Tina Said:

Lap Band Surgery has anyone had it done in the Middle East?

We Answered:

I'm trying to lose weight too and it's sooo hard. My aunt is using a weight loss product and it's really working for her. I'm gonna try it and I recommend you try it too. Check their website at
http://www.newlproject.info , my aunt got a free trial and paid only 6.95$ shipping and handling.

Ana Said:

What are your thoughts on lap band surgery?

We Answered:

Before most surgeons perform any type of obesity surgery, the patient must undergo counseling and education to prepare the patient for the drastic life-style changes he or she will have to make. The surgeon wants the surgery to be success full and select candidates carefully

Barbara Said:

For the people who have had the realize band weight loss surgery?

We Answered:

Wow, not one person answering your question!!! The appt will cost anywhere from 350-400 dollars. Depending on the person you go to they may have you pay the whole fee up front then submit through the insurance company, or they make make you pay a partial fee, submit the rest to your insurance company and then if there is a balance, you will be responsible for the balance.

Good luck with the surgery!

Wanda Said:

is splenda considered a no calorie sugar substitute?

We Answered:

Splenda is an excellent no calorie artificial sweetener. It actually beat out sugar in an iced tea taste test.

Dolores Said:

Lab Band VS Realize Band Surgery?

We Answered:

I've not had the surgery, but I work for a company that does LAP-BAND and REALIZE Band surgeries. The two devices are very similar, and we had one surgeon here who would say that he would put one in his daughter and the other in his son.

The primary difference is the shape of the soft, inner band. The LAP-BAND's latest model has a series of pillows that is designed to provide more even restriction. The REALIZE Band is a soft, continuous pillow that is a little wider, which might prevent band slippage.

The ports are very similar, though the REALIZE port is a little smaller. The primary difference with the ports is that the REALIZE Port has a nifty applicator that affixes the port with the push of a button, where the LAP-BAND port is typically sewn in. That's more a benefit for the surgeon, though.

Both have some pretty comprehensive online tools, so I'd suggest you check them out and see which is more comfortable. Depending on your surgeon, he or she might make the decision for you, or he or she may offer only one of the devices. You might talk with your surgeon about why that practice chose that device.

Also, I saw that you had a USMC tag in your name. If you have TRICARE, it does cover the band. We have some detailed information about TRICARE coverage of the band at http://www.moreoflife.com/military

Regina Said:

have you had the realize or lap band surgery?

We Answered:

I had Lap-Band surgery in March of 2008. Nothing I did all my life helped me to lose weight, so I thought this would be the easy way out...boy, was I wrong. I was 60 years old , 5'3" tall and weighed in at 270 LBS. when I started the process. This is NOT a speedy way to lose the weight because you must first find a bariatric doctor who does these sort of procedures. You must first go to a seminar
usually put on by the doctor where he discusses what the surgery options are. At the seminar they will make you fill out a form with
information they will be able to contact you later. Someone will call you to ask if you understood what the doctor said, if you had any other questions and most importantly what insurance do you have that will cover the enormous cost of the surgery and the three years of follow up visits you will have to make. Yes, I said three years ! If you proceed they will give you a long list of
assignments you must do before you get seen again. Some of those are : must see a dietician, must go to a psychiatrist that will evaluate the reasons why you think this surgery is for you, you must go to a seminar by a nutritionist, must lose a certain amount of weight before the surgery can be done so as there is room away from the liver to put the band over the top of your stomach ( the "pouch" will be about the size of your thumb when completed ), must get a complete physical and blood work, and this is just the beginning.If you really hustle to make all the necessary appointments you could be done in about nine months, then you have to wait for a date when he can get you in
for the procedure. You must take a solid six weeks off to heal and you are advised not to lift anything for that time. It is recommended that if you intend to ever get pregnant again not to do this because it will interfere with getting your weight down.
This is not fool proof and it is a slow way to get the weight off, hence the three year span. I have lost about 50 + LBS. in the 19 months and I have been stuck with a five LB. up/down scale reading for months. Things the doctors' office will not tell you is that for about 30 per cent of patients this procedure does not work. You must get regular shots in your stomach (port) of a solution my system rejected and I became very sick by not being
able to keep even water down. I thought I was unique until I went on line and Googled "Lap Band Surgery/ complaints" and a ton of people just like me wrote in with their horror stories. I printed off the top 40 pages and took them to my next doctor's visit asking him if he knew about these problems. He stated he did to the point that many bariatric doctors are no longer doing the Lap-Band procedure. Several times my doctor recommended that I have the surgery reversed but the alternative is to have my stomach cut away and by-passed....too radical for me !! I still have the band in me and still having problems coping with what I can and can not eat, mostly to stay pain free I eat very soft, bland and ground up food. Eating away from home is a nightmare, especially in a restaurant. You pray what you eat will stay down and you don't have to make a mad dash for the restroom. You learn to make a mental note where the restroom is just in case ! Are you aware all the foods you must give up if
you do this ? Nothing carbonated (including sodas) because the carbonation bubbles will expand in your pouch and take up the room for any food. Trust me, from experience you do not want to see what happens, the pain is unbelievable ! Alcohol is out,
caffeine is out ( coffee) spicy food is dangerous, soupy food is not good, sweets are a definite no-no, chocolate is out . Basically what you are put on is a high protein diet...eggs,fish, meat, cheese,nuts,cottage cheese and lots of beans , veggies ,
water and protein powder... for the rest of your life. I'd kill for a cold Coke, some champagne or an O'Dool's beer about now !! Am I sorry I did it ??? I don't know. It's nice to be 50 LBS. lighter
but what I have to do to keep it off is tough. My purpose in writing is to just warn you to ask tons of questions and prepare yourself with knowledge because they will not tell you everything up front. I hope this helped...and good luck !

Amy Said:

What's the difference between lap band and realize band?

We Answered:

From what I've heard, the realize band just has more support resources than the lap band, but they're really the same, the realize band may have slightly fewer complications.