I called my surgeons office to ask them what "type of band" they use, and the nurse said that they use the "Lap Band" the maker is Allergan Pharmaceuticals. I think the way she was making it sound, they are own the right to calling it the original Lap Band, they were the company that invented it???? They use the newer one, and it's a 10cc band and the locking mechanism is diff. that the first one and it hasa "pillowlike" inside that holds the saline, instead of the one ring innertube-like one . I"m guessing the bandsters that have 10cc bands have this one?? Not sure, I know the Realize is made by J&J, and I believe is a 4cc one. Can anyone shed some light as to which one they have?

I am sorry I don't know. If I can find out this info on Monday I will post it.

I have the realize band. Its 9cc. There are not many differences. The major differences are the anchoring system used for the port and that a low profile port is standard issue.

www.realizeband.com

I have a Realize band and I had read a post on this site about how there is less port pain post op with the Realize band because of the way it's anchored (instead of being sutured like the Lap Band). I can tell you I believe it's true because I didn't even have to take Tylenol after surgery. I slept in a recliner for the first 2 nights because my chest felt heavy and I was uncomfortable laying in the bed, but I wasn't hurting. I was a little sore, but nothing like I was expecting. My biggest complaint was the 3 incisions right at my waistline- I wore loose sweat pants and pj's for a week. Oh, and one more- my husband bought me some band-aids without checking the package for a latex allergy warning- and I'm allergic to latex. I had more trouble with the blisters and rash from that than I did from the incisions themselves. I can laugh about it now. :tongue:

On the site they compare the realize band to the lap band.

They are complaining less complications and less "do overs".

They also claiming higher % of weight loss, but not sure why that would be.

You can find it here: Compare The Realize Band System to Lap-Band - REALIZEBand.com