I have read some about the AP band that just became available in the US. I read on my surgeon's website that she now has this band. I also heard that she is using up what she has before switching to it. She is out of town and I am her next lap band (Oct 24). I plan to call and request the new band. Is this something I should insist on??? How big of a difference will it make? I just figure that if there is new technology then I want it. Any thought????

I have the 10 cm/4cc ap band- from what I hear it has a lower rate of erosion and can for some produce a quicker weight loss result- I am still a newbie-so I cannot testify to those facts but it is just what I have heard

I have read such good things about it, less erosion, less slippage, I have also insisted on the AP...

Thanks I am going to call in the morning. If they have the new band, then I want it. Thanks so much.

I have the 10 cm/4cc ap band-

The AP Band comes in small and large (APS & APL) The small holds 10cc's and the large 14cc's.

I got the APS band in August. If I was you, I would ask for it. If you do a 'search' there are a few threads about it.

Good luck

I called my dr this morning. I talked to the receptionist. She said that she thinks the hospital is using what's left of the old one before ordering new ones. Well, my dad just happens to be the administrator of the hospital. I hate to put the daddy card, because i think it is unprofessional, but we are talking my band here. I called him and told him that if there is new technology then I want it. I told him that it is really important to me to have the new band or I wouldn't ask. He said that he would get with the CFO and see if he can get it ordered for me. :clap2: He did say that i need to consider that the new band could have issues that they don't know about yet because it is new. I told him what I have read here, and he said he would do his best. He and my mom are also planning to be banded so he is supportive of the procedure.

Tell your dad the AP band has been in use in Australia for (I believe) over a year and in Canada as well. It became available in the US in June of this year, so it isn't really all that new. I cancelled my first surgery date because my surgeon wouldn't have it in time, and INSISTED on it for my surgery June 21st. My surgeon's office is not "using up" the old bands, they are using some of every type (regular, VG and AP). They do plan to switch to all AP soon, though.

I also wrote on my stomach in sharpie marker "AP Band ONLY!!!" I asked for and received my AP box after my surgery so that I was assured that is what I got.

I'd hold out for it.

One other important point: If your surgeon didn't go to the ASBS conference this past June then s/he will likely need a proctor for the first AP placement. It is a little different and it does require larger instruments to place it with. Something that is needed to be planned for so that the appropriate people and tools are available.

Thanks for all the info. The receptionist from my docs office called me back and said that Dr Querry told her that she has used all of the other bands and it is the AP band that I will receive. She left a message with the surgery department (they were in surgery) to confirm that I will receive the AP band. My dad said to let him know if that is not what they are using. He said that he would make sure that they are ordered. he said that if it is a better band, then he wants to make it available for all of the patients. I'm sure Dr Querry went to the training. She is seems very up to date on the current options. If she said that I will get the AP band then I am sure she is ready to place it.

The sharpie writing on your stomach is great!! I may have to try that myself. I am a nurse at the hospital. I only work occasionally, but I am going to call the surgery nurse and talk to her about it as well, but I do trust Dr Querry, so I am confident that I will get the AP band. WOOOOHOOOOO

I was wondering if the new AP band already has some fill in it when placed? When I was at my first post op doctor visit I asked what kind of band and they said it was the Ap..16? something band that filled all the way around. I was just wondering now about a fill already during surgery. I go to the doctor for my first fill Nov. 2nd. Just curious. :cry

Yes, the AP is already a little filled when placed. Just to fill the "dead space" in the band. Allergan has a reccommendation as to how much to fill in each band, I can't recall what that number is.

Also, my doctor told me that they can unfill it during placement, if necessary.

my dr told me last week that the fill they add at surgery in the band is 2.4 cc that is for the 10 cc band- so my first fill I got an addl 2 cc added totalling 4.4 cc. hope this helps.

Conerning the amount of Fluid they put in the band at the time of surgery, it is up to the individual physician. They do "purge" the band of all the air in it, not necessarily "fill" it.

I am suprised though to hear people"demanding"one type of band or another. I have full confidence in my physician that he will put the one in that I need. Allergan has several types of bands out, none have been "recalled" or have they stopped making any "type" of band. I am a nurse, not a physician, I left all the schooling to be a doctor up to him.

I know we all want the best band for us, but I think people are getting hung up on the AP bands. (FYI I have an APL, if the doctor used something different that would have been OK with me as long as I lost the weight).

Just my 2 cents.

That's a good point, esummerset. My doctor said with my AP they didn't fill it at the time of surgery..something about it being easier to get it around the stomach and snapped into place. I just got my first fill yesterday, about five weeks later. 3cc's. They will put 1cc in every two weeks if need be. I suppose after snapping it into place they could put in some fill after, but by then they probably figure your stomach has been messed with enough. :rolleyes

My concern wasn't with the doctor. The hospital that I had my surgery at was using all of the bands they had before using the ap band. If there was newer technology then I wanted it. Not to say that the other bands were not ok. If my doc had reccomended another band then I would have been ok with that. I do trust my doctor, but being a nurse myself, I know that it is our job as patients to advocate for ourselves. My health, my surgery, my band are all areas that I want to be involved in decision making processes. I do trust my doctor. I am very glad that I chose her, but I think the days of "The doctor is always right, so don't ask questions" is over. I do see what you are saying, and yes, I agree that we should not "obsess" over what type of band, but I do think we should be advocates for ourselves in understanding the different types of bands, and being involved in the decision making process of our healthcare.

That is the great thing about this website, we get to see many different peoples view on different topics. None wrong, just different. That is what make us beautiful, unique people.