Hi, I am having surgery Oct. 14. I am getting the lap band with modified plication. My surgeon has found that it keeps the chances of the band slipping , down and helps with the weight loss. Anyone else having this?

Good luck to all!!! Randi

What is plication and what is the difference?

Donna

Hi, I am having surgery Oct. 14. I am getting the lap band with modified plication. My surgeon has found that it keeps the chances of the band slipping , down and helps with the weight loss. Anyone else having this?

Good luck to all!!! Randi

Randi, there are several of us here that have recently had the band with plication. Good luck.

The plication is similar to the very old stomach stapling. The outer curve of the stomach is imbricated (the middle is tucked in) and sutured to hold it there. The normal risks are associated with bleeding due to severing the blood supply to the outer stomach curve (it still has other blood supplies). I asked if there were higher risks of ulcers at the suture sites or problems with food getting stuck in the folds and was told no to both of those.

The plication is being done as a separate surgery. It is also being done as a combination surgery with the lap band. With the band, they are already doing a form of Plication when they surgeon pulls/folds part of the greater curve of the stomach up over the band and sutures to keep the band in place. In the band with Plication combination procedure, they go another step and fold the remainder of the outer curve of the stomach in, and suture. The end result is similar to a vertical gastric sleeve (without removing part of the stomach). The weight loss results are coming back to be higher than lapband alone (40-50% excess weight at 1-2 lbs per week), and more along the results of vertical sleeves (76% and a more rapid weight loss) (a higher % lost at a faster rate) than the band alone. It has the benefits of the vertical gastric sleeve without removing part of the stomach muscle.

Unlike the other surgeries, it is (somewhat) reversible in that the band can be removed and the sutures can be removed so that the stomach regains it's original size/shape.

How is everyone doing with the combination compared to lap band alone? Any info bad or good is welcome!

Randi

I am 2 weeks out post surgery. At my doctor's visit yesterday we decided to let the plication work and I have no fill scheduled. I am not hungry at all,other than that infernal head hunger that comes around occasionally. A half of a cup fills me up at this time and I think the plication is the reason. I am happy with it.

That's great Bromo! I will try to follow you on here but I find this forum a bit confusing.

Yes, I find this forum confusing as well. It is very large. I will be happy to "converse" with you about this and answer any questions that I can. My doctor was pretty informative about the surgery and why it should work well. Although I am far from being an expert. Good luck to you.

My surgery was similar to Bromo's with the large part of the stomach pulled up over the band. I am scheduled for a

fill, but my surgeon said if I'm still losing weight and hunger is not a problem it'll just be a checkup.

This is the second thread that I have seen you post this same thing, smkeller. Did you have plication and have a problem or what? I don't understand why you are posting this in threads where we are being supportive of each other. I prefer to make my decisions based on conversations with my doctor and my own research. Oh, and my doctor is a part of a Center of Excellence, not a band mill.

My Doctor is from a very large well known hospital in Pittsburgh. I do understand that there can be complications from any surgery including the band. I appreciate your info but I feel very confident in the expertise of my Dr. She is definitely NOT from a band mill.

Bromo...I am getting better at navigating this forum so I should be able to "find" you. So excited for the 14th to get here!

smkeller, I don't know why you are trolling here. This is not obesity help where band bashing is accepted. You said in another thread that you chose the vertical sleeve, correct me if I am wrong. I am sure that there are people who have had your surgery that are not happy with it and have had complications. There are promising studies at the Cleveland Clinic and Duke University about the banded gastric plication I place a pretty high value on the opinions and studies of doctors at those locations. My doctor and I discussed this and the pros and cons of all the different types of wls. One doctor's opinion does not negate all other doctor's opinions about the value of this surgery. I suppose I would not have a problem with you discussing the lap band if all your initial posts here had not been cloak and dagger type with immediate band bashing.

Hello, Im new here but this topic peaked my interest because I am having the Lap Band w/Plication. I agree that there are risks to any procedure that is surgically done but the choice of what procedure should still be left to the patient. I dont think that the doctor should choose the option for the patient and that the patient should familiarize themself with not only the pro's and con's of this procedure but with any. I am excited about the procedure personally and the fact that I researched and decided to choose this procedure leaves me no doubts.

TheNewMe, I see you are using Dr. Touliatos. I used Dr. Pennington in the same office. Aren't they a fantastic facility with a caring and concerned staff? I love the nutritionist. And the hospital staff at Trinity were wonderful. I am very pleased with the whole of them and I am so confident in my doctor. I have had nothing but good come from my banding with plication and am very glad that this practice offers that option. The level of information they offer, including the binder, really put them over the top. I use my binder all the time and it has answered many questions for me since having the surgery and helped me to stay on track. Regarding the plication, I am definitely glad I made this choice. It has already proven itself to help me through "bandster hell" by keeping my hunger at bay. I am not scheduled for a fill and if things continue as they have been, I will not have one for a bit. Congrats on having the surgery and maybe I will see you in a support group meeting or at the office one day!

smkeller, I think you might need to find another hobby......

Well I might as well chime in on this too. I had the band with plication two months ago and I will have to say I have had some fantastic results as well. I have had no issues what so ever. I recovered quickly, have not been sick ever, and I have been extremely active. My weight loss is going very well, so I am a fan of the plication. I honestly believe that no matter which surgery you choose, you may have issues. I have a friend that had the sleeve and he stays sick all the time. I think a lot of it has to do with how well you follow doctors orders too. Good luck with what ever you choose!

Ditto. I had the band w/plication done at Cedars-Sinai a month ago. I had

absolutely no problems, other that slight site discomfort. I have very little hunger

and am not planning fills unless things change.