Hi,

I have the option to get the Lap-Band or the Realize Band. The cost would be the same.

Can anyone shed some light on why they would choose one over the other?

Initially they seem to be identical.

thanks.

I asked my surgeon which he would use, and he simply said "well, honestly it's whatever I feel like that day and the OR has on hand". He asked if I had a preference, and after researching them both and realizing it was comparing apples to apples, I let him chose. He explained he didn't notice any difference success wise, but that the Realize band's port is slightly easier to access and slightly less likely to flip.

On the day of surgery, he said he was going to use the Realize band. It was aye-okay with me.

I read its the fill pouch that is different with the lapland it has indents so it is smooth when wrapped around your stomach but the realize band is one tube so it can pinch when around your stomach. Look on youtube it shows you

my surgeon only uses allergen lap bands. so that is what i got

I had to select between the 2 on my pre-op paperwork.

Dr said they were about the same but that Realize had a really good website (that they discontinued in June 2012) and its parent was Johnson & Johnson, an American company.

For what its worth....

I didn't have an option my doctor only does lap band. I'm very pleased with mine. I have heard some people with the realize band mention that the realize band is more forgiving with foods.

I had the lap band and after 1 yr it broke (not my fault). I had to have revision surgery and I had been self pay. Allergan actually told me that the package said it had no guarantee! So we had to save and pay for revision surgery. I gained back about 60lbs. Anyway, a friend's realize band broke and they paid to fix it.

-Cordelia, banded 1/08