Hi! First timer here.

While researching lap-band doctors and facillities, I've been "shopping" pretty hard to find a good and affordable situation (I have no insurance, etc.). Now I'm finding that there are a few types of lap-bands. Although I'd ultimately leave the decision up to the doctor, I also want to be a bit "in the know" in terms of the options, before it happens.

As I understand, there are two manufacturers with FDA approval for use in the US-- Allergan (AP) and Johnson & Johnson (Realize). I've also heard the term "SELF-adjusting" used by one doctor's office I recently called, referring to a type that's just comming out on the market (I'm remembering my mother's pacemaker, which was adjustable by her doctor's remote control device, but I don't know if that holds true in this case).

It's frustrating finding conflicting and outdated information on the web. Anyone out there have suggestions for where to find the latest, good, reliable info on the web, before seeing a doctor? :cheers2:

Thank you, Jack... if I can find out more, I'll be sure to post it. I appreciate your reply.

I've only heard of the two you've mentioned also. I know there are others used in other countries. If you find more about the self adjusting one, I'd love to hear about it! :wub:

Here's what I've gotten from Google:

There are about 7-8 band manufacturers. However, three seem to be the main manufacturers and only two of them have their bands FDA approved. As far as I can tell, the 3rd hasn't started the FDA process and doesn't seem to be interested in doing so.

Of the two bands available in the US, one is made by Allergan (they bought it from Inamed) and is called the Lap-band®. The original bands they did clinical trials on have been upgraded a bit so there are currently quite a number of sizes and styles out there.

The newest bands are called the AP System and come in two sizes. This style has just recently been introduced in the US though they've been used in other countries for a while. The improvements include making the reservoir (where the saline goes) go 360 degrees around, making it wider (supposed to help with slippage), and having it semi-divided into sections.

Their web site is here:

Home

WARNING: it plays music. And if you wait long enough, some lady talks to you. (Man, I hate that)

The other company is Ethicon, a Johnson & Johnson company, and they bought their band from a company in Sweden and renamed it from the Swedish Band to the Realize Band. It already had a reservoir that goes around 360 and is in the new wide style that most modern bands use. The plastic is softer (supposed to help with erosion) and the reservoir doesn't come pre-divided.

It did get upgraded right before being introduced in the US. The upgrade was to have a low profile port and to make the port so it can grip the stomach muscle with little claws. It's up to the surgeon whether or not they use the claws or sew the port in place the way the Lap-Band port is installed. (The Lap-band does come with a low profile port option but you have to work it out with your surgeon to get it and some charge slightly more for it.) The claws are supposed to be better for preventing port flipping.

Here is their web site:

Home - REALIZEBand.com

Both bands come open and are buckled together during installation. Both bands have a good record of weight loss. The Realize band at one point had a better track record with slips and erosions but that was before the Lap-band upgraded to the reservoir that went all the way around with the creases. I haven't found any studies comparing the Lap-Band AP system with the Realize Band, but doctors say they perform about the same.

The 3rd band is the MIDband and it's made by a French company (Whose initials are MID) and is sometimes referred to as the French Band. You can get this band in Mexico, if you go there for surgery. It came out after the Realize band and also is wider, softer and the reservoir goes all the way around. It has a titanium port. (The other two have silicon ports, I believe.) If you get one, you need to make sure your local fill doctor will work with it. Some won't fill a non-FDA approved band. If you aren't getting fills locally, that's not an issue.

Their web site:

Hello and welcome to the MIDBAND™ website

Finally, Allergan is working on a revolutionary new band that doesn't need to be filled via saline. It's adjustable with some sort of remote control device. It's just entered the FDA approval process:

LAP-BAND: Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery | Easyband

I've also found some info about the history of the different bands. However, all the articles contradict each other and some are heavily oriented towards whatever band company wrote them. So it's hard to know what to trust. :wub:

Also, the reason I keep saying "supposedly" and "thought to" is that there are lots of claims made that this band is better than that band so it's hard to know what the truth is. Plus our understanding of band technology keeps changing.

So far, the surgeons I've talked to say they perform about the same and many use both the Realize and the Lap-Band AP. I personally wouldn't get an older Lap-Band -- it's not like a tv where last year's model is good enough. At the same time I wouldn't wait for the next improvement -- because it seems like there is always a new improvement coming.

Edited March 23, 200818 yr by MacMadame

MacMadame: Thanks for that informative post. I also went to the "easy band" site and see that it's not available in the US yet. So, you are right...no need for waiting for improvements or else you'll be waiting all your life. :wub:

MacMadame, you are a GEM!!!!! I've been looking all over the web, and couldn't find out a darn thing about the "self-adjusting" band, and you did it!!! Thank you so much. That link sure answered my questions, too. I am so interested in that, but am trying not to limit myself, either by waiting for it to be FDA approved. As you mentioned, there's always going to be some new improvement on the horizon. Also, life's too short, especially when there are some very real health issues. Again, thank you SO much for finding and posting this information!