Hi, I'm from Australia and I'm interested in hearing from people who are from Australia as to where they are having Lap Band or how it's going who have had it?

I have an appt with a surgeon in 4 weeks time to have a chat about having it done.

There's a few here from oz .. You also might wanna have a look at bandingtogether.com.au

My surgery booked next tues.

Yes, there are quite a lot of us.

Where are you and which surgeon are you going to?

Thanks! I will check it out. : )

I'm in Melbourne, Victoria. I'm looking at The Centre for Bariatric Surgery. In Melbourne!!

Hi I'm from Australia too I'm in Brisbane and have had my band for 7 years

Brisbane, lovely place.

7 years. Nice.. Are you happy with it? Have you lost a lot of weight?

I live in Williamstown and had surgery on the 21st with Dr. Peter Nottle at the Avenue hospital. No problems. CBS is an excellent practice and you will be very happy there. My husband had a lap band done there 2 years ago and they are fantastic. I went with Dr. Nottle because I can walk to his office and he is a good surgeon. Which Dr. are you going to see at CBS??

I live in Williamstown and had surgery on the 21st with Dr. Peter Nottle at the Avenue hospital. No problems. CBS is an excellent practice and you will be very happy there. My husband had a lap band done there 2 years ago and they are fantastic. I went with Dr. Nottle because I can walk to his office and he is a good surgeon. Which Dr. are you going to see at CBS??

Great to hear thanks... I've made an appt to see Professor O'brien.

When you say you can walk into his office are you saying that it's easy to get an appt with him?

I think Professor O'brien is fairly popular hmmm.. Lol maybe it will be hard to get follow up apps.

I was also banded by Peter Nottle, in June 2009. Prof O'Brien is apparently a great surgeon but yes I imagine his waiting list and times are probably long. But I don't see that as an issue, rather wait for someone that has a great reputation than get done in a hurry by someone with little or no reputation.

One of the most important things to consider is distance to your surgeon. There is a lot of aftercare with a band and to have to travel a couple of hours for followups eventually becomes tiresome and it is also expensive.

I was also banded by Peter Nottle' date=' in June 2009. Prof O'Brien is apparently a great surgeon but yes I imagine his waiting list and times are probably long. But I don't see that as an issue, rather wait for someone that has a great reputation than get done in a hurry by someone with little or no reputation.

One of the most important things to consider is distance to your surgeon. There is a lot of aftercare with a band and to have to travel a couple of hours for followups eventually becomes tiresome and it is also expensive.[/quote']

Thanks for your reply!

That's good to know! I have an appt in 4 weeks time to see him and I think the receptionist said that it most likely be another 4 week on top of that for the surgery.

I'm not too sure what the normal waiting time is.

Luckily I am just down the road so I won't have far to travel.

Are you happy with your lap band? Did you find you adapted ok to the new lifestyle?

That sounds reasonable and if he is close then that will make your life a lot easier.

Yes I am very happy with my band. My lifestyle hasn't really changed, I just eat less, so yes it is fine.

Brisbane' date=' lovely place.

7 years. Nice.. Are you happy with it? Have you lost a lot of weight?[/quote']

Hi I'm very happy I managed to lose 55kgs it took me a year to get the weight off, I will be honest and let you know I have had to have my port changed twice the first time it broke the tubing was shredded the Dr said with my band the tubing was not very long so he replaced my port and tubing I also gained 10kgs when this happen! The second time it happen I have only just had surgery again 3 weeks ago to replace port again as there was a hole in the tubbing I was upset as I had gain 11kgs and I took advantage of my band not working! It's fixed again now I have lost 3.9kgs in a week and I'm working my way back to my goal weight! The Dr has said if it happens again I will be getting a whole new band! And I would do that in a heartbeat! My band is part of me! I use it for what it was design for as a "tool" it's not a quick fix I am always working on my weight the band helps me stay on track! I say I'm always the fat girl living in a smaller body and I proved that when my band broke I gained weight very quickly! Having a band has saved me!! I guess you can say I'm very happy!!

Great to hear thanks... I've made an appt to see Professor O'brien.

When you say you can walk into his office are you saying that it's easy to get an appt with him?

I think Professor O'brien is fairly popular hmmm.. Lol maybe it will be hard to get follow up apps.

Hi there, I had Professor O'Brien do my lapband, I can't speak highly enough of him and the staff there, you will have great aftercare. When I went to see him back in may for my first consultation with him I felt at ease right away. He takes his time to explain everything and he doesn't hurry you along and makes you feel at ease right away. I was booked in six weeks after seeing him only because he was overseas the end of June otherwise he would have booked me in three weeks later. You will see him for your first pre op follow up appointment then afterwards for fills you will see the other doctors, again wonderful wonderful wonderful staff. If you have any issues afterwards they will always squeeze you in right away. He hands out plenty of info and he will come see you before surgery and before you go home. He is really friendly and caring you honestly won't have any regrets with him or his team. The consulting suites are nice and modern too, think they haven't been in that office that long.

You'll find the dietician a wonderful person also, Helen Bauzon is her name and I believe she has posted a few times on these forum also. Love her seminars.