|
Have Questions about the Realize™ Personalized Banding Solution?
Still have questions about the REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution? Below
are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions. If you have
questions about obesity or bariatric surgery in general, visit www.bariatricedge.com.
What are the benefits of gastric banding?
In addition to weight loss, gastric banding can resolve or improve the
following obesity-related conditions.
What are the benefits of REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution?
The REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution is designed to help you lose weight
and transform your health.
In a 3-year clinical trial, 224 patients lost a mean of 40 percent of their
excess weight at one year; 228 patients lost 43 percent of their excess weight
loss at three years. In the same trial, patients were able to
reduce their (average) BMI from 44 to
36 in the first year after surgery. Patients were able to maintain their
reduced BMI through their third year.
The REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution also offers several product and
surgery benefits. The REALIZE Band is most often implanted using laparoscopic
surgery − a procedure that involves smaller incisions and less tissue trauma
than open surgery − resulting in shorter hospital stays, faster recovery,
smaller scars, and less pain than open surgical procedures. The REALIZE Band
is adjustable so if the rate of weight loss is not acceptable, the band can be
adjusted to make you feel full after eating less food.
These are just some of the benefits of the REALIZE Personalized Banding
Solution. Check out the Benefits page
for more detailed information.
What are the risks and complications?
There are risks associated with gastric banding surgery. You can think of
risks in the following way. Some are associated with abdominal surgery, some
are specific to a gastric band, and some may be unique to you. Your weight,
age, and medical history play a significant role in determining your specific
risks.
Risks associated with any general abdominal surgery include, but are not
limited to:
-
bleeding
-
shoulder and back pain
-
pneumonia
-
complications due to anesthesia and medications
-
deep vein thrombosis
-
injury to the stomach, esophagus, or surrounding organs
-
infection
-
pulmonary embolism
-
stroke or heart attack
-
death
Visit the Risks and Complications page for
a complete explanation of the risks and complications associated with gastric
banding.
How do I know if I am eligible for the REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution?
You must meet the following criteria to qualify for gastric band surgery:
-
One of the following weight and health conditions must exist:
- BMI of 40 or greater
-
BMI of 35 or greater with at least one obesity-related health condition
(co-morbidity)
-
You must be at least 18 years old
-
You must have tried and failed at other methods of weight loss
Take the REALIZE Eligibility Quiz
to see if you are eligible for the REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution.
How do I select a surgeon to perform my REALIZE Band surgery?
First, you need to consider experience. Your surgeon should have experience
performing the gastric band procedure, specifically with the REALIZE Band. You
should also feel confident in your surgeon. You may want to take the
opportunity to speak with the surgeon's patients. Patients willing to refer
family, friends, and interested candidates are a good indication of the
surgeon's quality. Another good gauge of quality is a Center of Excellence
(COE) designation. COE programs and surgeons are judged by strict criteria to
ensure that they provide high-quality care. Another important factor to
consider is the surgeon's commitment to your success. Your surgeon should
provide long-term care with follow-up appointments, information, and support
resources.
Need help locating surgeons in your area?
Use our surgeon locator tool.
Do I qualify for insurance coverage for the surgery?
Because every insurance policy is unique, it's important that you contact your
benefits administrator and/or insurance company to thoroughly understand what
is and isn't covered through your plan. If you need help with understanding if
your insurance plan covers band surgery, learn more about insurance
assistance from REALIZE.
How will I pay for the REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution?
There are many options to consider when planning to pay for your surgery.
First, you should determine if your insurance will cover the surgery. The
REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution provides ways for you to understand if
your insurance covers banding surgery and to finance
all or part of the cost.
How often will my band have to be adjusted?
Because your doctor wants to make sure that your stomach completely heals from
the surgery, your first band adjustment won’t usually occur until 4-6 weeks
after your surgery. After that, your band will be adjusted as needed to ensure
that you feel satisfied when you eat and that you are losing weight gradually,
about 1-2 pounds per week. Typically, patients have several adjustments in the
first 12 – 18 months after surgery.
Once the band is placed around my stomach, will it cause me pain?
No. The band itself is a strong and flexible silicone structure. The inside of
the band has a soft balloon that comes in direct contact with the outside
lining of your stomach. During surgery, the surgeon will adjust the band so
that it will fit snug around your stomach. There are times when
people temporarily feel increased band restriction. These times may occur in
the morning, during allergy season, when under extreme stress, during a
menstrual cycle, or with a significant increase in altitude.
Is there a chance that the REALIZE Band could slip off my stomach?
The REALIZE Band is intended to be a long-term implant and has been shown to
be a safe and effective tool to help people lose weight. However, on rare
occasions, complications can develop. In a U.S. clinical study involving 276
REALIZE Band patients, cases of migration of the implant, which includes band
erosion, band slippage, and port displacement, was reported by 5.4 percent of
the patients (15 patients).
If I have the REALIZE Band, will it interfere with me getting pregnant?
The REALIZE Band is only implanted around your stomach; therefore, the band
should not affect the function of your reproductive organs or fertility. After
you become pregnant, the band may be loosened so that you and your baby can
get enough nutrients. Consult your doctor for more information.
As I lose weight, how often will the REALIZE Band have to be replaced with a smaller size?
The REALIZE Band only comes in one size, is positioned and adjusted just for
you, and is intended to be a long-term implant. Except in the event of a complication,
there is no evidence that the REALIZE Band will need to be replaced.
How much weight can I expect to lose with the REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution?
With the REALIZE Band, food digestion happens through normal digestion, and
weight loss occurs at a gradual rate of 1-2 pounds per week. In a 3-year
clinical trial, 224 patients lost a mean of 40% of their excess weight at one
year; 228 patients lost 43% of their excess weight loss at three years.
In the same trial, patients were able to reduce their (average) BMI
from 44 to 36 in the first year after surgery. Patients were able to maintain
their reduced BMI through their third year.
Can I eat whatever I want after I get the REALIZE Band?
With the REALIZE Band you will have to learn
to eat and drink in a new way. This means smaller portions and appropriate
food choices. You will need to eat approximately 4 ounces (1/2 cup) of food at
each meal, and you’ll want to avoid foods that can block your stoma like
bread, pineapple, celery, fibrous foods, and non-tender cuts of red meats.
What kind of support will I receive after surgery?
Support and aftercare will vary from one bariatric surgery practice to
another. In general, your bariatric program will provide follow-up
appointments, information, and support resources. Unique to the REALIZE
Personalized Banding Solution is Realize
mySuccess™, an interactive tool designed to aid your bariatric
program in its efforts to provide the best long-term care possible. REALIZE
mySUCCESS provides a way to manage, measure and track your recovery and
success. Make sure you ask your surgeon how they will use REALIZE mySUCCESS to
help you achieve your weight loss goals.
Will I have to exercise to ensure that I lose weight with the REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution?
Yes, you will need to adopt an active
lifestyle with the REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution in order to
achieve your health and weight loss goals. Don’t worry. You don’t have to run
a marathon – you just need to do 20 to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three to
four times each week.
| 
