There is much ongoing discussion regarding fills...understandably, as for many Bandsters a fill can be a catalyst to increase progress towards achieving our weight loss goals. There is a great amount of mis-information regarding fills, what is considered a fill, and what it means when a band is "primed" at the time it is surgically placed.

"A BAND THAT IS "PRIMED" DURING PLACEMENT IS A BAND WITH A "FILL".

What is so important about this clarification? It is essential for us to understand that there are forum members who boast about their phenomenal amounts of lost weight and "brag" that they have done so without having fills is highly misleading. It may cause some forum members to question themselves about their own progress, and even ask themselves what they might be "doing wrong".

Another consideration in the rate of weight loss and success with managing hunger is the presence of stomach "plication". The surgeon who does a plication is actually making it easier for the patient post op to manage their hunger, as the existing stomach has some additional stitching done which does seem to assist with staving off hunger for some time after meals. So it ultimately the stomach has the benefit of being smaller and emptying over a longer amount of time.

The most important aspect of understanding that a primed band has Fluid in it is that bands with fill DO help with the management of hunger post op, therefore in theory making it a bit easier for the patient to manage hunger and use their band as the weight loss tool it was designed to be from day one. It is surgeon preference as to whether they prime the bands they place. My surgeon left bands totally empty when placed as he felt it helped with long term positive outcomes when the newly banded patient adjusted to the presence of the new band only, without the additional restriction provided by a primed band.

The patient who has a primed band and plication actually has 2 tools to use in their efforts to have a successful weight loss journey. The plication assists with hunger management, and a primed and filled band provides a level of increased restriction and assistance with hunger management post op from Day 1.

It is misleading and potentially discouraging to forum members who do not have a clear understanding of the head start Bandsters with either both or one of the additional "tools" of a primed band and/or plication have from day 1.

It is human nature for us to compare our rates of weight loss with others, and that is something which may create an unnecessary negative belief about one's progress towards achieving their weight loss goals, it is especially harmful when others who actually have filled bands repetitiously tell others they are doing so well WITHOUT fills actually DO HAVE A FILLED BAND.

Each of us are unique individuals, and we will all have a unique weight loss journey. Do your best to feel good and positive about the progress you have made towards achieving your goals. A loss is a loss...if it comes with the scale moving in the desired direction or if your clothes are getting looser.

It was long overdue to clarify the language and terminology of fills and what a primed band really means.

Others mileage may vary...and if you just want to post negative language, please move on. I no longer visit this forum on a regular basis, and won't be reading the negatives anyway. j/s...

There are many who seek accurate information, and those are the individuals who my post is directed to.

Best wishes to all for a successful weight loss journey...

Jean, thanks for pointing this out. I'm going to close this thread.