Did any of your doctors put a mesh lining around the port to prevent it from moving?

No, I don't see a reason to do so. It is sewn into the fascia. That is the connective tissue between muscle and a fat pad.

I was told by the surgeon who does this technique that he sews the port to the fascia and then sews the mesh around the port to the fascia also because the stitches can easily come undone from the port and then the port will be at odd angles for a fill. He said that the port can flip from stitches being loose then another surgery woul be needed to correct it. The mesh is just a second line of defense so it will hold the port in place even if a stitch does come loose.

I was told by the surgeon who does this technique that he sews the port to the fascia and then sews the mesh around the port to the fascia also because the stitches can easily come undone from the port and then the port will be at odd angles for a fill. He said that the port can flip from stitches being loose then another surgery woul be needed to correct it. The mesh is just a second line of defense so it will hold the port in place even if a stitch does come loose.

Wouldn't the natural forming scar tissue around the port do the same thing?

My team of surgeons tack the port to a hernia mesh and then put clips all the way around the mesh to the muscle. Back several years ago when they first began doing lap bands, they had some patients that had the port flip over, making it impossible to do a fill (not really due to anything severe the patient did). So since then they've used the mesh. Inamed was so impressed with their technique that we were told a few nights ago at our support group that Inamed is going to adapt that procedure as protocol for putting the port in place. Makes sense to me - that is why I think it is always a good idea not to be one of the first for a new procedure....gives time for good old trial and error to kick in to perfect it.

Banded 6/27/07 - VG band, Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL.

:cat:

My team of surgeons tack the port to a hernia mesh and then put clips all the way around the mesh to the muscle. Back several years ago when they first began doing lap bands, they had some patients that had the port flip over, making it impossible to do a fill (not really due to anything severe the patient did). So since then they've used the mesh. Inamed was so impressed with their technique that we were told a few nights ago at our support group that Inamed is going to adapt that procedure as protocol for putting the port in place. Makes sense to me - that is why I think it is always a good idea not to be one of the first for a new procedure....gives time for good old trial and error to kick in to perfect it.

Banded 6/27/07 - VG band, Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL.

Hmmm.. that's interesting. I want to learn more about this. I *thought* (and was obviously wrong) that flipped ports were due to weight loss and anatomy changes.

(crossing fingers) I haven't had any problems with mine yet.

I do know that my port isn't in the same place it used to be. It used to be farther away from my port scar. Now it's right under it. I assumed it was from more condensing and less fat.

Now ya'll have me worried! I went for my 3rd fill last Thursday and he mashed and poked and hunted for my port. He said he might have to do it under fluro,,which would be a first for me. He hit it tho, whew.

banded 1/29/07

Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS

Pam J4,

Thank you so much for explaining that. I was under the impression that most doctors did this but found out they don't. I appreciate you explaining the procedure.