How common is it is for a MD leave the band empty? I'm wide open. I was very surprised when I found out the next AM.

I had the Sx done in MX. I'm not real crazy about the post op discharge instrx....they read as if I am not empty.

The band is empty for all of us post op for about 6 weeks (depending on your surgeon but that's generally the timeline)

Your body needs to heal and your stomach needs to adapt to the band before they start adding saline to it.

My doctor puts 3 ccs in when doing the surgery. I had to have this removed due to the fact that I was throwing up and nauseated. So, I left with an empty band. But my daughter just had the same surgeon, same surgery and she did okay. She has 3 ccs.

My doc fills the band half way up.

My doc left mine empty at time of surgery. It's for healing and getting used to the regime of eating slow. I couldn't imagine what the discomfort (few and far between) would feel like if I had a small fill right away!:thumbup:

Its more common to have the band empty at first than not.

Although that does appear to be changing a bit with the bigger bands - it seems to me people have much more trouble finding restriction than I ever did with a 4cc band.

Most of the bands they do in Mx are smaller to begin with, so you will likely feel some restriction for a while. As the swelling goes down, you will become more hungry. Then in 6 weeks or so, you will be getting your first fill. It depends on how aggressive your fill doc is but you could feel a lot of restriction after the first fill. Don't worry, they know what they are doing, they have been doing it for a long time. Just follow the instructions and you are on your way!!! Congratulations on your journey!!

Mine was empty at first. Its probably a little safer this way. Some people get very swollen and nautious after surgery. I didn't so I probably could have tolerated a small fill right away, but there's no way for the surgeon to know who will be sensitive and who won't.

my band was empty

Thx for the replies. I thought some fluid was in the band.

Actually there is a little tiny bit in there. It is about .5cc. It never comes out, so even after an unfill that stays in. They say the band is empty because it stays there, so for our purposes, it is empty. My doc explained this at my last fill. He always empties the band before a fill to make sure there isn't a leakage. When I noticed the difference in the two numbers, he explained it to me. I was initially worried that there was a small leak. Best of luck to you!!!!

Mine was empty after surgery. I couldn't get my first fill for 6-8 weeks after surgery and then it was only a small fill. He was cautious to not get the band too tight.

We are all different. Our Drs. are all different. This is a process not a quick fix. We all chose to do this. Please be patient and the weight will come off.