Band adjustments | Lap Band Fills

Proper adjusting of your lap band is just as important as the band surgery itself. If you do not have a series of successful band adjustments, you are very likely to be unsuccessful losing weight.

At most practices, lap band fills are done using a cookbook or a recipe for a typical band fill for a patient at your stage post-op. Many times this is sufficient, but more often than not, these types of band fills can be inadequate to suit your needs. It may be too tight which will require you to come back in a few days and have fluid removed, or it may be too loose and you won't feel the restriction that you need.

At BMI of Texas all of our lap band fills are done under direct vision using a fluoroscopy (x-ray) machine. Advantages to this method include:

• Easier port access - We can see it, so it is very easy and only takes a few seconds. This leads to less pain when we access your lap band port.
• Personalized band adjustments - We can see how your lap band is working. We will give you the exact amount of fluid that you need. This leads to maximized weight loss potential and less need for band unfills.
• Better understanding of your band and how it works - Band fills can be very reflective visits. Occasionally, using our x-ray, we are able to detect eating behaviors that are less than ideal that may be adversely affecting your weight loss journey. We can use this time to modify your eating and help "re-teach" you healthy eating habits.
• Early detection of complications or conditions requiring intervention thus preventing potentially harmful long term side-effects. While adjustable band surgery is very safe, there are life-long risks of slippage, erosion, or swallowing problems. At BMI, all of your lap band adjustments are done using the fluoro machine and these potential complications are in effect tested each and every time you have a band adjustment. In this way these issues can be identified and prevented or treated before they become a difficult problem.

The amount of radiation exposure is minimal. It is usually only a few seconds of radiation each visit.

If you are afraid of needlesticks, we offer EMLA-cream to anesthetize the skin prior to band adjustments.

Occasionally, patients come to the band fill clinic and request "just to take a look" at their band to see if it needs to be tighter. That is the beauty of having x-ray – we can see how tight your band is at any given moment.

Our personalized aftercare program at BMI of Texas will help you maximize your weight loss after Lap Band surgery. We welcome patients from other practices.

Call for your appointment today, 210-615-8500!