Sitting at the airport after a proctor surgeon meeting on the new Ethicon REALIZE band:

The website www.RealizeBand.com will be updated soon as they launch additional features. The new site will have many features to assist patients in their weight loss.

The band holds a total of 9cc (I had incorrectly posted 10cc earlier - my apologies for the error).

Proctoring surgeons can offer the new band now and will be proctoring other surgeons across the U.S. soon.

I'll keep you updated as new information becomes available.

NukeChik, my doctor is probably about as cautious as they get. Both he and the hospital's dietitian gave me the same instructions. I'm guessing that the Realize band allows for quicker healing and transition.

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We have the same doc and he's definitely changed his program. I got the AP band in August and it was 2 days clear liquids, 2 weeks full liquids, and 3 weeks of mushies!<o:p></o:p>

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The REALIZE port is less prominent and bigger around. <o:p></o:p>

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Do you think that will affect fills that aren't done under fluoro?<o:p></o:p>

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I ask because I know my doctor doesn't use fluoro (unless he’s changed that too) and I wonder if the port will be harder for them to hit.<o:p></o:p>

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Candle, he has. I'm 20 days past my surgery date and on solid foods.

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We have the same doc and he's definitely changed his program. I got the AP band in August and it was 2 days clear liquids, 2 weeks full liquids, and 3 weeks of mushies!<o:p></o:p>

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Do you think that will affect fills that aren't done under fluoro?<o:p></o:p>

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I ask because I know my doctor doesn't use fluoro (unless he’s changed that too) and I wonder if the port will be harder for them to hit.<o:p></o:p>

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When using fluoro the port should be very simple to "hit".

With fluoro, it's like walking up to a dart board and sticking the dart in the bullseye.

My question was about doctors that DON'T do fills under fluoro.

My question was about doctors that DON'T do fills under fluoro.

Ah. Sorry I missed that.

I find it a little bit harder to find the REALIZE ports.

It is a bit flatter and the access is a bit softer whereas the Allergan ports are easier to palpate and give you kind of a "thunk" when you hit it. The good news is that the REALIZE ports are flatter (potentially less prominent at goal weight) and the tubing is farther away from the septum so potentially less likely to get accidentally stuck with the adjusting needle.

hope that helps

I have the Realize band--was placed 12/28 and I had my first fill last week. The frustrating part is that the MySuccess program is ONLY offered to people who had their bands done in the US. I think this is very short sighted. And considering the people who give testimonials on the Realize band site are patients of Dr. R. in Monterrey--and he is a proctor for J & J, it just doesn't seem right.

What I can tell you about the Realize band is that you go solid foods sooner. Rather than 2 weeks on solid liquids and 2 weeks on soft foods, I spend one week on each before transitioning to a normal diet.

my Dr. had me on liquids for 1 week soft soilds second week and regular food 3rd week and I have lapband it up to your Dr.

The good news is that the REALIZE ports are flatter (potentially less prominent at goal weight) and the tubing is farther away from the septum so potentially less likely to get accidentally stuck with the adjusting needle.

That's exactly what I was wondering about!

Thank you for the info!

I would like Dr. Watkins to explain how The Realize Band has a 42.8% excess weight loss at 36 months and the latest lapband studies show 62% how he is coming to the conclusion they are equal. Also how a band that creases on 3 sides that's straight vs a band that is 360 degrees with an even distribution of fluid is equal as well. Also what factor besides the money your getting paid determines which band to use? Am I believe you randomly pick a band that came out in the 90's (the Realize Band AKA the Swedish Band in Europe) vs the LapBand AP 2007 with no criteria to make a determination for your patients?

I am set to have the realize band in a few days. this information has been helpful. thanks Dr. Watkins for your input to the site. I will be doing more "research" into this via the website listed.

Good luck to all, no mater which band we are given

I have the Realize band. The first fill was under flouro (for the sake of being a little more aggressive, I think) but the next two were not. No problem finding my port.

I have the website available to me but haven't logged on. I'm going to, I promise!

Dr. Watkins, I trust that you and Dr. Curry (and a host of other surgeons who use both) know what you are talking about when you say they are basically equal.

My husband has the Allergan band (from two years ago) and he's doing great, but for a variety of reasons; I've lost more in my first 3 months than he did. I don't think that proves or disproves the weight loss is better with one over the other, I think it proves there were different circumstances. I don't think I was as sore as he was following surgery, but I tend to have a fairly high tolerance for pain anyway.

I would like Dr. Watkins to explain how The Realize Band has a 42.8% excess weight loss at 36 months and the latest lapband studies show 62% how he is coming to the conclusion they are equal. Also how a band that creases on 3 sides that's straight vs a band that is 360 degrees with an even distribution of Fluid is equal as well. Also what factor besides the money your getting paid determines which band to use? Am I believe you randomly pick a band that came out in the 90's (the Realize Band AKA the Swedish Band in Europe) vs the LapBand AP 2007 with no criteria to make a determination for your patients?

If you look at individual gastric band practices the average weight loss results are varied. When you look at pooled data from Europe (both bands have not been in the U.S. long enough) the average weight loss results are very similar. I have not seen any data that validates concern about band creasing. Basically, they are both great products and great companies that believe in supporting their patients. I think it is important for a patient to research both bands and for surgery practices to provide unbiased information about the two products. I believe the patient should decide which band to use as they will ultimately determine their weight loss success. I think it benefits patients to have two bands on the market as both companies are fighting for market share to the benefit of patients.

hope that helps

If you look at individual gastric band practices the average weight loss results are varied.

That's true. Even across some peer-reviewed studies you can see a big fluctuation.

My surgeon's practice quotes a 77+% success rate. That's all their patients across all the different WLS they do, not just bands. It's higher than most of the studies and I think it's because of their approach-- both their pre-op requirements and the follow-up care they provide.

With stats like that, I doubt they are going to see a big difference between their Realize patients and their Lap-band patients.

I am so glad to find this thread....My doctor is the only one in AZ that comes up on the Realize site as...?....certified surgeon??? I noticed that she is not on the lapband site but uses both...up to patient. I was told that there is a slight difference in putting it on...they have to test it in water first etc... and the ports attach easier...So, I am thinking since she is the Realize guru to go with that one... I'm sure you can't be on both sites????? anyway, I am in the research phase so if anyone has specific comments about why they did or did not choose the Realize band...do tell :thumbup: Thanks

First of all, I did not get to choose my band. My doctor (Jaime Ponce, he's on the www.realizeband.com website) chose it after he opened me up. I was glad to get the realize band because of the standard low profile port. I do not have excessive belly fat and did not want my port to "stick out". I can still feel my port, but its hardly noticable.