About Band Fills

Gastric band adjustments and band fills

Periodic adjustments to your band will ensure that you feel satisfied when you eat and that you keep losing weight gradually, about 1 to 2 pounds per week. The REALIZE^® Adjustable Gastric Band is one-size-fits-all, which means your bariatric surgeon won't have to decide which size to use during your surgery.

Band adjustments help you meet your weight loss goals

The REALIZE Band is adjustable, which allows your surgeon to personalize your band fit over time. After an adjustment, you'll be satisfied with less food so you can keep losing weight gradually (1 to 2 pounds per week).

Adjusting your band fit over time

Your first band adjustment will probably be scheduled about 1 week after you begin to eat solid food (4 to 6 weeks after surgery), to ensure that your stomach is healed.⁸ As you lose weight, your REALIZE Band fit will change. Periodic band adjustments help ensure that you stay on track to meet your weight loss goals.

Just 5 to 10 minutes

Fast and easy band adjustments take place at your surgeon's office or bariatric clinic—and they do not require more surgery. An adjustment in which fluid is added is referred to as a "fill." In this case a small amount of saline is added through the REALIZE Port, which is located in the abdomen, just under the skin. The saline travels through the tube and into the band, making the band fit more snugly around your stomach. This reduces the size of the opening between the upper and lower stomach pouches and causes food to empty from your upper stomach pouch more slowly. That's why you'll feel full sooner and stay satisfied longer after a band fill. An adjustment can also involve removing saline from the band through the port.

Your band adjustment schedule

There is no set schedule for band adjustments because each person's needs are different. Listening to your band (paying attention to physical signs) and tracking your weight loss will help you to know when it may be time for an adjustment.

Use the REALIZE mySUCCESS^® Program to track your weight, your measurements, and what you eat. If you notice that you haven't lost weight in several weeks, it may be time for a band fill. REALIZE mySUCCESS^® can help you and your surgeon identify when weight loss levels off or is not occurring gradually, so you can schedule doctor visits as needed. The timing and number of band adjustments will be different for everyone. Patients generally need an average of four adjustments during their first year, two during their second year, and two during their third year after surgery.¹

REALIZE mySUCCESS^® is exclusive to the REALIZE^® Solution^† for gastric banding, gastric bypass, and sleeve gastrectomy. And it's just one example of the differences between REALIZE Band and the LAP-BAND System.

The REALIZE Port has the lowest profile of any injection port to minimize its appearance under the skin, even as you lose weight.¹

Learn more about band fills at an information seminar

If you're considering adjustable gastric banding, we encourage you to attend a free information seminar hosted by a REALIZE Band trained surgeon. You'll learn about surgical options, you'll meet bariatric team members who will support you before and long after your surgery, and you may also hear from patients who have had weight loss surgery. There's no pressure to make a commitment—and no better way to get the answers you're looking for. Of course, family and friends are welcome, too.

Use our seminar finder to locate a seminar in your area, and register to ensure that you have a seat because seminars often fill up.

Want to talk it over? We're ready to help. Call us at 1-866-300-1818 if you have questions or concerns or want help finding a seminar near you.