I was banded a little over a month ago, and I'm doing great (despite some heartburn issues). I feel like I have good restriction, although weight loss has slowed down.

I have obviously not had any fills yet. Is it possible NOT to need one at all?

I was speaking with the surgeons nurse during my pre-op visit and she told me that they have one patient that has not had a single fill, and she has had the band over 1 1/2 years and has lost 100+ pounds. I'm sure that she is the exception.

Aunt Suzie here: congrats on being LapBanded! Mine was in Sept. 2008, and I'm down 112 lbs... I didn't get my first Fill until I was six (6) months post-surgery: weight loss was slow and steady, so the surgeon said "Nah, you don't need a Fill !..." But within six months, I was down 50 lbs at that point, and the LapBand was a wee-bit loose, so I finally had a Fill...

Hope that my little tidbit of experience helps you...

KEEP THE FAITH and keep up the good work! Yea for you!

Aunt Suzie

I also know of someone who's had the band and never had a fill. She's lost 60 kilos :-)

I'm gonna hold off as long as possible .... im sure i will need one eventually but im losing about 2 pds a week and im ok with that when it stops or slows i will fill but until then i'm gonna push on with out one

I was banded on March 1, 2010 and I just had my first fill this past week. I lost 120 lbs without the fill. Most people will say, "You're doing so well! Why did you get a fill?". I did it more for preventative measures with the holidays coming up, plus my hunger has increased over the past month. The doctors are very pleased with my progress as I'm almost to my goal now.

My doc's office has a man who has never had a fill and was banded over three years ago. i met him at my last appointment. He said he only goes in once a year to check in. Hes been at goal for over a year and looks great. He said hes always had restriction and still cant eat breads. weird.

If you have good restriction, I don't think you need a fill. Sounds like you are one of the lucky ones that hit restriction right away. I think you are doing great! Don't mess with what's not broken. Being overfilled is miserable for sure. Keep up the good work.

I was just banded on October 25 and I wish I could get a fill now. I am hungry all the time and can eat too much already.

I was just banded on October 25 and I wish I could get a fill now. I am hungry all the time and can eat too much already.

same here i was banded 10/20/2010 and i really need a fill!!...im trying to stay positive i go back the 24th for my first fill

It's possible! I've lost almost 85lbs since May without a fill.

It is certainly possible to not get a fill. I have been to the doctors twice since my surgery at the beginning of August and I haven't gotten a fill as of yet. At the moment, since August 6th, I am down 78lbs, and 148 lbs in total since I started to lose weight. I've had restriction since the day of my surgery and so far, so good for me.

I was banded a little over a month ago, and I'm doing great (despite some heartburn issues). I feel like I have good restriction, although weight loss has slowed down.

I have obviously not had any fills yet. Is it possible NOT to need one at all?

Not sure if I responded to this yet, but I was banded 12/20/08 and am to goal with losing 90 pds with NO FILLS. I was banded by Dr. ATkinson out of Las Vegas and yes there are quite a few of us from there that made it to goal with no fills. I cannot explain it except that with every Dr appt. I had lost weight and they allowed me to decide if I wanted a fill or not and I chose not to, and before I knew it I was to goal. I have been maintaining for the last year and if I ever feel I need to change things and get a fill, I will, but for now I am comfortable the way I am and do no wish to ruin this wonderful experience and this new great body. Good luck and hope you decide what is best for you too!

I was banded a year ago and just got my first fill yesterday I lost 70lbs with no fill my doctor told me I was only three in 2000 patients in his practice that lost without a fill. Everyone is different. I am an exception to not having a fill for a year. It really is uncommon not to have a fill at least in the first six months.

Yes, the band works by putting pressure on the vagus nerves which in turn tell the stomach to stop product ghrelin, the hunger hormone. Some people get enough pressure just with the band. Others need varying levels to get enough pressure.

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Not sure if I responded to this yet, but I was banded 12/20/08 and am to goal with losing 90 pds with NO FILLS. I was banded by Dr. ATkinson out of Las Vegas and yes there are quite a few of us from there that made it to goal with no fills. I cannot explain it except that with every Dr appt. I had lost weight and they allowed me to decide if I wanted a fill or not and I chose not to, and before I knew it I was to goal. I have been maintaining for the last year and if I ever feel I need to change things and get a fill, I will, but for now I am comfortable the way I am and do no wish to ruin this wonderful experience and this new great body. Good luck and hope you decide what is best for you too!

I was banded by Dr. Atkinson too!!! They told me that they put some Fluid into to the band at the time of surgery. (Not much .5 cc) but that may be part of the reason why so many of us have lost weight without a fill. I have been very pleased with the way I've been treated there.