The week before I went for my first fill my very close friend's mother, who had the band 1 year ago (locally) discovered her band wasn't even attached. It was not around the stomach, it was like the letter "C". She had complained to the doc for the whole time that she wasn't losing weight. He kept blowing her off saying it's not bypass, it takes time. He could withdraw all the fluid from previous fills so they knew there was no leak. Well he FINALLY did a barium swallow, same as flouro, and discovered the problem. Now she needs additional surgery and she doesn't know if she has to now have the bypass or if the band can be saved since it's grown into nearby tissues. I don't think I can ever go anywhere but the OCC now. If I have to wait until I've saved the money then so be it. I've paid too much for this and I don't want just anybody doing the maintenance.
I searched for cheap flights then made the fill appt, not the other way around. I'm still amazed at the price I got.