Today is 13 days since my surgery and went for my post-op visit. Since I didn't see him after the surgery I asked him what size band I got. He said the large Allergan LapBand. When I asked him what the maximum capacity of it is he kind of hemmed and hawed and said they have never really filled one to capacity before. Huh? He was pleased with my progress, 23 lbs since starting the pre-op diet and 11 lbs since surgery. Incisions are healing nicely. I asked when I'll be able to have a cocktail again and he said on my birthday Oct. 1st. I asked him if it's true you get drunker faster after having LapBand and he said yes, but they don't really know why. He scheduled me Aug. 1st for my first fill. When I got home the insurance company's bariatric dept. called to see how I was doing. I asked them what keeps the Drs. from putting in tiny amts. of fill and having you come back every month so they can bill your insurance $600 for each visit. They told me my fills will be covered for about 6 months until he hits that "sweet spot". I get suspicious as I've had Drs. use every excuse to have you come back in just so they can bill insurance and get the co-pay from you. I was glad to hear the fills will be covered under the surgical portion of the bill and I shouldn't even have to pay my co-pay! She also told me about some "protein shots" you can get at the grocery store to keep my protein intake up. Any of you heard of them? She said they taste like Koo-Aid. Well now I'm on the full liquid diet and looking forward to staying fuller longer! Can't wait for the fill though!

I don't think they intentionally make you go back for a ton of fills, you won't know it's right till you go home and eat for a few days an see how it's working for you, I'm guessing.

DRP, I do not have that band. I was banded in Denver with a 10cc AP Lapband. It only took me 2 fills with the one I have to reach my sweet spot and I think I've had great success. No matter which band you have eveyone's results will differ.

I was banded here with a 4cc band in Sept. 2008. When my idiot former surgeon told me I had a 10cc band and I found out I had a 4cc band when I got a second opinion, I called Allergan to find out about the 4cc band and was told at that time that it was not discontinued. It is not used very often, however. I believe my former surgeon was using up old inventory from a practice he and his partner took over as these bands have expiration (sterility) dates.