I am getting my PS done on Jan 5th and my band dr's office told me i should have a complete unfill so the anestisologist can get the tube down. Has anyone else had to do this, or have you gotten surgery without getting unfilled. My appointment is tomorrow for the unfill and then 2 1/2 weeks till surgery. I'm scared I will have no control and go splurge on food.

Thanks for any insight.

Honestly, I completely understand your fear of gaining any weight back, but I would let them let some fluid out. I had an abdominal surgery after I was banded - I had an IUD that perforated through my uterus and was in my intestines. After that surgery to remove the IUD, my band was never the same. I kept getting really sick and I truly feel as though that's when my complications started. That's just my personal opinion. I have now had surgery to have my band revised and have gained a few pounds, but I get to start having fluid back again tomorrow. Good luck and best wishes!

I don't get their thinking....the breathing passage and the swallowing passage are different!!!!

Mimi

Hi, just wanted to say I have "interviewed" 3 different plastic surgeons. I want to have my PS this spring. All 3 told me it wouldn't be a problem. They all had performed surgeries on pts w/filled bands and had no problems, even placing the port back where it was or relocating was not a problem. I had told one that my band doc had advised an unfill and he said he had never heard that, as the tube does not go into the stomach, but was going to consult w/local band doctor anyway (mine is 8 hrs away.)

I haven't figured how I feel about it yet!

I was told to have all the Fluid removed before my PS and so were most of the people I know that have done it. I scheduled my unfill for 1 week prior to the surgery, as that was the closest date I could get, and I'll be getting filled again on Monday (2 weeks post-op).

I was told that the reason for unfilling is that you get internal swelling with any kind of operation, which would make the band uncomfortably tight afterwards and also, many people have a nauseous reaction to the anaesthetic and painkillers, so they don't want the band tight if you're going to be throwing up - puts strain on all the band stitching and might cause a slip long term.

That advice made sense to me, especially as I know I always throw up after anaesthetic, so I was happy to do it. In a way, it's been nice to have a little holiday from the strict regime of the band, but I have been eating way more than usual and I'm really looking forward to having the band filled again.

Hi:

I had a tummy tuck in May and I was completely unfilled prior to surgery. I have big nausea issues and am glad I was unfilled because I had dry heaves for the first twenty-something hours after tummy tuck. I didn't get refilled until somewhere between 2 - 3 weeks after tummy tuck because it's difficult to get into the right position to get fill without hurting the abdominal muscles which were still healing for six weeks.

I am so fortunate that my lap band doctor could do my unfill the day before my tummy tuck and he said just to let him know whenever I was ready for a refill and they'd fit me in.

Best wishes to you. I love my band and my new flat tummy!

Sue

Fanny, that makes sense now, about the internal swelling. I will follow your advice when I do my PS. Thanks

Thanks for all the replys. My PS also didn't care one way or the other about a filled band. I don't get sick after surgery so I will really have to think about what to do.

Hi, I had full tummy tuck and I did NOT have my band unfilled. They did give an extra anti nausous medicine that I took for a week after surgery. So I did not have any issues. Good Luck!!!

I had unfill more precautionary, like Fanny said. With extra swelling and possibility of nausea with anesthesia. I stayed unfill for 3 weeks and didn't gain any weight. You don't have much appetite after surgery.

My PS didn't care whether I got unfill or not but felt was better since band dr. suggested.

Well, I saw my band Dr. yesterday and he told me i could stay filled just to make sure my stomach was completly empty. Thanks for all the well wishes.

Good Luck, let us know how you do with it....

hi vonhelzing,

i had a TT and Breast lift in May '09. both my PS and lapband doctor told me i didnt have to have it unfilled beforehand. so i didnt and i didnt have any issues at all.

if they did tell me to unfill it.... i would have followed their advice. i also thought if my 2 surgeons had differing opinions...i would follow the lapband dr. but luckily none of that happened.

when i was researching before my surgery about this subject...half the people on this site said they were told to do it and half were told it wasnt necessary.

anyway good luck with your surgery...it was the best thing i ever did besides the lapband itself. i love my new body

josie

It's generally a good idea to have it unfilled for several reasons:

1. Swelling after surgery may make it harder to get your nutrition.
   
2. Nausea from anesthesia could cause vomiting or heaves, which will aggravate swelling
   
3. More medications (pain pills, antibiotics,a nd supplements) are going to be needed after surgery. A tight band can cause esophageal backup and possible pill ulcer.
   

Almost all of my bariatric colleagues agree to do the unfill.

Well surgery is done. No unfill was needed. I had slight nausau but the medicine did the trick. No vomiting occured and all my medications were in liqued form so I didn't have to worry about pills getting stuck. Eating has been no problem either. Now all I have to do is keep getting used to this stupid gurdle that hurts like heck.

Thanks for all the support.

Glad all went well. Keep resting and healing