Hi I'm new to the group. I had my surgery in Oct 2004. I was given the 11cc Vanguard band. Even with 10cc of fills I can still eat just about anything. My surgeon told me today that the band may be too big and I should have the band removed and the smaller band put in its place. Anyone else ever have this situation??

Thanks,

Cathy

Hi!

I have the Vanguard as well. It does take a lot to fill it up... i'm at 9.5 cc's. But from everything I've been told (and my fill dr. told me again this week) that Dr's really like the bigger band. Ya they take a lot more to fill up but everyone I've talked to said that there's less chance of erosion because there's chambers in the band and the Fluid has more room to spread out.

I had a different fill Dr. tell me that my band was too big and he wanted to take it out and redo it with a smaller band. Went back to my band dr. and my original fill dr. and they both said "no way" that the Vanguard was a good choice for me.

Anyway it is frustrating. I have 9.5 cc's and am now just getting restriction but I know it's not that way for everyone.

Good luck and maybe research it and figure out what's best for you.

would you have to pay for a whole new surgery or would they do it for you for free since they are the one's that put in the bigger band?

Good luck!

Thanks for sharing, Ruthie. Who would pay was the first question that popped into my mind. I will be getting another fill next Friday (probably up to 11cc) and the doctor said we would explore the options then.

Oh NO !!! I'm soooo sorry !!!

I just asked my doc today what size band I had and I believe he said 4 cc's.

GOOD LUCK !!!!

Good luck! How full can they fill the Vanguard band?

"technically" the vanguard band holds 11 cc's but I have heard it can go to 13 safely. I really hope the fills work. I know that the Vanguard band has a much lower incidence of slippage and rupturing. Its a very good band, just big.

I have a 10 cc band and the dr. put in 3cc at surgery time. That is what the nurse told my mom anyways. I will have to check with my dr. at my appt. on the 22nd. I have pretty good restriction right now so hope it stays for a while.

I would hope that if you have to have another band put in that it would be done free of charge.

Good Luck.

I know that the Vanguard band has a much lower incidence of slippage and rupturing.

everyone I've talked to said that there's less chance of erosion because there's chambers in the band and the Fluid has more room to spread out.

Y'all may have been told those things, but I don't think that the VG band has been around long enough to be able to come to these conclusions.

BTW, my surgeon told me that the purpose of the "chambers" was so that the fluid would distribute evenly around the band. The problem with the larger bands is that the fluid does NOT distribute evenly without that sort of design modification. The smaller bands do not have that uneven distribution problem.

I have the small band, 4cc. I use to fuss at my doctor because my band is quite sensitive, and I thought it was too small, but now I think it's just right! I've had very few fills and doubt I'll get many more. Also each fill was very little.

Hi I'm new to the group. I had my surgery in Oct 2004. I was given the 11cc Vanguard band. Even with 10cc of fills I can still eat just about anything. My surgeon told me today that the band may be too big and I should have the band removed and the smaller band put in its place. Anyone else ever have this situation??

Thanks,

Cathy

In another thread a while ago I referenced an article by Dr. Paul O'Brien.

http://www.gisurgery.net/OverviewObesityBariatricSurgery.pdf

In that article, take a look at figure 3, and you will see that at full inflation at about 10 cc, the VG band has a stomal opening, e.g. is about as tight, as the other bands.

Dr. Ron,

I know other people have said it before, but let me reiterate how much we appreciate your postings. Sometimes it's really nice to have a doctor in the house! I've got a feeling your patients are very lucky indeed.

Kare

Thank you for the links Dr. Hekier. My doctors say you can put more than 10 cc in the band. Do you know of people who have it filled higher than 10?

I believe it is labelled by the manufacterer for a maximum fill volume of 10cc, but on another board somewhere I read of people getting higher fills than that. [LEGAL DISCLAIMER ON] Of course, filling higher than the suggested maximum could lead to problems.[LEGAL DISCLAIMER OFF]

I am up to 9.6mls in a VG band. I dont have great restriction either. I work alot with my band, but my main concern has been getting to such a high fill amount so early on and not having anything to play with later if I need to. My Dr doesnt use any other band but the VG band. He puts that in all his patients no matter what.

Yes, my surgeon only uses the VG band also. I was up to 10 within 4 months of having surgery. I initially lost 50 lbs but had a tragic loss. My brother whom I was very close to died after a bone marrow transplant. I was devestated and of course turned to food. I gained back 30 of the 50 I lost and I had pretty much deemed myself a failure (who fails at weight loss surgery??). Anyway, I went back to see my therapist. She is an expert in eating disorders and grief. She also has a band and went from 350 lbs to 135 lbs. She is the one who encouraged me to go back to the doctor and fight for another fill. She says if the band is adjusted correctly I shouldn't be able to binge (Pasta, bread sticks, french bread pizza...I can eat just about anything) I am once again hopeful. My doctor says we can go to 11 or higher before trying the smaller band. I would, of course, prefer to keep the VG band if we can get the restriction right. I appreciate everyones responses. One thing I learned the hard way-no matter how bad things get, never walk away from support.