I am very confused...do they fill the band when u have the surgery or do they wait until you are healed and then fill i have been doing research and am a little confused as to when u actually start using the band..and how soon after surgery do you start loosing anything typically??

Some doctors fill the band a little at surgery but the majority wait 6-8 weeks after to start filling it little by little. Some claim you have to wait until your 3rd, 4th, or even 5th fill to really start losing weight. But everyone is different and everyone's approach is different.

I'm only 10 days post-op and have lost right around 20 lbs from the pre-op diet to now. (241 to 221)

Some doctors fill the band a little at surgery but the majority wait 6-8 weeks after to start filling it little by little. Some claim you have to wait until your 3rd, 4th, or even 5th fill to really start losing weight. But everyone is different and everyone's approach is different.

I'm only 10 days post-op and have lost right around 20 lbs from the pre-op diet to now. (241 to 221)

i had some in my band at surgery but when they did the gi test after surgery i couldnt even take a sip it was to tight so they took all mine out and i dont have any i was banded on oct 5th i still dont but your stomach will stay swollen for awhile so i still have restriction just from swelling i lost 18 pounds after surgery the first week :w00t:

My Dr. doesn't fill until 6 weeks after surgery. He said the first 6 weeks are for my body to heal and that I will have enough restriction with the post op swelling. I was banded on Tuesday and I am really doing great. Good luck with everything!

My doc leaves a little fluid in the band at the time of surgery, and then starts fill about a month after surgery. He does emphasize that the time after surgery until fills start is for healing and not weight loss, but still most people do lose weight during that time. You will lose weight much easier after you get a few fills, but I did lose during that post-op period. Good luck!

I started losing right away & started "using" my band right away. My doctor explained to me that the 1st 6 weeks after surgery were for healing and starting to learn new behaviors - eating slowly. My doctor schedules 1st fills at 6-8 weeks post op. I didn't have my first fill until around 10-11 weeks due to several vacations scheduled.

I have only had 2 fills - been losing steadily, my doctors are very pleased with my weight loss and feel I am at my "sweet spot", they don't plan on doing anymore fills unless my weight loss stops or if I feel l am getting hungry or eating more than the recommended amount.

At the seminar they told me that the band does have some fluid in it when they put it in.

I am very confused...do they fill the band when u have the surgery or do they wait until you are healed and then fill i have been doing research and am a little confused as to when u actually start using the band..and how soon after surgery do you start loosing anything typically??

The band comes with 3cc in it. Some spills out during surgery. Some surgeons remove it all. Some surgeons leave it. Some surgeons add more. It all depends on the surgeon.

The band and/or fills DO NOT make you lose weight at all. It is how much you eat; what you eat and how much you exercise that makes you lose weight.

The band is simply a tool to limit how much you eat.