Heard today that INAMED will be announcing the release of the two new AP bands in June. Only a very select, small number of surgeons in US currently place these particular bands, same surgical technique as the other bands slight variations in design and port -- anyone have one or planning to have one of the AP bands????

Johnson & Johnson (as in baby shampoo?) will be getting their band FDA approved in about six months.

Hopefully the price will come down with Inamed not being the only band in the US.

Found out this week INAMED is generally releasing its updated AP bands June 07 -- (I put a thread out AP bands earlier this week on this forum but didn't hear anything from anyone regarding specifics) does anyone have the newer bands, any preop patients programs/doctors talking about them??

A select group of US doctors have been using and inserting the bands and was wondering if anyone has heard anything about the newer bands, anyone have one?????????? (Feel free to private message me if you prefer) THANKS

I have the large AP band. It was put in by my surgeon in Feb., who has been using them exclusively since Nov.2006.

They are already in use in Canada (where I am from) and Australia.

Canada has many choices for band, but they are by no means getting cheaper with all the options on the market.

Andrew

I have the large AP band. It was put in by my surgeon in Feb., who has been using them exclusively since Nov.2006.

They are already in use in Canada (where I am from) and Australia.

Canada has many choices for band, but they are by no means getting cheaper with all the options on the market.

Andrew

Bands aren't getting cheaper in Canada with more choices? I was hoping that when J&J gets their band FDA approved in the US the price might come down. MD cost for the Inamed band is just shy of $2K.

Darn.

I have the ap band

alittle info:

·They are either APS (small, 10cc) or APL (large, 14cc). ffice:office" /><O:p></O:p>

·They are considered by some to be "the next generation in AGBs". <O:p></O:p>

·They are considered less likely to cause blockage or obstruction than other AGP types. <O:p></O:p>

·They are considered less likely to slip than other AGP types. <O:p></O:p>

·They are considered to be less likely to cause band erosion than other AGP types. <O:p></O:p>

·Like the VG band it is "Omniform" technology - i.e. the balloon has ribs or baffles and the band itself is curved. <O:p></O:p>

·The AP has more of a 360 inflation around the stomach as opposed to the 10cm or 9.75cm (4cc) bands, which have more like 260 or 280 degrees inflation (the rest being the buckle), and the VG which has more like 280 or 300. It is understood that this was simply an upgrade to the existing band to make it easier and less traumatic to remove. <O:p></O:p>

·The silicone material is much softer than other AGP types. <O:p></O:p>

·They are more concentric (rounded) when inflated than other AGB types. <O:p></O:p>

·The balloon is pleated to 'grip' the stomach better. <O:p></O:p>

·The balloon goes all the way around the inner surface of the band, rather than missing a piece at the locking mechanism. <O:p></O:p>

·The balloon is wider. A sideview of the band shows the balloon protruding top & bottom rather than sitting flush. <O:p></O:p>

·They have an easier release mechanism to remove the band if need be. <O:p></O:p>

·They have the locking mechanism isolated from the stomach. <O:p></O:p>

·AP type bands have been FDA approved for the ffice:smarttags" /><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:place>US</ST1:place></st1:country-region>, but will not be available until the summer at the earliest. <O:p></O:p>

·We understand that there are NO plans at this time to discontinue any of the bands Allergan already makes. They still plan to manufacture and offer the 10cm and the 9.75cm (the 4cc) bands as well as the VG band. <O:p></O:p>

·new : AP ( Advanced Platform ): <O:p></O:p>

·APS ( small) <O:p></O:p>

·APL ( large ) <O:p></O:p>

I Love My Large AP Band.

No Problems yet.:clap2:

I'm thrilled to have the APS with a low-profile port.

Postponed my June 15 date for early Aug. Just goat a call from my doc, who said that the new ones definitley are improved. Can't wait for AUg to get here.

I was banded with the AP large last wednesday. Doc showed me the box before i went under. So far absolutely no issues.

I have the AP small. Initially I had no hunger issues, now I am feeling hungry, but think it might be partially head hunger I'm fighting. I do get some grumbles of hunger, though.

Last night I started feeling something new that is still there, a full/lump feeling just below the back of my throat. I've tried drinking something cold, I tried drinking somthing warm. The warm does seem to loosen the lump feeling a bit. But the feeling is really high, like just below my Adam's apple. Interesting...

I've had no PB's, no sliming and I am still on a liquid diet.

I'd pay the extra $$ and get the new band if you can afford it. I think that once we have enough data, we'll see that the complication rate for both slips and erosions is dramatically lowered with the VG and AP bands due to their "pillow" design. I say, if you can swing it financially, put the very best thing available in your body.

I saw the band a couple of weeks ago at Dr. Minkin office in St. Louis. It looked really good and compared to the others I would rather have the new band. He said that it costs about 4,000.00 dollars. He his now using it. He has allready put several in and the people like them so far.

Chris

Pre Band

St. Louis

I just received one on July 31st. I am in Houston and my doctor is Matthew St. Laurent.

I just went in for my first fill today (9/14) and I asked what band he used (because I did not think of asking before hand) LOL He told me it was the AP and that it had 4cc of saline in it at the time of surgery. That came as a shocker to me.

I had a fill of 2cc today, so we will see how things go.

Sharon

i asked in recovery what band i had, aps small. banded in texarkana texas. I am thrilled, I didnt know there was a new band. I am self pay, whole thing cost 15,000. got a home equity loan. I was too scared to go to mexico and didnt have anyone to do the fills afterwards. Just one week out today.

I totally understand where you are coming from having self paid your surgery. After I found out that my insurance would not cover the surgery unless you had a BMI of 40 over for 3 years, I was sure I would not be covered. But I think the "weightloss Gods" were looking over me that day, because the doctors office called back and said that I would be covered! I was so estatic. I guess they must have seen something in my doctor's notes that would warrant cover it.

But anyway, what I was getting at was that I was already making plans to pay some things off and get a loan to have the surgery at the beginning of 2008. Just goes to show you, where there is a will, there is a way!

That first week was the hardest for me, I will admit. By the end of the week, I was so hungry and so tired of the gas pains in my shoulder that I was actually thinking "OMG, what have I done". I just had my first fill yesterday and have to do the Clear liquids for a day, full liquids, and then soft foods again. I thought I was finished with this! LOL

Anyway, keep me posted on how the band is working for you. I am down around 15 pounds, in a month and a half.

Sharon