Hi folks-, did any of your docs use any special techniques, tools or devices to minimize leaks? Since I had a previous band erosion, I am at higher risk and want to explore all methods to minimize those nasty statistics. Thanks in advance!

Ha!! My first thought when I saw the question was..."pick a gooooood surgeon!!" Then I thought it'd sound smart alec-y. But seriously. Research the surgeons and get their leak rates, and talk to their patients. (there's a good mix on here!)

Other than that: FOLLOW the post op diet TO THE letter!! Can't stress that enough.

The technicalities of surgical procedures would best be gone over with a surgeon. I think they all do generally the same thing, but might have slight differences.

First, yes, what Dooter said. This is the most important. Second, I think that eating and drinking slow at the beginning was imperative. It also helped that I was on liquids for a month. Thinned sf pudding, thinned potatoes, jello, water, protein shakes.. My dr has done a couple thousand surgeries and only had 1 leak. And that was in the first 10.

1. Pick a few good GREAT surgeons.

2. Yelp, google and VST Forum search the surgeon.

3. Pick the one with the best stats that you are comfortable with and the one you can rely on.

4. Mentally prepare yourself for the post-op diet. Its no joke..... physically, its pretty easy.....mentally its a trip.

5. Follow the post-op instructions faithfully and as your life depended on it- cause it does.

6. After all of this- realize that a leak may/can occur even if you are the most perfect patient with the most perfect patient. Its a risk we all take, but information, education and preparedness can make all the difference in the world!

Best of luck to you.

Thanks all for the great advice.

Yeah, following the postop diet and not cheating is a huge key to not having leaks. My doctor keeps his patients on a 3 week postop diet. He has a no leak record on people who didn't cheat that. Good luck to you.