Hello! I am new to this forum and have a couple of questions.

The first question is in regards to the 4cc LapBand. I assume it is the first generation LapBand. I was wondering about its effectiveness. Do those of you who have it experience similar results to those of you who have a second or even 3rd generation LapBand? I am having surgery out of the US and the Allergan 4cc is my option.

Thanks!

Jennifer

Well, I've had outstanding results with mine.

I've never had any troubles, but the newer generation bands ARE supposed to be less likely to slip, erode etc. However, hanging around here for a while indicates pretty strongly that they still DO slip and erode, maybe just statistically not as often as the older bands.

Where the older band appears (to me) to have a huge advantage is that you find restriction quickly and are able to tweak it a lot more effectively. I never had that bandster hell period, I've had restriction from my band right from the get go, began losing weight immediately and never had any problem just adjusting with teeny tiny 0.1cc fills. And back when I got banded in 2005 and first joined this forum, that was very common. There were never the posts about people taking six months or longer to get to restriction and start losing.

The flip side of that of course is that for many people, the adjustments for this band need to be sooooo tiny that you can flip from under to over restricted in as little as 0.1cc and its really impractical to fill even less than that, so many people have to settle for being slightly underfilled - of course, people dont want that and go for slightly overrestricted instead and bingo! there's your slips, erosions etc.

That is all just pure observation on my part, given my long membership here, and what I've seen, its not fact or statistically backed or anything. But my 4cc band and I have had a seven year love affair and still going strong.

Banded down under! I've had my band since sept 05. Never any problems - but I do not play the fill and unfill game. I've had three fills at my sweet spot and I live like this.

I was banded on 11/31/06 and its had its ups and downs. but you would have never caught me saying anything until now. I would highley recomend a different size band. That band was dropped here in the states do to being defective, and I can believe it.

The Thursday before GOOD FRIDAY I was admitted into the Hospital for a slip. The band was strangled the esophagus, wich was squeezing on all the nerves, wich caused a serious of seizures. "no I don't have a seizure disorder" after the 6 th. one my Heart stopped, and I died, they started CPR then Jolted me back after 4 minutes. I'm GLAD to still be here with no complications either. I was told that the old 4 cc band is a 50/50 chance that it will either fail or not after 5 plus years. To the above people that it has lasted, I wish mine did to, but its not ment to be.

I feel like I been kicked in the chest by a mule, and I'm Black, and Blue Everywhere, so yes i hurt, but i'm very lucky to be alive.

If I could give you a piece of advice, I would say pick another size, and save yourself a headache, and heartache.

I have to make arrangements for complete removal, and I feel like i'm having my heart cut out.

But I got a second chance, and i'm not blowing it. So avoid the problem period, and don't pick a band that was dropped by the FDA, get your moneys worth, unless you like to gamble.

I was offered the new band, but I didn't want to get cut again. I should have done it.

Oh, how scary Shirley. I hope you make a 100% recovery.

I was banded on 11/31/06 and its had its ups and downs. but you would have never caught me saying anything until now. I would highley recomend a different size band. That band was dropped here in the states do to being defective, and I can believe it.

The Thursday before GOOD FRIDAY I was admitted into the Hospital for a slip. The band was strangled the esophagus, wich was squeezing on all the nerves, wich caused a serious of seizures. "no I don't have a seizure disorder" after the 6 th. one my Heart stopped, and I died, they started CPR then Jolted me back after 4 minutes. I'm GLAD to still be here with no complications either. I was told that the old 4 cc band is a 50/50 chance that it will either fail or not after 5 plus years. To the above people that it has lasted, I wish mine did to, but its not ment to be.

I feel like I been kicked in the chest by a mule, and I'm Black, and Blue Everywhere, so yes i hurt, but i'm very lucky to be alive.

If I could give you a piece of advice, I would say pick another size, and save yourself a headache, and heartache.

I have to make arrangements for complete removal, and I feel like i'm having my heart cut out.

But I got a second chance, and i'm not blowing it. So avoid the problem period, and don't pick a band that was dropped by the FDA, get your moneys worth, unless you like to gamble.

I was offered the new band, but I didn't want to get cut again. I should have done it.

I am sorry that happened to you -- that has got to be absolutely scary. However, everyone keep in mind that the nerves/tissues around the ESOPHAGUS are completely unrelated to the nerves and brain tissue and the likelihood of the BAND causing your heart to stop is about 0.1%- none.. it was probably the anesthesia or some sort of pre-existing condition find out and let us know

I was sent back because i couldn't breath. My Dr. wasn't sure as to what happed to the lower left lung, but on x-ray it was gone. So i went back to the E.R.. The band en-strangled the stomach so that it popped up threw the band, and cupped itself around the lung. The X-Ray Dr. remembered me, and was glad to see that the stomach was dropping back down, so no reason to TAP the lung, because whatever little Fluid is there,,, will work itself out.

But the 6 seizures in a row with no medical problem in that area, and a normal MRI. Even the Neurologist new there was nothing wrong with me, and it was a result of the slip.

Keep in mind: were talking about a lady that worked out 3x a week in the gym, 800-1200 calorie a day diet, not a care in the world, only our future in our economy.

Now I need a cane to walk to the bathroom, Push Fluids only, from the CPR and the Paddles I feel like I have been kicked in the chest by a mule,Black n Blue everywhere, I lost my License for 6 months, and I'm Homebound. All this changed in a flash.

I'm still a firm believer in the band for a life change, and control, but please do your research, and go with one that works.

That 4cc band was a dynamite band ! But 50/50 odds that it will fail or won't is just not worth the after effects to me. Do yourself a favor people, and pick a different size.