I was told by surgeon I would be getting the Realize Band, found out he put in the Lap-Band.

Hello.

I was banded on the 7th of this month.  At my pre-op visit I was told I would have the Realize band put in. Today I got an email stating my surgeon would like me to view videos about the lap-band and life after the lap band.  The email was from my-emmi.com.  Is anyone familar with this webite. At the introduction the website had my name, date of birth and surgeon's name.  How would that site have that info if it wasn't given by my doctor?  Does this mean he put in the lap-band instead of the Realize that we talked about?  I go for a follow up tomorrow and will get the real info then.

I had to post though because I am feeling mad and disappointed. Am I jumping the gun or do I have the right to feel this way?

Jen

I don't know the benefits of one band over the other, but heck yeah, I would be angry. You paid money for one product and they gave you another.

Please post and let us know what happened.

Nicolle

i have viewed both videos for the band and bypass procedures, i believe the doctors office has to put in your info before they send it to you to verify who you are, so lets say if some one hacks your email they can't just veiw the videos without knowing those things about you. I suggest asking your doctor which band he put in, the band video may be for the lap band and he could of put in the realize band. im pretty sure they work the same way but are made by different companies. the video might just use the name lap band because the video could be put out by the company that manufacture the lap band. I had to view those videos months ago and i am now submitting my paper work for approval.i even still have both in my email to me its weird that you have viewed it now after you have had your operation. different doctors work different ways i suppose, good luck and i hope you find out what is inside of you!!

There is so little difference between the bands that it won't really matter in the long run. You will still lose weight and eventually get restriction. He must have thought that this is the one that would work best for you once he got inside.

Connie 

Thanks everyone for the replies ;)

It's true, there is very little difference and I can be successful with either. 

So it's not as big a deal as I thought I guess.

jen

I think the website www.my-emmi.com is the online support that comes with the Realize Band.

The one main difference between the Lap Band and the Realize Band is that the Realize Band comes with more support from the manufacture. Once you get the Realize Band, they send you information on accessing the online support information so you can track and follow your progress. It also allows your doctor to follow your progress too.

I think both bands probably perform the same, but Johnson&Johnson/Ethicon provides support to the patient afterwards, where as Allergan really offers nothing to the patient after they get the Lap Band

I am a nurse in a bariatric office, and I do have my lap band patients go to the emmi site.    You have to be registered by your  Drs. office to be able to view the emmi.    The information is useful regardless of the type of band you have, although I do not think the lap band co. would appreciate Realize patients being referred to it. 

You do need to call your Doctor and verify the type if band you have.  Just because they sent you a link to the emmi does not confirm you have the lap band. 

Also remember that the surgeon is the expert.  If he is inserting a band and feels a patient may do better with one band or the other you should trust his judgement.

They all work!

Karen