Ok, so I had my surgery in November of 2008. I just wanted to share my experience with this whole ordeal.

I lost most of my weight within the first six months (mainly due to all the vomiting that I was doing). I also gained new health problems. GERD is my main concern. I had hair loss. My teeth are rotting. My finger nails have become extremely brittle and thin. The night coughs are a new problem to add to my list.

Another concern of mine is that every time that I went in for an adjustment, I would see a different doctor and they would give me different information. One doctor would say I needed 7 ccs of saline while others said 6 and others 5. I have no idea how many ccs my band needs. They are the doctors, they should be telling me.

Anyways, I have horrible night coughs (started in January of this year). I haven't had asthma in over 15 years!!! Then this year...WHAM...I had an asthma attack due to the night coughs!!! My last adjustment I had 6ccs and requested they take out 2. I haven't had coughs but I can eat whatever I want! So I went back to fill me up to 5 ccs. The night coughs started again. Wheezing every night!!! So I had all Fluid completely removed from my band. I'm dieting on my own now.

After my surgery I thought I would have been given instructions for after care...NEGATIVE!!! I had to research everything for myself using the internet and through trial and error on what foods I can or cannot eat!!!

I'm very disappointed with the service that I had received from my surgery center. I called 1-800-GET-THIN and ended up at the Beverly Hills center for Top Surgeons. Three months after my surgery, my doctor was fired!!! Also, the Omidi brothers that own Top Surgeons in Beverly Hills, had their medical licenses suspended and revoked!!! You can google them for yourselves!!! Dr. Julian Omidi and Dr. Michael Omidi.

Overall, I would NOT recommend the lap band surgery for ANYONE. If you want to lose weight, just do it with pure diet and exercise.

Now if I have done something wrong with my lap band experience, please advise. I haven't met anyone that has had a weight loss success from the lap band. If you have had a success story, please do share!!! I didn't pay 15k to have this stupid implant in me for nothing.

I know you have had problems, but having lost 70lbs I would say your band has done it's job. It sounds like you need a good Dr. that can get you adjusted correct and then stay with him or her.

^{What is not legitimate about my post? I attended an orientation to learn about the lap band surgery at the 1-800-GET-THIN center in Beverly Hills, CA. They scheduled me for surgery two weeks later. I was told that the implant would be surgically placed in me. I was explained to in detail that I would have a port in which I would get fills done. After my surgery, two months had passed before I had my first follow up visit. For those two months, I thought I had the band tightened and I had found out during my visit that there was no saline in it yet. Not my fault they gave me wrong information before and after surgery. The medical licenses that were revoked and suspended occurred after my surgery date. And yes there was no post op care period. Extreme FAIL on their part. Two years later I received a letter in the mail from the surgery center which included a list of what foods to eat and to avoid. That same month I went in for a fill and I received a different list of foods to eat and avoid. I only can do what's given to me as far as following instructions. But two years later seems very unorganized on their part.}

I don't know you, but we've had a few posters from the "web site whose name must not be spoken",

and at first, I suspected you might be one. I guess not. It's pretty clear you got screwed by a bunch

of quacks and I'm surprised you're not going after them if your account is accurate. This is exactly

why I recommend Centers of Excellence. Many people think they can't afford them, but how do

you know if you don't ask? Band surgery is quite profitable if the surgeon doesn't provide any support

other than anesthesia. Fills are a very simple procedure, the actual fill takes 2 minutes. You

can go to any of a hundred clinics to get one. As far as the band itself, I can provide reliable

statistics that the band is easier and more reliable and dependable than any other WLS

provided it's done by a qualified surgeon.

I don't want to make an enemy of you, even when you introduce yourself the way you did,

and if there is any help (other than financial) I can give you, I'll be happy to.

Every time I read a lap band horror story on this website....it starts with "i called 1-800-GET THIN"

That's for sure.

Any one considering WLS,,, I would suggest to think 2 or 3 times about this place.

I did not see or feel that your post was not legitimate. Even though I had wonderful doctors in Las Vegas where I had my surgery, once the insurance did not pay for fills anymore they acted very cool towards me. I have not had any fills and am 3 years out of surgery. I have had restriction from day one and am one of the lucky few that have never had a fill and am totally okay with that. My insurance will not cover the surgeons who did my surgery and when calling a new doctor in Arizona they said if I have no problems going on to save my money and only come in if I had a problem. Needless to say I have not been to a lap band doctor in over 2 years and am still at goal. I do fluctuate 5-7 pds when I cheat or having something very salty. Nobody is perfect and I refuse to tell myself that I cannot have a piece of pie or cookie every now and again. The band is only a tool and I found that it is a lot of self control and learning what to eat and not eat by you and you alone. The doctor cannot tell you what you can eat or not. I have days chicken goes down good and other days it gets caught in my throat. Stress makes my band so tight I can hardly get anything down. Live and learn and work that band where you are confortable. I am comfortable with NO FILLS and plan to stay that way.

I reside in Los Angeles, California...can anyone recommend a good center to me that is not affiliated with 1-800-GET-THIN?

I appreciate everyone's feedback. Since 2008, I have seen over 14 different doctors for my adjustments and every single one of them has given me different instruction as to what to eat and what not to eat or how many ccs I should have in my band. Over ½ the time that I have been in for an adjustment, my fills take about ½ an hour because the doctors cannot find my port! Is this normal? I have seen videos on youtube of lap band fills taking under a minute!!!! AMAZING!!!

Guess I am seeing all the new doctors fresh out of med school! HAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHA

I think I will give it another shot and call tomorrow to get a fill. Oh...I did have a question if anyone knows...is it ok to chew gum or drink from a straw? Some doctors tell me yes while others are telling me absolutely NOT! So I'm utterly confused! O_o

Do you have a primary care doctor who can refer you to someone? I have a friend who used True Results, but she was a bypass patient. You might also check here at lap band talk. I believe there is a listing of doctors somewhere. My actual fills take about a minute or two to do. I never had a fill under flouroscope, but I do have an upper GI annually and just had an esophogram to be sure everything is OK. it is just a part of aftercare that should be done.

As to fill level, my surgeon says the amount you need is the amount you need. CCs don't matter. I don't know how much is in my band, I have a rough idea that it is between 6.5 to 7 CCs. My surgeon tracks it in my chart, but says I should not really worry about it, because it is how I feel that matters most.

All that said, the band does not work for everyone. As with any medical treatment, there are times when it will not work. I do hope you can find a doctor who will work with you and help you to find the proper fill level. Not all offices offer the experience you had at your current center.

I wish you the best.

Wow! To go through that must have been a nightmare!!! I want to see another center and doctor so badly but when I did my surgery it was completely out of pocket because I did not qualify for the surgery through my *** medical plan. They said I was NOT obese, just overweight, and to be covered for surgery, I needed to be "obese". Well anyways, I will continue searching for another place to go to that won't cost an arm and a leg. Especially now that I weigh 215lbs, no medical insurance will consider me obese and cover my fills.

A BMI of 40.9 is obese. Anything 30 or more is obese. Is 40.9 where you were at when you asked your medical plan to cover your surgery? Also, I am now at a normal BMI, but my insurance continues to cover my fills. They paid for my band placement, though.

If it is only fill related, as in a little to tight.

You can google fill center usa, and look up your locations.

Fills start out at $300.00, then get less. That's the info. that,

I got a while back, and they are all suppose to be the same,

even though they are independently owned.

Passing this your way.

Suspicious because there are haters in the forums who scare you to death about lap bands, and they attack when some is in doubt,,, I guess they have nothing better to do. The get thin people seem to have a bad reputation? I do know in my researches, I found out the way they sutured and placed the band has changed over the last few years for better success. There are some technical or medical words for it, I am sure you can find it-but I wonder if "how" your band was done makes the difference.?