sure but it very likely has to do with the fact that if Yau appeared not to be working at Slimband then they would be able to stop treating his patients, including those banded under TLBC who were guaranteed a lifelong support system without additional cost. We seriously need to do something about this. There is a lawsuit underway for those banded under TLBC because our agreement of a lifelong support system is not being honoured. If you are in this situation please email 2014takeaction@gmail.com. My worry is that other Slimband patients banded under Yau are also not being supported because “Yau no longer works at Slimband.” This is a lie because he is working there. You need to do whatever you can to make others aware of this. Slimband continues to lie and this type of unprofessionalism needs to stop before others sign-up with them only to be disappointed or put in danger as a result of being refused treatment in the future.

Hey freshair, I have recently been banded and I too live in Canada. Yes I made the investment and paid out of pocket. I chose to go with Dr Cobourn in Mississauga Ontario. I looked into slimband but found they were too commercialized. The clinic that I deal with has been nothing but upfront and factual with how the band works. If you have done some research then you should know the general basics of how the band works. Dr Cobourn stated straight to my face that the band is a tool that will help with satiety. You have to follow the diet recommendations and exercise daily. They tell you that the band doesn't stop what you put in your mouth. If you make poor decisions you WILL NOT get the results you want. I have seen the slimband commercials and yes they could be miss leading but I think if you are going to invest $16,000 out of pocket you better be educated about your investment. I have been doing well with the band. I follow the recommendations made by my Dr and I feel amazing. I am down 30 lbs and 2 dress sizes. There is nothing better in the world than feeling good about yourself and knowing that this is a life changing procedure.

I was banded in August 2013. I had my first fill two weeks ago. She put in 1 and told me to wait a res minutes in the waiting area to see if I could get water down. This being my first fill I had no idea what I should be feeling so I was delighted to sip water and feel fine. Fast coward a couple of days and I feel zero restriction. I called and asked if I could get another fill and have heard nothing. I paid a lot of money ( slimbAnd with no insurance) and I feel like I has to fight for a fill. I paid close to 20 I and I know slimbAnd has their hands full with Dr Yau but I am really frustrated. The customer service has been terrible and I would not recommend this company to anyone. I have lost 10 pounds and feeling kind of lost.

I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this? What have they said about you only losing 10lbs? Is there another medical team that you can get care with? Im not very familiar with the slimband

Red Bird I am so sorry to hear about your aftercare. I would continue to try to contact the slimBand group and insist on someone responding to you. Not sure what the Dr. Yau issue is, but that shouldn't allow them to treat a paying patient the lack of care that is needed after surgery. You hang in there and vent whenever you like. I am apparently very lucky with my surgeons office they are great people. I have only had my band since 1/16/14 and have one fill of 2 cc's...but am looking forward to my next visit-since I am sure 2 cc's is not enough for me. So I will be on the lookout for a follow-up post saying they finally got you in and are helping you. Take care and prayers!!!

I am looking for anyone banded at TLBC or Slimband that has information on the following; - A contract that outlines what "Lifetime Support" includes -Any documentation which includes Life Time Support or information on Fills and Defills -If you have emails, glossy info or any other information that would helpful. Please send all info to tlbchelp@gmail.com. I can provide you more information. Thank youPK

Has anyone gone with slimband? What kind of credit would you need for their financing?

It is with Slimband and i have emailed them but, if they are denying people I wouldn't be surprised if they denied me too. I was re-banded by them about two and half years ago. I didn't get a contract or any papers etc. I would be interested still in knowing about the lawsuit and I have a ton of contacts who were banded by TLBC, Slimband and Joffe and Yao pre-clinic. I also know Kathy P. and can contact her for information. Once upon a time we had a Yahoo site that was very active, with lunches monthly, dinners, emails and support groups. I am sure I can get in touch with a variety of people.

Hey! I'm scheduled for April 7th at Slimband in Toronto also! What time is your surgery at? Mine's scheduled for 11:00 am.

hi you can contact Lap Band Surgery Clinic | Weight Loss & Gastric Balloon - Surgical Weight Loss Centre, Toronto Canada or Weight Loss Surgery - Slimband I'm sure both clinics can give you a price for a fill. I was banded in Toronto and only had 4 fills in total... last fill was 3 yrs ago... I do know Slimband did fills for Mexico band people back then...not sure what they charge... i would contact both clinics. Hope this helps. Tom

I had the same issue, but after my research, and reading a lot of threads from different websites.... I even joined the Slimband website...and many of their patients complaints were regarding the "BAD" after care. Dr. Yau is very experienced, however, once they are done, you are basically on your own "according to their patients". But when I did a search on Dr. Cobourn and his clinic, I found mostly positive things were being said across the board, from consult to after care. So to me it seemed like they were more on point and cared more about their patients outcome then Slimband....that is the reason I chose SWLC..... Again do your research (it took me 2yrs to decide)....and make the best choice for you. I felt more comfortable with my choice, because I know after care was a huge deal for me. Good Luck!!!