Has anyone had experience with a Single Incision procedure? I am being banded Monday and was asked last Wednesday if I wanted to switch to Realize with the single incision. I just couldn't get enough information fast enough to swith from Lap Band to Realize. I hope I did not make a mistake.

I love my band!:smile2: I have the Lap Band 10cc

Last Monday, my doctor asked me to do the single incision surgery for my Lapband surgery tomorrow. From what he told me, this will benefit me in recovery time, scarring, and pain. He explained to me that this is the same surgery and no additional risk, but it is done at one incision site with smaller instruments and the port will be on the right side instead of the left. This single incision site is one of the places they would have used during the normal 4-5 incision surgery, so if having difficulties, they can easily transfer to the normal surgery.

I hope this helps..

How many times has your particular surgeon done the single incision procedure? I would definitely find this out. I won't be a guinea pig for anyone. I personally feel like the doctor's need adequate room to work and place the band correctly, which means more incisions. I hope they study those that get the single incision so we can see if they have more slips down the line. Correct placement of the band is vital to its success.

I know that my surgeon has done single incision surgery on "smaller" lap band patients. He mentioned that he was either looking into getting a smaller retractor or something in order to make the single incision more likely? He is also able to do gastric bypass repairs without incisions by going through the mouth. I'm hoping for a max of three incisions.

Wouldn't it be neat if they could do lapband by mouth too.

I attended a seminar where another surgeon bragged to his nurse that he completed either a DS or bypass using one incision, but after it was completed he did a second incision just to verify his work? This was the same surgeon that I have read here had two patients whose bands slipped and he then tried to push a DS or other surgery instead of repair.

So I guess whether we like it or not we could be guinea pigs while we're under. I guess your surgeon was just being upfront with you that he/she was gonna give it a shot? They can always make more holes later I guess.

http://www.advancedweightlosssolutions.com/default for info.

Edited July 5, 200917 yr by emmylou

I was banded on Jun 8. My surgeon did a single incision through the navel. Supposedly you heal quicker. I haven't had any problems, no major gas pains, and the usual discomfort the first week, so I guess it was a good move in my case. My surgeon asked me whether I prefered the Lap-Band or Reliable Band, and I left the choice to him. Good luck!