Hello all,

I am new to these forums and have just been banded on 5/29. I know I will not recieve my first fill until about the 4th week, but I have been wondering how often many of you are needing to get them done. I am a self payer and know that fills can be expensive, also I opted to have my surgery done by a doctor 4 hours away from my home, so going to see him is all day affair. I know that once everything is set and seems ok I can go elsewhere for my fills but would still like to know how often that could be. I also would like to know how soon after a fill can you tell if need some taken out? My plan atm is to get a fill and then try to have some lunch, if it doesn't go down have the doctor take some out. Any and all information and or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Most surgeons want to see you monthly the first year after surgery whether you need a fill or not. It usually takes a couple fills (at least) before you have good restriction, too.

The best thing to do is take a big gulp of Water, not a little sip, immediately after the fill before leaving the office. This way you can be sure the liquids can go down and immediately get some of the fill removed if you start gurgling the water back up.

Most surgeons also advise 24-48 hours of liquids after a fill to allow the stomach swelling to subside, so eating immediately after isn't a good idea. I'm afraid you'd think you are too tight, go back for an unfill, just to find out later it was only your stomach swollen from the fill and now you're hungry without good restriction.

Fills are typically done every 4-6 weeks, so I'd plan on at least 3-6 visits over the coming months. Likely more.

Best wishes to you.

I am a year and a half post op and still see my surgeon monthly because I will have good restriction for a couple weeks, then as I lose weight, and the fad pad around my stomach shrinks, I need another fill. My surgeon is pretty conservative with my fills and the most I have ever been given at one time is 1 cc, most of the time it is .25 cc. Last month I was only given .15 cc because I am so close. If I didn't live a couple miles from my surgeon's office and if my insurance didn't pay 100% when I get a fill, I would have asked him to be more aggressive with his fills. I have had a dozen fills and 2 unfills over the last year and a half. Check with your surgeon because most of them include 3, 6, or 12 months of fills in the surgery price. You would still be out a day for the drive, but maybe you can get to a good restriction level in the 1st few months. My daughter is having surgery this summer and leaving for college 7 hours away in a couple months, so the surgeon will be a little more aggressive with her fills Good luck to you on your journey!

Hello all,

I am new to these forums and have just been banded on 5/29. I know I will not recieve my first fill until about the 4th week, but I have been wondering how often many of you are needing to get them done. I am a self payer and know that fills can be expensive, also I opted to have my surgery done by a doctor 4 hours away from my home, so going to see him is all day affair. I know that once everything is set and seems ok I can go elsewhere for my fills but would still like to know how often that could be. I also would like to know how soon after a fill can you tell if need some taken out? My plan atm is to get a fill and then try to have some lunch, if it doesn't go down have the doctor take some out. Any and all information and or advice would be greatly appreciated.

My surgeon typically wants to do fills every 6 weeks, until you are in the "green zone".

You most likely will not be able to tolerate solid foods for at least a couple of days after the fill. I have been advised to have a liquid diet for 2 days and then "mushies" for another day after a fill.

As Mis73 has shared, it's important to take a "gulp" of Water in the office to be certain that the water can be tolerated by the pouch without coming back up.