I have read on various threads about people getting 2 to 7 fills within a short period of time. Being a self-pay, each fill costs $250 a pop - which I budgeted for; however - am I going to be expected to pay this each time the band "absorbs" part of the first fill and I need go for another fill within the first couple weeks or if I go in for a second fill and then have to have an unfill? Because that could add up to alot of money in a very short amount of time. I understood from the seminar I attended that the band only required 4 adjustments the first year and then annually thereafter.

Everyone is different. I was self pay as well but my doctor offered free fills for the first year and the a second year free if you lose 1/2 your goal weight. $250 seems really high for a fill. Here in Houston most doctors charge $100 to $150 for a fill. I had my surgery on 1/26/07 and have had 2 fills so far and will go again in a couple of weeks. My first fill was no longer there when I went back in for another - so, I see where that could get really expense for you. Everyone is different when it comes to fills. My sister and her husband both had the surgery as well and she only had 4 fills and lost of all of weight and her husband has had several and not lost much at all. Good luck!

There is no absolute rule as to how many fills a person will need. Many MDs say that once you find the right level of restriction, you're set for about 6 months. I will need one to two more fills before that happens for me while others only need one or two fills and they're set. My surgeon gives "free" fills for 6 months post-op.