Newbie

[Cammi]

Good Morning everyone, just want to introduce myself. My name is Cammi and I will be banded on 12/11/06. I will be getting the VG band anyone have any information on this. I am getting nervous I heard I takes longer to get to your sweet spot.

[Kat817]

Hi Cammi--Welcome to b2g!!! I cannot give you any info on the band, just wanted to say Hi....you made a great decision in banding---I love my band!
Welcome!
Kat

[Idahobeauty]

Hi Cammi and welcome. I don't know about the VG band but there are some people here who can share that with you.

[Goannabanda]

Hi Cammi, Welcome from Down Under. I don't have a VG band, I have an AP band, whihc is larger again. There are plenty of people around with the VG type who can help you out.

Congratulations on your decision and good luck.

["Just Jess"]

Welcome, Cammi! I am new as well... My sugery is scheduled for Dec. 21st -- so you go first! Let me know how it is.

Now, I have an INCREDIBLY stupid question... in all my reading and research I did not come across "VG" or "AP".. am I missing something HUGE??? I thought a lap-band was a lap-band!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH NO! :eek:

[lil'bitty]

Hey Cammi, Welcome!! I am fairly new as well and will be banded TOMORROW!!!!!! We're in this together!

[JDru]

Welcome Cammi and good luck with your surgery on December 11. I think VG is the brand?? There is also Inamed and the AP band that Anna was talking about. If you do a search of VG bands you might find something...

["Just Jess"]

Got it! Good suggestion, J!

I found that the VG has a "Larger Perimeter Area"... read more at:
http://www.allerganandinamed.com/products/obesity/us/clinician/lapband/prodinfo.html

["Just Jess"]

Good Morning everyone, just want to introduce myself. My name is Cammi and I will be banded on 12/11/06. I will be getting the VG band anyone have any information on this. I am getting nervous I heard I takes longer to get to your sweet spot.

Cammi, did you doctor suggest the VG to you? Because I do not recall ever being given a choice and was just curious how it came up.
THANKS!

Jess

[Goannabanda]

Jameza - not a stupid question at all. Sorry, it's easy to slip into "band shorthand" from time to time. Inamed makes both the VG (Vanguard) bands and the AP bands. AP bands are just new out on the market. I started a thread on them as I don't know much about them and as far as I know, I am one of the few bandits around with one so far - http://www.band2gether.net/showthread.php?t=826

Hope this helps!

[tattooedsuess]

I have the VG band due to a large muscular stomach. I have still been able to lose consistently once I received my 1st fill.

Best of luck to you!

[Cammi]

[quote=Jameza40;16883]Welcome, Cammi! I am new as well... My sugery is scheduled for Dec. 21st -- so you go first! Let me know how it is.

Now, I have an INCREDIBLY stupid question... in all my reading and research I did not come across "VG" or "AP".. am I missing something HUGE??? I thought a lap-band was a lap-band!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH NO! :eek:[/quote

That's not a stupid question, the VG band was approved in 2004 it is for larger people like me :eek:

[Cammi]

I have the VG band due to a large muscular stomach. I have still been able to lose consistently once I received my 1st fill.

Best of luck to you!


Thank you so much for responding I have been so worried that I would not lose with a bigger band.

[Tricia K.]

*waves to Cammi* :wave: Welcome to B2G!

[503-250]

Hi Cammi,

Good news bad news...the band size is actually determined by the structure of all the soft mushy stuff inside. I am 6'3" and was 503lbs and have the VG, but I also have met women who are MUCH smaller (not a hard job) and have the same band as well as men almost my size with the smaller 4cc band. It's just want fits your anatomy.

As far as fills and working it into your sweet spot, mine took forever, but two women in my local lapband group had no problems. Again...I think its all about individuals.


Welcome to the Losers club...hope you will make yourself comfy and stick around.

["Just Jess"]

OK - I asked about this at my pre-op session tonight and the nurse practioner explained that the VG is for people who have a thicker stomach wall and although the VG holds 10 cc's of saline and the regular Inamed band holds only 4 cc's... they are filled proportionately... which means, while I am getting a 0.25 cc fill - you may get getting a 2 cc fill. :)


They also said that the patient does not get to decide, it is the surgeon who makes the decision on which band you get - since it is completely dependant on your inner workings!!!

I am learning SO MUCH here!!

Jess

[tattooedsuess]

Jess,

You are very correct. My surgeon said that she doesn't make a decision on what size of band to place on her patients until she has us opened up. Then she places the correct size band according to our stomach wall thickness.

You are also correct on the fill amount too, and that it's not up to the patient. Also about the amount being proportionate to the band size. My first and only fill was 3ccs in my VG band.

You are catching on way quick girl! Go you!

["Just Jess"]

GO ME!!! :woot: :woot:


Jess,

You are very correct. My surgeon said that she doesn't make a decision on what size of band to place on her patients until she has us opened up. Then she places the correct size band according to our stomach wall thickness.

You are also correct on the fill amount too, and that it's not up to the patient. Also about the amount being proportionate to the band size. My first and only fill was 3ccs in my VG band.

You are catching on way quick girl! Go you!

[PhotoNut]

Hi Cammi, welcome to b2g. It looks like everyone is giving you great adivce and information so far. Here's a bit more you can check out:
http://band2gether.net/showthread.php?t=278

Also, look through the threads in the b2g for Lapband Adjustments (Fills) forum (http://band2gether.net/forumdisplay.php?f=18)for more info from people who have the VG band.

Best wishes for a happy and successful band journey. Keep us posted on your progress.