Just when you thought you've heard the end of my stupid questions, HERE COMES ANOTHER ONE!:Dancing_wub:

I see posts from people who say they have a 10cc band, for example, and I think, "how did they get that?" Do you tell the surgeon what size band you want, or does the surgeon decide that?

I go for my pre-admission testing on Friday. AGGGGH!:wink2:

hey oblong, it's my understanding from talking to my surgeon's office and other bandsters that the band size is decided by the surgeon during the surgery itself.

During the pre-op meeting, my surgeon showed me what type of band he installs. I think each surgeon has a size and type he is most familiar with. I found out that I have an Allergan AP band which holds 10cc of liquid. I don't think you have to "pick"!:wink2:

Good Luck!

Just when you thought you've heard the end of my stupid questions, HERE COMES ANOTHER ONE!:Dancing_wub:

I see posts from people who say they have a 10cc band, for example, and I think, "how did they get that?" Do you tell the surgeon what size band you want, or does the surgeon decide that?

I go for my pre-admission testing on Friday. AGGGGH!:wink2:

My surgeon made that decision. It looks like you and I started the process about the same weight. I have a 10cc band. Best of luck to you! I can tell you that getting banded is the best thing I've ever done for myself!

The surgeon decides. The Lap Band AP (for advanced platform...the latest version) comes in SMALL (holds 10 cc's) and LARGE (holds 14cc's) and depends on your innards. Some surgeons will let you pick the TYPE of band (realize or Lap band) but if there is a choice of size (old lap bands don't come in sizes, nor does the realize band) they make that call.

I also have the Lapband AP system, but I have the smallest which is the 4cc band. My surgeon says that they decide in the OR what size band they will place based on the size of your stomach and the amount of fat around it. I was 305lbs at surgery but he said that my stomach was small and I had hardly any fat around it...LOL! So he placed the smallest band and it took 3 fills and a total of 3cc before I had good restriction. This is amazing to me because the 4cc band is only 10cm long and it is tiny, I can't believe anything passes through it since it can only hold one more cc. I guess all our bodies are different. My surgeon gave me a choice before surgery of the Allergan band(Lapband) or the Johnson & Johnson band(Realize). He encouraged me to get the Lapband instead because it came in different sizes and he said he has had more success with the Lapband vs the Realize band.

Banded 11/04/2008 by Dr. Jose Rodriguez in Juarez, Mexico

I have the smallest Allergan band, 9.75" & 4cc.. My doc decides which one to put in, when he gets in there. He thought I would need the 10", but ends up I didn't.

I don't know anything about the Realize band though, so no help there.

The only decision I made was which Band I wanted. I did not get to select the size of the band, which for me is a 10cc.

My doc decided when he got in there. My friend and I went in on the same day, at the same weight and height. She got the 4 cc, I got the 10 cc. And the funny thing is, I was smaller waisted than her.. Go figure.

Yep, ditto above. Just had my surgeon's consult and I got to select between the Realize or the Lap Band (but not all docs offer both. I chose the LB and he will decide which of the two sizes to use when he sees my innards (not always a correlation to your 'outards'/weight).

Ok, so now I am a bit lost, my doctor said that he will use a 12 cc, it doesn't seem like anyone has that size. Anyone know why he might opt for that?

Check with your surgeon, but I'm pretty sure he's talking about the larger Lap Band. It holds 14, but 2 of those are in the tubing/port (I've seen others here say the same). The Lap Band is put in with several cc's in it already (usually 2cc's- none of this is in the band, it's in the tubing, so that's probably why he's saying 12). Just ask if he's talking about the Lap Band APL (L=large, 14 cc ttl) or APS (S=standard/small 10 cc ttl). The old Lap Band had 4cc's (no longer in use, but you'll see some here mention it as they had surgery when it was available).

The new Realize C only goes up to 11cc (only being tested by a few surgeons now, trial stage), and the old Realize one which is still being used everywhere is 9cc ttl. It is put in empty.