Love this site!! I am seriously considering getting lap band. Need to loose about 125 lbs. Accepted that I can't do ony own.

My questions are:

Approved? I see a lot of post saying they waited to get approved for surgery. Do they mean for insurance or are there requirements to get the surgery. If so... What are they?

How does the doctor do the fill? Do they have to open you up to do fill?

I think that is all for now. Thank you on advance for any help/advise you can provide.

Hi I am also in Tampa . To answer your questions...you have to get insurance approval as well as the drs approval to make sure you are a good candidate for surgery. Tests like a mental health eval, blood work, cardio work up and anything else your dr deems necessary for surgery. Also the insurance company if covered may require a advance diet.

That said on this site if you see waiting for approval the odds are someone is waiting for insurance approval

There is a port placed in the wall of your abdomen in addition to the band. The dr gives you fills through the port via a needle filled with saline. No surgery is required and considering ou will need an average of 6-8 fills over the first 2 years that's a good thing.

Hope this helps.

Keep posting... Floridays is our resident hero!

Keep posting... Floridays is our resident hero!

Aren't you funny for this late hour. you aren't so bad yourself....

Thank you for responding. Tampa too!!! That us great. Your photos look incredible and it appears you lost a lot.

I will be a self pay. I am looking for an affordable Doctor. Any suggestions?

Is the port visible?

The port is not visible, it's under the skin in your abdominal wall. My Dr. palpates the area to confirm where the port is before inserting the needle to add saline. I have now had 3 fills, and regardless of how it looks in videos, it's a painless, short procedure done at your Dr. visit. Before I had my first fill, I watched a youtube video of a fill, lol. It really helped prepare me.

Wonderful. Thank you. Oddly enough ( being that I am already overweight) I am concerned about appearance more than pain. Needles are fine for me. Another odd concern is what I will no longer be able to eat. I understand pizza is a no no. I am sure I will get over these ridiculous concerns. I want to be healthy and a good weight.

Most long term lap band patients can eat anything we want, with care. Some things we choose to eliminate as empty, or not nutritious choices. I have eaten pizza.... small pieces chewed to mush. You can have whatever you want if you take the care to use band eating rules. Small, tiny bites and chew, chew, chew. No, I do not make a steady diet of pizza, but one piece had not killed me yet! LOL. Best wishes.

Thank you very much for your reply

The only time my port was visible is when I was like 8months pregnant it really stuck out n everyone thought it was the baby's foot lol

Sorry I just had to share my funny exspirence