I have been banded five years this October. I have the realize band - it was all the rage back in 2008. My doctor no longer uses it - he says it is a lot harder to get the fills to the right point and the port is tough to locate. I am just curious about who else has had the realize band and how it has worked for you.

Banded Jan 24, 2013 and I have the 10cc realize band. I can actually feel my port and going on my 2nd fill next week. No problems here.

I have a Realize band. I have had no issues at all. My doc does all fills under fluroscope and I reached the green zone on my first fill and on the two subsequent fills. My port is not visible, even though I am almost at goal. When I get a fill, I just do a small abdominal crunch and the doc can easily find my port.

I have a 14cc Realize band. It took 3 fills (7 cc) to feel retriction.

That said, Im revisint to the vertical sleeve in a ciy9le mths. My band herniared last week and was totally unfilled. Im hopimg the sleeve is actually what they tout out there. No choice, really. I vam either replace the band and go thru many 6 hr trio for fills and be afraid of a 2md slip (studies snlw that 2nd bacds have a higher risk of complications. Bypass. Not absorbing nutrients?(; no thanks. If I weiged 400 lbs and absoltely needed to lose alot, I mitht go for it. Too extreme. 34d option: just take the band out and do it all myswlf. Eacept that for 40 yrs I haven't been able to keep it off. So, after much research and soul searching I've chosen the vertical sleese. The only oart im dcared of is 1% develop a leak along the suture lined. Its very dangerous and will keep me I the hospiral for a long time.

I guess the fear of getting fat agagin scares me even more

Marci