Hi All,

I am still reeling from the insurance approval and surgery date, but now I have to decide on which band to get! It's funny, because I have read and researched and read some more about each band, but I am still totally on the fence! I have to make up my mind by Tuesday, as this is my preop nutritional class and my preop appointment with my doc. So, I know this issue is definitely going to come up.

Also, the insurance girl at the office said she will have to know so they can order it. I was set on the lap band at first; then when I saw the Realize C come out, I liked the look of it, almost decided with that until I asked my surgeon about it. After he said he and some other of his colleages didn't like it, then I was on the fence again. So, back to square one again on which one. I heard some people with the realize band don't have as many things get stuck, but is it really true? I am just so confused and will keep reading posts and such and maybe I can make a decision before Tuesday. Wish me luck! :sad:)

My opinion is to let my surgeon decide. If he has good experience with Allergan's Lapband, I'd go with that. If he has any doubts about Realize in his experience, I'd tell him to choose which one he has the most expereince with.

Goodness, I didnt even know there were different bands?!? Is that a bad thing !

Well, I can tell you honestly I'm not sure if it's a huge difference. My hospital had switched to Realize and that's what I was excited about getting. I ended up changing to a different surgeon in the group b/c mine went on early maternity leave. Anyway when I met with my new surgeon she was going through the Realize certification because she was on maternity leave when the rest of the surgeons were certified, but thought she would be done by my date. Well, the week before my surgery the coordinator calls to see if I wanted to push out my date a month because she hadn't finished certification. Of course at that point I was like no just put a friggin' band in me!!!!

I had all the stuff set on the Realize web site, but got the lap band kit after surgery and their site is good too.

Good luck with your decision- I think I would would just go with what your surgeon is comfortable with.

Hi All,

I am still reeling from the insurance approval and surgery date, but now I have to decide on which band to get! It's funny, because I have read and researched and read some more about each band, but I am still totally on the fence! I have to make up my mind by Tuesday, as this is my preop nutritional class and my preop appointment with my doc. So, I know this issue is definitely going to come up.

Also, the insurance girl at the office said she will have to know so they can order it. I was set on the lap band at first; then when I saw the Realize C come out, I liked the look of it, almost decided with that until I asked my surgeon about it. After he said he and some other of his colleages didn't like it, then I was on the fence again. So, back to square one again on which one. I heard some people with the realize band don't have as many things get stuck, but is it really true? I am just so confused and will keep reading posts and such and maybe I can make a decision before Tuesday. Wish me luck! :tongue:)

Process of elimination...the surgeon and colleagues do not prefer Realize C so that says a mouthful. Good luck on your banding!

I don't think it matters, at this point...data so far doesn't lend support to one or the other. I have a lap band because my surgeon said that's the one he trained with and prefers. I defer to his judgment. He did make clear he preferred it just because he was used to it and not because it was inherently "better" than than the realize band. So far I love mine...

You might think of it like this...ask your surgeon which one she's most comfortable working with and use that one.

I got whatever my doctor stuck in me! lol And I truely have no idea what that is... :tongue:

I don't think it matters, at this point...data so far doesn't lend support to one or the other. I have a lap band because my surgeon said that's the one he trained with and prefers. I defer to his judgment. He did make clear he preferred it just because he was used to it and not because it was inherently "better" than than the realize band. So far I love mine...

You might think of it like this...ask your surgeon which one she's most comfortable working with and use that one.

Thank you, Monkey. I will probably do that. I told my husband today that I had decided on Realize, but I still have to meet with my surgeon on Tuesday for my preop visit. I had asked him about the Realize C band and he told me if I wanted one he would put it in, but he didn't like them. Later, I spoke to a nurse and she told me the reason some docs don't like the C band is because they are harder to put in.

Other than the C band, my doctor told me it's like picking Chevy or Ford. So, from what I gather, it's just whichever you want. (shrugs) But, I will talk to him about it more when I see him on Tuesday and I will ask him which one he is more comfortable using.

Thank you again/ :tongue:)

I got whatever my doctor stuck in me! lol And I truely have no idea what that is... :tongue:

LOL Could be better that way not knowing I guess LOL