Dr. Barker has been chosen along with only a few handpicked surgeons to be trained in a new type of banding that will soon be made available to his patients. The REALIZE band was created by Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, and was approved for use at the end of first quarter in 2007.

The REALIZE band, in its three year clinical trial leading up to FDA approval, was shown to be one of the safest weight loss procedures, In this three year clinical trial, patients lost an average of 40% of their excess weight after one year and were able to reduce their average BMI from 44 to 36 within the first year and were also able to maintain this loss three years later. In the same study, 94% of patients saw their obstructive sleep apnea completely resolved. A moderate number also saw their type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure resolved and 78% saw a marked improvement in their high cholesterol! These are impressive results, and should give you hope for positive events that you could experience after your surgery. Tracking your medical statistics before and after the surgery will allow you to measure your progress.

REALIZE Band Benefits

One of the biggest benefits of the REALIZE band is that it is easily adjustable to ensure you are losing weight at a healthy rate (about 1-2 pounds per week). It is important to monitor your weight loss and medical condition, which is where having a support system in place becomes crucial. The REALIZE band also claims to have the lowest leak rate and be the safest product on the market. Also, the Realize band can be removed if necessary, however, the removal is not simple and weight gain is likely for those who have the band removed and do not maintain healthy eating habits. The REALIZE band also offers a support system via its website. It helps you set and track goals, keep track of your eating habits, learn new recipes and provides lots of resources and information. You don't have to go it alone if you find support from others who have experienced the same issues and have been where you are before.

The REALIZE band is a "one size fits all" product that is placed around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small pouch that contains about 4oz of food. The band is inserted into the abdominal cavity via small incisions made under general anesthesia. After the band has been placed, the surgeon will place a small "port" just underneath the skin a couple inches below your rib cage. The placement of the port will be decided by your surgeon and will depend on your body shape. The port is connected to the band by a tube, it is this tube that allows easy adjustment of the band size.

Adjustments to the REALIZE band are made by either injecting a saline solution into the port or removing saline, also via the port. An adjustment where saline is added to the band is commonly referred to as a "fill". Adjustments are designed to ensure that you are feeling adequately full and that your weight loss occurs at a healthy rate. You should expect to lose about 1-2 pounds per week and feel full after eating about 4 ounces of food. Correct nutrition and following your physicians guidelines will help you maximize the benefits of your band and may minimize the frequency of adjustments.

When your healthcare professional fills the band, the saline will travel through the port, into a tube connected to your band. Your first adjustment will normally take place about 4-6 weeks after surgery, this is to give your stomach time to heal. It is important to remember that the band itself provides some restriction. You may not require a tightening of the band at the 4-6 week point. Listening to the signals your band gives you is critical to your success.

More on the REALIZE Band

The REALIZE band is composed completely of biocompatible materials that form a flexible silicone band that is used to divide the stomach into two parts. As the smaller upper pouch is filled with food, your body recognizes a feeling of hunger sooner than normal. This upper pouch is designed to hold approximately four ounces, or half of a cup, of food at a time. The tightness of the band can be adjusted as necessary, allowing your weight loss experience to be completely customized to meet your weight loss goals. The surgery required to place the band, laparoscopic surgery, involves making relatively small incisions that reduce your overall recovery time, compared to more invasive surgical weight loss procedures.

Combining the procedure with eating several smaller meals that are nutritionally balanced produces outstanding weight loss results. As with any weight loss program, you should of course take the advice of the medical professionals in charge of your healthcare, and follow their advice about how, when, what, and how much to eat following the REALIZE band procedure. Some of the lifestyle changes you will need to make include chewing slowly with smaller bites, adding protein to your meals and drinking extra water.

Use our site as your ultimate resource for information about this exciting new procedure. Here you can find the latest news and updates about how the REALIZE band is helping others to lose weight and realize their dreams. Spend some time browsing our resources to discover more about the REALIZE band and how it can work for you and contact us when you are ready to learn about your weight loss surgery options. There is no need to waste your valuable time searching across the internet for the information that you want. We have done the research for you and gathered everything you need to know in one convenient place.

About Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., develops and markets advanced medical devices for minimally invasive and open surgical procedures. The company focuses on procedure-enabling devices for the interventional diagnosis and treatment of conditions in general and bariatric surgery, as well as gastrointestinal health, gynecology and surgical oncology. More information on the company can be found at www.ethiconendo.com.