This may sound strange, but I am curious to know if you can feel the band? Can you feel the port under your skin? I am planning to have lap banding in the fall. I am not afraid of the discomfort - just want to know how noticeable it is to you. Does the port stick out from under the skin?

Rachel :scared:

I'm just 3 weeks post banding. I can sort of feel the port under my skin. Mine does not stick out. The incisions are still a little tender, but doing fine. No, I can't feel the band. But, I don't have any fills yet either. I gather that most don't really feel the band, its more of a full sensation.

could be different for others.

Terry :scared:

I can't feel my band at all. I can feel my port under skin and fat :scared: . However, I don't notice it if I'm not touching it. Or, if I lean against something like a counter and it presses on it. I can't see it either.

I can feel my band when food passes through it. I can feel pressure where the band is (sternum, front and back) because I have esophogitis (irritated esophogus). I can feel my port if I run my hand over it. There are people here on LBT who say they can see their port, even through their clothes, sinces they've lost the majority of their weight.

I don't know if this helps your or not. Good luck.

I can't feel my band unless I ate too much, then I can sometimes feel the pressure. I do feel my port but only if I push my stomach muscles out and push down on the port area hard.

Band? No. Port? Yes.

I can feel the EFFECTS of my band when I eat too much, too fast, or don't chew enough.

I can feel my port only if i press on the area or lean against something. It's actually like a conversation starter when people ask about my surgery. "Here, push here, hard, you can feel the port!" :-D

I can feel my port fairly easily and if I look down (gotta hold my boobs out of the way, lol) there is an ever so slight bump where the port is. I've got 15kg to go to goal, not sure what its going to look like at that point. I'd rather have a slight bump than a fresh scar that's going to take another couple of years to lose its purple colour though.