This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a Lap-Band.

The ALLERGAN protocol for Lap-Band fills calls for a six-week delay after surgery, prior to any fills. The purpose for the six-week delay is for the patient’s stomach to heal from the surgery, as well as allowing time for the Lap-Band to “Seat” or “Nestle” into the fat pad between the stomach wall and the interior wall of the Lap-Band.

Prior to receiving an EFFECTIVE fill, it is VERY uncommon to have any restriction from a Lap-Band. Some patients will NOT lose weight, or may even GAIN weight until they have received an effective fill in their Lap-Band.

Normal weight loss with a properly restricted Lap-Band is between 1 and 2 pounds per week.

The normal cycle of fills, restriction and weight loss is as follows:

1. The patient's Lap-Band constricts when the patient receives a fill. Swelling for a few days after receiving a fill is very common. Many doctors require a patient to go on a liquid diet for a day or two after receiving a fill. A fill may have a “Delayed Action” of up to 4 weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to 4 weeks after the fill. That is why the ALLERGAN protocol states that fills should not be performed on patients who will not have access to medical care for at least two weeks after a fill.

2. The patient's stomach capacity is lessened as a result of the restriction caused by the Lap-Band.

3. The patient loses weight because they cannot eat as much food.

4. The residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the outside of the patient's stomach reduces in size because of the overall weight loss in the patient.

5. The reduction of the residual fat-pad causes the Lap-Band to become loose again.

6. At that point, the patient needs another fill, because the Lap-Band is loose, and the patient has a loss of restriction, which allows the patient to eat larger amounts of food.

7. The patient receives another fill and the process starts all over again.

Most Lap-Band patients receive several fills to adjust the Lap-Band as their weight loss progresses, and there is less and less residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the exterior of the stomach wall. Once a patient has lost all of their residual fat-pad, fills become less common. As the Lap-Band patient progresses in their weight loss, the effect of very tiny fills (Less than .2ccs) becomes greater and greater.

It is not uncommon for a late-stage Lap-Band patient to experience a significant difference in restriction with as little as .05cc of fill.

Ok, its been almost 6 months since my last fill. I've only lost about 10-12lbs during that time. Should I go for another fill? I have about 5 cc in a 10 cc band. I'm not sure what to do. Any advice?

Its been six months since my last fill, and Im scheduled for one tomorrow. Ive lost 20 lbs since my last one, but for me I'd like to see 4 lbs a month. I feel like I am able to eat more than I could at first, so Im ready for a small adjustment. Use you on judgement on where you want to be......Im not sure where I am at on the fills, but am going to ask my doctor tomorrow. But only 5cc in a 10cc band...Id think you could use a minor adjustment. Good Luck..you've done great so far..when did you get your band?

Poppyred

Thank you Poppyred!! I think I should call for a fill.. because I do not feel full on that much food.. and I do not stay full. I drink before meals .. and honestly.. I don't think I chew as well as I should all the time... thus getting stuck. I know that bread and rice sticks... and I get very upset by that... I do not stay full .. I can have lunch. 3oz. Tuna fish and about a cup of salad.. lemon juice or FF dressing...( this much does not really fill me ) at noon and by 2 I am ready to eat my desk!!

Maybe I need more fill...

Hello Ninababy,

I dont know too many people restricted..that can still eat bread. Ive not been able to eat bread or buns since Ive gotten my band...unless it is toasted. I have substituted crackers, or those super thin multi-grain buns....I cant eat flour tortias so Ive traded for corn....If the rice isnt overdone, I can eat some..but even Pasta I have to be careful with....these things bother me and hurt..when I had them...so I dont want them anymore..maybe its a brain thing..LOL but my mind now tells me I dont want them. I truly dont miss them...and enjoy my new "breads". Soda pops are another item, Ive not been able to tolerate since restriction. I even have trouble with well done boiled eggs..too rubbery...and leaf lettuce if Im not careful. This is just me...not sure how everyone is...

I think you could use another fill...I am not so anxious to lose the rest of my weight quickly...because I feel great now...and actually giving myself till the end of the year to be at goal. You should do what keeps you motivated...but still feeling super! I know that I have make life changing habits in my diet..and that is the best thing..about the band! It feels so good to feel "full" for once in my life and feel I have control over food instead of it controlling me...We no longer wrap our activities around food...These are good positive changes...Wish you all the luck..keep up the good work ..and let the band work at its best for you and YOU alone.. Write me anytime...

Thank you Poppyred!! I think I should call for a fill.. because I do not feel full on that much food.. and I do not stay full. I drink before meals .. and honestly.. I don't think I chew as well as I should all the time... thus getting stuck. I know that bread and rice sticks... and I get very upset by that... I do not stay full .. I can have lunch. 3oz. Tuna fish and about a cup of salad.. lemon juice or FF dressing...( this much does not really fill me ) at noon and by 2 I am ready to eat my desk!!

Maybe I need more fill...

Hello Ninababy,

I dont know too many people restricted..that can still eat bread. Ive not been able to eat bread or buns since Ive gotten my band...unless it is toasted. I have substituted crackers, or those super thin multi-grain buns....I cant eat flour tortias so Ive traded for corn....If the rice isnt overdone, I can eat some..but even Pasta I have to be careful with....these things bother me and hurt..when I had them...so I dont want them anymore..maybe its a brain thing..LOL but my mind now tells me I dont want them. I truly dont miss them...and enjoy my new "breads". Soda pops are another item, Ive not been able to tolerate since restriction. I even have trouble with well done boiled eggs..too rubbery...and leaf lettuce if Im not careful. This is just me...not sure how everyone is...

I think you could use another fill...I am not so anxious to lose the rest of my weight quickly...because I feel great now...and actually giving myself till the end of the year to be at goal. You should do what keeps you motivated...but still feeling super! I know that I have make life changing habits in my diet..and that is the best thing..about the band! It feels so good to feel "full" for once in my life and feel I have control over food instead of it controlling me...We no longer wrap our activities around food...These are good positive changes...Wish you all the luck..keep up the good work ..and let the band work at its best for you and YOU alone.. Write me anytime...

Thank you Poppyred!! I think I should call for a fill.. because I do not feel full on that much food.. and I do not stay full. I drink before meals .. and honestly.. I don't think I chew as well as I should all the time... thus getting stuck. I know that bread and rice sticks... and I get very upset by that... I do not stay full .. I can have lunch. 3oz. Tuna fish and about a cup of salad.. lemon juice or FF dressing...( this much does not really fill me ) at noon and by 2 I am ready to eat my desk!!

Maybe I need more fill...

Hello Ninababy,

I dont know too many people restricted..that can still eat bread. Ive not been able to eat bread or buns since Ive gotten my band...unless it is toasted. I have substituted crackers, or those super thin multi-grain buns....I cant eat flour tortias so Ive traded for corn....If the rice isnt overdone, I can eat some..but even Pasta I have to be careful with....these things bother me and hurt..when I had them...so I dont want them anymore..maybe its a brain thing..LOL but my mind now tells me I dont want them. I truly dont miss them...and enjoy my new "breads". Soda pops are another item, Ive not been able to tolerate since restriction. I even have trouble with well done boiled eggs..too rubbery...and leaf lettuce if Im not careful. This is just me...not sure how everyone is...

I think you could use another fill...I am not so anxious to lose the rest of my weight quickly...because I feel great now...and actually giving myself till the end of the year to be at goal. You should do what keeps you motivated...but still feeling super! I know that I have make life changing habits in my diet..and that is the best thing..about the band! It feels so good to feel "full" for once in my life and feel I have control over food instead of it controlling me...We no longer wrap our activities around food...These are good positive changes...Wish you all the luck..keep up the good work ..and let the band work at its best for you and YOU alone.. Write me anytime...

This is a great post about lapband and I really wanted to know how it works after the surgery .Now I understood it.

Well I am finally feeling some restriction. Beef, chicken and fish can get stuck. I feel real full after 4-5 oz. protein. I do however feel like I need one more fill. I can still eat how much food I want to - so I am not there yet. I have lost 7 lbs since last Sunday (275 down to 268) and feel good about that. Next time I see the Dr. I will ask the fill amounts and dates to share back here. Eating mostly protein is difficut - especially trying to create some variey, and keep cholesterol down, and the 'system processing' everything along. We have started eating a lot of fish. Easy on the system , low in fat, quick to prepare, and mostly low in cholesterol. My nutritionist says to keep red meat to one meal a week. I do not eat greek yougert, or cottatge cheese or anything similar. So its ommelets for breakfast - some type of canned fish for lunch (smoked sardines, tuna, pink salmon, octopus, smoked mussles, or similar) or some high protein option from the cafe'. Dinner is fish , beef, or chicken. A easy eat-out option is chicken or beef teryaki from the Chineese food place.

Hello Ninababy,

I dont know too many people restricted..that can still eat bread. Ive not been able to eat bread or buns since Ive gotten my band...unless it is toasted. I have substituted crackers, or those super thin multi-grain buns....I cant eat flour tortias so Ive traded for corn....If the rice isnt overdone, I can eat some..but even Pasta I have to be careful with....these things bother me and hurt..when I had them...so I dont want them anymore..maybe its a brain thing..LOL but my mind now tells me I dont want them. I truly dont miss them...and enjoy my new "breads". Soda pops are another item, Ive not been able to tolerate since restriction. I even have trouble with well done boiled eggs..too rubbery...and leaf lettuce if Im not careful. This is just me...not sure how everyone is...

I think you could use another fill...I am not so anxious to lose the rest of my weight quickly...because I feel great now...and actually giving myself till the end of the year to be at goal. You should do what keeps you motivated...but still feeling super! I know that I have make life changing habits in my diet..and that is the best thing..about the band! It feels so good to feel "full" for once in my life and feel I have control over food instead of it controlling me...We no longer wrap our activities around food...These are good positive changes...Wish you all the luck..keep up the good work ..and let the band work at its best for you and YOU alone.. Write me anytime...

I got a small fill Friday and I am feeling less hungry. Much less. I get full on much less. I have stayed fairly soft food this weekend but had turkey and Salad today. I had a little trouble but it was fine. I am not hungry this evening and just keeping lemon water close. So I am feeling more optimistic. Let's see how this week goes. Thanks for the support!! This has made a huge difference for me.

Hi Ninababy - sounds like we are in a similar place - I am trying to find the 'sweet spot' and wish I could find a definition, or personal experience describing that. Sometimes if I do not chew food thoroughly it seems to get stuck and wants to come back up - not a nice feeling (panic and mild regurgitation) ! For the most part (98%) food processes fine. I can still take in way over 2-4 oz. of food, for example I eat a bowl of salad w/ chicken or fish or anchovies for the Protein, but the volume is still significant - so it's not 2-4 oz. in volume so I do not think my restriction is where it needs to be. As I mentioned I have a fill coming up and hope to 'be there'. If I can get my fill history I will post it here so others might derive some benefit from it....

regards Bandedbob

Hi Ninababy - sounds like we are in a similar place - I am trying to find the 'sweet spot' and wish I could find a definition, or personal experience describing that. Sometimes if I do not chew food thoroughly it seems to get stuck and wants to come back up - not a nice feeling (panic and mild regurgitation) ! For the most part (98%) food processes fine. I can still take in way over 2-4 oz. of food, for example I eat a bowl of salad w/ chicken or fish or anchovies for the Protein, but the volume is still significant - so it's not 2-4 oz. in volume so I do not think my restriction is where it needs to be. As I mentioned I have a fill coming up and hope to 'be there'. If I can get my fill history I will post it here so others might derive some benefit from it....

regards Bandedbob

Yup we are very similar. I get stuck and it is upsetting. I feel that panic as well I can still eat more than 4oz as well. I feel a bit less hungry with this fill but not where I think it should be. But I know that it can all kick in better later on. Sometimes weeks.

A small fill may really help you. It got me more on track. But still a battle. I hope it works for you. !! Hang in there and keep me posted!

Isn't there a way to keep this post front and center? I don't want it to get buried. All the newbies need to have easy access to this post.

Thank you for asking that because I am a newbie *no band yet*, and I had questions about the fills. This thread answered all my questions, and then some.

Very informative and helpful. I agree, it should be available to all new comers. Thanks Wendell!!!!

Well I spoke to my doctor and I have 8.5 cc's in a 14 cc band if that is useful to anyone. I can still eat more than 2-4 oz. but am feeling restriction on more types of food.

I cannot (and should not) eat bread for instance. Dry chicken (breast meat) can get stuck, and the first food item inthe morning, if I do not have coffee or some Water, can be difficult to swallow.

I find myself chewing a LOT more, and am loosing 1-2 lbs every 2-3 weeks, so the weight is s-l-o-w-l-y coming off. I have another fill scheduled in a week or so.

Interesting note - I got a co-pay bill from my last fill (it was neglidgable) - but the physician's charge was $300 !!

Three hundred bucks for 5 minutes of work !

If I had a script for syringes and access to sterile saline I would do it myself !!!!

But that's just me (being silly)......

Wishing you all the very best .....................

That's how much my doc charges! Outrageous, huh? My insurance doesn't cover fills, so.....

Well I spoke to my doctor and I have 8.5 cc's in a 14 cc band if that is useful to anyone. I can still eat more than 2-4 oz. but am feeling restriction on more types of food.

I cannot (and should not) eat bread for instance. Dry chicken (breast meat) can get stuck, and the first food item inthe morning, if I do not have coffee or some Water, can be difficult to swallow.

I find myself chewing a LOT more, and am loosing 1-2 lbs every 2-3 weeks, so the weight is s-l-o-w-l-y coming off. I have another fill scheduled in a week or so.

Interesting note - I got a co-pay bill from my last fill (it was neglidgable) - but the physician's charge was $300 !!

Three hundred bucks for 5 minutes of work !

If I had a script for syringes and access to sterile saline I would do it myself !!!!

But that's just me (being silly)......

Wishing you all the very best .....................