I went in for my first fill post-Op (07/17) today and much to my (and the PA's) surprise, the surgeon put 4 cc's in my Band during surgery. Apparently, that's a lot! The PA was surprised that he went that aggressive with my fill during surgery since I have about 40-45 pounds to lose in order to reach my goal weight. This info was not only surprising, but also disappointing in that I should've lost so much more weight if it really is almost half way filled with saline! I have been hungry the last couple of weeks but was still satisfied with less food - but not the 1/2 cup they propose we should be full on, satisfied with every 4 hours. Also admittedly, I haven't been counting my calories (because I thought that the first 6 weeks were for healing and not weight loss since the Band wasn't full - or so I thought) but apparently that was a bad train of thought.

Where I go (True Results) for my fills, they do the fluoroscope to determine how my Band is doing - which I'm grateful for them doing this extra step - and she said my Band was doing well and that the swelling was down enough that the Band was now in a good place but did let too much through for weight loss. Well, after learning this disappointing news, she put in 1 cc (she was going to put in 1/2 cc to 1 cc in, but I told her I didn't want to wait a month to see if I can start to loose weight now) and that is now followed by 2-3 days of a liquid diet and then I see how (or if) the new restriction is where it needs to be. I go back in a month for another check-up and maybe an adjustment.

What is the "normal" fill amount for weight loss to be in the "green zone"?

There isnt a "normal" amount. Some people are at Green with 2cc's and some people are at green with 14cc's.

There is really no "normal" amount for a band to be filled to be in the "green zone", as we are all individuals.

It is not unheard of to have a surgeon "prime" the band with an initial fill of 4cc's at the time it was placed. That practice varies by practioner preference. My band was not primed when it was placed.

There are also no rules to follow as to how much and at what speed one's band is filled. It is usually done at a rate that the surgeon and patient agree upon.

For me, slower has been better. Others mileage does vary.