I am scheduled to get banded January 15th and I couldn't be more excited! I am self pay and will have to pay for my fills on my own as well. I'm pretty much wiped out financially from the surgery and I was thinking I'd have a financial "break" for a while. But after reading several posts it almost seems like the 1st fill comes within 2 months. Is that right? How often are fills needed? And does anyone know of a Dr in Charlotte, NC that has good fill prices? I'm having surgery in Mexico and can't be running back and forth for fills. Any tips??? Thanks!

I am going to Mexico for the surgery as well. My advise to you would be to call the surgeons in your area to make sure they will provide follow-up care for patients banded elsewhere and what they charge self-pay patients for fills.

I called a few places and 1 doctor will NOT see any patients with foreign surgeries and the other 2 told me about documentation that they will need to give me aftercare in addition to their fees.

Since the lap band is just a weight loss tool, the after care and fills are just as important as the surgery. I was told that I would likely need a fill every 6-8 weeks after my surgery depending on my weight loss, hunger-level, etc.

Basically when you're at your "sweet spot" you can basically eat normally but not be hungry for 5-7 hours. It can take a VERY long time to get there, but when you do..it's HEAVEN!!!

I got my first fill 4 weeks after the surgery and second 4 weeks after that. At my appt. for the second one he said see you in six weeks. However my restriction seems to lessen everyday so i made an appt. for in a couple weeks.

It depends on whether you are in control of your fills or whether your doctor and his schedule are. My doctor puts the patient in control of the fills. He does the first one at 4 weeks post op if we feel we need it. Our need is based on whether or not we're feeling hungry and whether or not we're still able to eat to excess...and are doing so.

I had my first fill of 3 cc's at 4 weeks, the second one of 3 ccs two weeks later and, 2 more cc's a week after that

My doc said that once you get true restriction, you probably only have to come in maybe once or twice that first year and then maybe once or twice the following year.

You want restriction. The band without it is just a piece of plastic. I have read of some people not needing any fills, but they're rare. It will all depend on you.

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My doctor expects to see me every 6 weeks for the first year; I will not necessarily be filled at each appointment, but he will assess the need each time. (And, of course, I will pay a copay each time.)

The "price break" really will NOT occur in the first year. Once you hit a point of good restriction, the cost of fills will taper, but there are still ongoing expenses to consider: good-quality bariatric Vitamins, Protein supplements to boost your intake during times when you have difficulty, and so on.