Since I've had continuing problems with my band -- which I'll detail in another post soon -- I am faced with the liklihood of having my band removed.

Last night -- one of those middle-of-the-night thoughts...I decided when I have it removed, I want the band. I paid for it, after all.

Then I read Lisa's post about her removal and Jack's question about Dr. Billy letting her keep it. (He didn't; said it had to be returned to Inamed.)

Well I say if Inamed gets it back, we're due a refund. On my bill for my original surgery, I think the band itself was billed at $5000! I'm half kidding; the money spent went for a product that did do its job...for awhile. Warranties?!!!

VERY hypothetically -- what if someone thought the band was flawed and caused their problems and wanted to have the band "studied" by someone other than Inamed, say for legal recourse. That is NOT where I'm headed, at all...just curious that you can't keep it.

I do know Inamed has to report problems to the food & Drug Administration. One of us should probably do some online digging to see what the latest findings are. Anyway...for another day.

Just rambling...another night of insomnia because of reflux and feeling like I have a huge fill when I actually have no fill. Yuck. Tomorrow is another day.

Elizabeth

8-28-03

You have some excellent points. Maybe you don't have to "go that way" but perhaps someone else may. We paid dearly for the band and so therefore we should be able to keep it. I'll poke around a bit during my last few days off of work and see what I come up with.

If I remember right some of the gals got to keep their band after it was removed.

I still "have" my band.

Mine went to pathology...

I know one person who has her band in her underwear drawer. Billy said Inamed needs them to do research. I'm irked that I can't keep it. Let them figure out their problems on their own, not with my band. I'm writing Inamed now asking for a refund. Thanks for the fire in my belly to get 'er done.

If anyone is willing to do the research to find the exact name and address of the correct department of the FDA, I'll be more than happy to lodge a complaint on behalf of anyone who has lost their bands due to erosion. The FDA is huge, and a complaint sent to the wrong department could sit around for months. Anyone interested, please PM me the information. If I decided to lodge a complaint, it will be kept confidential and not be made public for the entire board. Fair?

I think it's HIGHLY unlikely that the FDA would consider complaints against a product which, even while approved for use in the US, was installed by a Mexican doctor who is not at all subject to FDA or AMA standards. Why would you think to complain to the FDA? Do you think your band was defective?

Because Inamed wants all the bands to inspect, so they must be concerned with defective products.

I would think if you paid for it self-pay or insurance it is YOUR property. ANyone telling me differently I would say "TooBad." legally It Is Yours. Also to the very best of my knowledge the band itself runs $3000 from Inamed. Tell them its yours & thats it. Period!

Because Inamed wants all the bands to inspect, so they must be concerned with defective products.

Inamed is, sure. That makes perfect sense. And the FDA has approved the device for use in the US. But even if defective versions are being used overseas that doesn't sound like the FDA's jurisdiction.

Is your hypothesis that there was a bad batch of bands?

"Is your hypothesis that there was a bad batch of bands?"

My hypothesis is that Inamed is too mysterious and refers people to Lopez stating he's cream-of-the-crop, refusing to acknowledge the rash of recent erosions is anything other than mere coincidence.

I can't believe they are that expensive. The one on ebay is what? $65 dollars! Just kidding!

They have the band listed too

http://cgi.ebay.com/BioEnterics-Adjustable-Gastric-Banding-System-6010302_W0QQitemZ7578343073QQcategoryZ31469QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

They have sold 2 bands in the past month one for $250 and one for $350. I called Inamed and they are going to look into how the seller got these bands. ~Mandy

I was banded by Dr Lopez on 11/11/05. I have had no problems so far. There is a new band in Mexico that Dr. Lopez is offering that was just approved in Mexico. It has been used in France for 15 years.

wow. i cant beleive this e-bay selling lap band stuff