Which band starts out with a little fill in it...realize or lap???

I'm getting the Lapband version on the 15th of July. So I'm very curious to read the answer to this question!

I really don't know much info about the realize band so I really can't comment on that but I know my doctor put in 2cc's when I had my lap band surgery. With the lap band I think there's many factors involved in deciding if any fill is going to be added in during surgery. Plus I think it may depend on the doctor. My surgeon said he likes to put something in the band so it's inflated a bit. I am curious to see what other docs do!

I only found out recently that they put 1.5 cc in my Lapband during surgery. They said it mostly fills the port tubing. I had my first fill of 4.5 cc June 11th. I needed an unfill last week and I thought it would be 4.5 coming out but they pulled out 6 cc. They told me it's mostly in the tubing when they fill you during surgery.

i have the lap-band and had 1.5cc left in the band during surgery. it's really not a lot to feel any restriction though.

I think it depends on the doctor, not the band. My doctor has commented that he never puts anything in at surgery, and prefers to let the patient heal before any fill.

I think it depends on the doctor, not the band. My doctor has commented that he never puts anything in at surgery, and prefers to let the patient heal before any fill.

my doc does not generally fill at surgery either...it was just a small amount. I remember distinctly hearing they put some in one and not the other...that is why I asked...Thanks for all the responses!

Everyone that has ever said they had a small prefill has had a Lap Band. However, some surgeons decide to put them in empty. This is anecdotal but it is what I have noticed to be uniform across everyone that spoke about it.

Realize bands are generally empty (mine was definitely empty), no one has ever contradicted this but please speak up if you have had a prefill with a Realize band.

I actually had an unfill the day after surgery.

My doctor says that before surgery, he takes the empty band and flushes it with saline to check for leaks, etc. He lets the saline drip out and leaves whatever little bit is left in the band.

I was miserable the day after surgery and he thought it might be that there was too much. He withdrew 2cc's, which is apparently more than is usually left in there at the time of surgery. I instantly felt better and have been great since then. (I'm two weeks post-op.)

He said I might be one of those people who won't need a fill or won't need very much.

I'm not sure if it's the surgeon or the band, but my Realize band was completely unfilled when it was placed.