I had the LapBand placed last week so I haven't had my first fill yet. My question is, don't we all go to our surgeon to have the fills? Are there clinics and/or doctors who will fill a band without being the surgeon who put the thing in?? I think I'm confused!

My surgeon and or his PA does my fills :eek:

i guess it really depends on your surgeon

my surgeon or his assistant does my fills

a fill does not have to be surgeon specific. Any qualified doctor can fill the band or unfill the band. Sometimes surgeons have packages though that include your follow up care. If you were banded in another country other than US, finding a US doctor to fill can be a bit of a challenge but there are doctors that will and clinics all over the country like "fill centers usa". If you are banded in the US I would think it will be very easy to find a doctor to do your follow up and fills if you choose to go to another doctor.

I think a lot of us get this done in Mexico? I did and wonder why, besides the cost. My doctor in Mexico will fill at no charge but....so I am trying to find someone near San Francisco. I also had no idea this was a process and I would need so many fills before I would lose weight.

Kelly_B, welcome and congratulations on your banding! The answer is that yes, MOST people banded in the U.S. have their adjustments done by their surgeons or someone their surgeons direct them to. But many, many people have the surgery done out of the country, or may have juse moved away from their surgeon's area, and therefore need someone else who can do their adjustments and give whatever attention may be needed.

As the band becomes more popular, too, I think adjustments will be seen as a potential profit center, and offices will be popping up around hospitals or just population centers where people can go for adjustments. Technically, anyone can adjust the band, but there's more to a proper adjustment than just a little saline. I know I wouldn't be comfortable having a fill from someone who didn't know me, my band history, and had LOTS of experience doing band and adjusments. So if overall, if a bandster can go to his or her surgeon for adjustments, DO IT.

Welcome to bandland! My surgeon's office does all my fills, however they do use the doctors training with him at times.

Thanks so much for all of your replies!! Know I now. And I like Alexandrias name for us, "bandsters" I can't wait to start filling! I look forward to talking to you all again.

Hi Kelly,

I had my surgery done in Mexico and will be having my first fill this Thursday. Thanks to LapBandTalk I knew I should find a doctor to do my fills locally, before I went to Mexico for the surgery.

I actually found several doctors who do fills and have chosen to use the one with the best facility - not the one that "looks" nicest but the one that locates the port and inserts the needle under fluoroscopy, has a tilt table so the needle can stay in place while I do the barium swallow, etc. One of the other doctors I found locates the port with sonogram, marks the location with one hand then inserts the needle with the other, does the fill, and removes the needle (one of his patient's let me watch her getting a fill). After the fill his patients go to another room and stand in front of the fluoro machine and do their barium swallow. The problem with this type of fill is that if you need to have more saline added or removed, the doctor has to locate the port again and stick you again. Um, no thanks.

I'm putting all of this here just so you'll understand that not everyone does fills the same way. Having a fill with fluoroscopy costs more money - this is where having your surgeon do your fills comes in handy as most of them don't charge for fills for a set amount of time - like one year. Not everyone agrees that fluoroscopy is necessary, but I feel better knowing the doctor will be able to see my port when he's inserting the needle. I don't like the idea of that needle searching around NEAR my port and possibly puncturing my tubing.

Welcome to LBT and to bandland! LBT is a wonderful place for support and comraderie and sometimes just a good place to vent or whine! Everyone here knows exactly where you're coming from so visit us often.

I will be having my surgery in a few weeks in Mexico with Dr. Aceves. I was also concerned about having fills done after the surgery because I had read that I would need to be adjusted frequently if I wanted to be successful. I have found an RNP that comes to Phoenix once a month and all the people that recommended her say she is great! I, too, can have lifetime free fills in Mexico, but can't always afford the trip down there.

Good luck, and God Bless you on your journey to health.

Robin

Donna,

I never thought about the Dr hitting my tubing! My first fill was in his office and he felt where to go. It took him several tries. The little numbing agent was of no use. He said that the reason was the "fluid had formed around my disk." Whatever, that means. But this fill due 4/9/06 he wants me at the Bariactric Center at the hospital. So maybe he'll use fluroscopy, you think?

Banded Brenda

Donna,

I never thought about the Dr hitting my tubing! My first fill was in his office and he felt where to go. It took him several tries. The little numbing agent was of no use. He said that the reason was the "fluid had formed around my disk." Whatever, that means. But this fill due 4/9/06 he wants me at the Bariactric Center at the hospital. So maybe he'll use fluroscopy, you think?

Banded Brenda

Sorry about adding to your worry about the tubing! It happens but I would think getting a fill under fluoro would reduce if not eliminate the risk.

I've never heard anyone say anything about Fluid around the disk. Maybe he meant your port? Don't know about the fluid thing though. Maybe you could call and ask about it.

I would think going to the hospital for the fill means he'll do it under fluoro this time. Double check when you call and ask about a fee for the hospital - will there be one? I would hate for you to be surprised on the day of the fill. I know that here, getting a fill with fluoro costs $250 and getting one without is $150. I think I need to invest in a fluoro machine - an extra $100 a pop? Man.

Hi Donna,

He did mean the port, in NH we often have our own terms! Thank goodness, there is no extra charge for any part of post treatments. I'll find out soon what he meant. I was too nervous with the first fill and after it was over, I realized that I was scared for no reason and didn't even question his remarks. It hit me later.

Banded Brenda

hi kelli. what happens i when you go to mexico or to another state or country is it awful expensive to go back once a month or so to have a fill. after you have your healing time you can get a fill and as soon as you are used to it and still want another to find your "sweet spot" it can take several fills and unfills till you find your spot. i have found myself trying to be too tight and having to go in for unfills because i cant even swallow water. (my own fault for trying to work the band but for another discussion). I am lucky because i live 10 minutes from my doc but if i had to go to mexico everytime that happened id be one hurting unit. so people look for places close by to fill and unfill then. it is usually 150.00 or so for a fill/unfill. my dr. won't do anyone who hasn't had surgery with him. (NWLS)

When I was researching Band doctors, I just did a google search and called several docs in my area that are not surgeons but do fills. There is probably a need out there for this because so many people have to travel to get their bands.