Hello all,

I've been around the forum for sometime now, thanks all for your knowledge and support.

I finally decided to do get banded. But actually I will get the Mid-Band with Dr. Frering in Lyon, France. I will have my surgery in mid Febraury.

I would appreciate any inputs or thoughts about the mid-band or Dr. Frering that would like to share with me.

Thanks a lot, and guys you are the best,

Magic

Good luck on your decision, sorry, but I do not have any knowledge of that band. I wish you the best.

I'm pretty sure Megan? has the midband? She'll chime in here, if not, I'll scare her up for you.

I held a midband at my doc's office before I got my Inamed. If it's the one I remember (hectic day that day) it looks like a 1 inch wide thin flexible piece of silicone/rubber/plastic (how's that for descriptive?) but it didn't appear to be adjustable? It looked like it would be a comfy fit around a soft tummy, with just the right amount of strength and durability to work well.

I, too, am interested in how/why you decided on the Midband and France? Be sure to keep us posted on your progress as you head out in February. Good luck!!!!

Thanks for your kind word guys, I will surely keep posted as I get my band.

<O:p</O:p

About having the band done in France <V:p</V:pI always visit my brother who lives in Switzerland. <ST1:pSo I though it would be nice to have the operation done in Europe since doing it in Mexico<ST1:p</ST1:p is not an option for me, and doing it back in the States is SOOOO expensive.

<O:p</O:pI started searching on the net, and found that one of the best surgeons in the world is in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comSwitzerland</st1:country-region>, which is only 2 hours driving to France. <st1:country-region w:st=" /><st1:City w:st="on">Lyon</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region> (they cliam that he placed thousands of bands) So I thought why not do it in France, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><ST1:p</st1:country-region>and enjoy few days while at it<?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shape id=_x0000_i1026 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""> </v:shape><O:p</O:p

Plus after my research I found that the mid-band has less complications when comparing to the Inmad Lap-Band. Although it still not approved back in the States. So I'll just cross my fingers that what I read about the mid-band is true.<O:p</O:p

<O:p</O:p

And (the_best_me) I would really like if you can get Megan to throw her 2 cents about the mid-band. Thanks a lot and the best to you guys <O:p</O:p

Magic,

I don't think there is enough data or research to definitively show that the Midband has any fewer complications than the lap-band--what you read is probably what the manufacturer says about the Midband (and also Dr. Frering's expert opinion). That said, I think it sounds like you made a good choice for you, provided that you have arranged for follow up care.

I was banded with a Midband in Jul of 2002 by Dr. Frering. I was very pleased by my experience in Lyon - the surgery & recovery was a breeze for me. I had trouble with follow up care, though. I had to travel quite a distance to get fills, and was turned away by surgeons who either did not want to provide follow up for somone they didn't band, or did not want to provide follow up on a band that was not approved by the FDA. If you frequently travel to Switzerland, it may not be a problem for you, but still, you may need more convenient follow up in case of emergency.

It may not have been such a problem for me if it hadn't been for the fact that I experienced complications. First, I got terrible reflux as soon as I got adequate restriction. I had two unfills, and then finally had to get a complete unfill. Later, I got a small fill, and then a few months after that my Midband slipped. After my Midband slipped, I was rebanded in the U.S. with a lap-band and I'm doing well now (at goal and stable for 8 months).

Good luck to you--just remember, with the band, having quick & affordable access to good follow up care is probably the MOST important thing after choosing a good surgeon!

-Yvonne

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