I am pretty much cluelessd on the subject of 'fills'....would appreciate feedback on the cost of fills, is the cost covered by insurance, how often will I have to be re'filled,' and does the port used for these 'fills' stick through your skin?

Thanks for all your help and info as I navigate down this new road.

OK, I'm in Australia so my experience re cost is not relevant - I paid a once off fee to my surgeon of $3,000 and this represents my entire out of pocket expense including all aftercare and fills forever.

But with regard to frequence, I have a 4ml band. I had 1 ml put in six weeks after surgery, .1 ml put in four weeks after that, then I went 3 months (by which time I"d lost close to 20kg but was really noticing restriction had dropped markedly), had .3 mil about 4 weeks ago which I felt for a day or two but again, I've got virtually nothing now. I cant eat the wrong foods fast or I back up but if I eat slowly I can eat almost normal preband portions. So on Friday when I'm due to go back I think I'll have more.

So in short, my visits are monthly and I can have a fill if I think I need one at any of those visits. My docs are supportive but not fill happy so its really my decision.

Hi, I have to pay my regular co-pay for fills, which for me is $10. My insurance covers the rest. I can feel my port, but it doesn't stick out so it is not noticible to anyone else.

My insurance has an exclusion for any WLS, so my fills come out of my pocket. I pay $205 for a fill under fleuro.

Your port is under your skin.

I HAD UCH PPO paid 20.00 copays thats it

NOW I have Atena PPO and I have to pay 175.00 PER fill...

I can not wait til it INS changing time at work!

UHC wasn't an option for us this past year

I was a self-pay patient and my follow-up and fills were free for 1 year following surgery. After that, they will cost me $40.

As far as frequency is concerned, it's an individual thing. I have a 4cc band and had my first fill of 1cc at 8 weeks post-op. My 2nd and subsequent fills have been at approx. 6-7 week intervals. It has been my experience that when I lose fat around my abdoment, I lose proper restriction.

Best of luck to you!

I am 7 weeks out and have had 2 fills. The first at 4 weeks 1cc and the second at 7 weeks .5cc. I am self pay and my fills are free for 3 months then $15 after that.

Free fills for life. I have had one so far about every 6 weeks. I'vd had 3 so far but the last one was a bit too much so I did a slight unfill a week later.