Dolittle

Yes, you can come alone. The OCC is with you all the way. A lot of patients come alone and there's never been any issues that I've heard of.

If you have internet you can sign up for FaceBook. If you want to remain anonymous, do it under a fake name. But, there's 4 or 5 OCC groups that are all patients of the OCC and can give you want as far as information.

Call you lapband doctor, asap.

Hi Northfilly, This group was started back in 2006 and was 100% lapbanders. Time and new procedures have kind of left this group in the stone ages. So your not going to find much here on the Sleeve or Placation surgery. I'd suggest the OCC Facebook groups for a little more info. But, I can say since Placation surgery can be reversed, going with the Sleeve surgery should be easy for the OCC.

You should be concentrating on your pre-op diet. Then starting some sort of exercise regime till surgery and after surgery. Remember,, what you do before and after surgery is is key to your success.

If that doesn't help you, The OCC offers a procedure that surgically resizes the pouch. The ObesityControlCenter.com website can give you more details.

There are a few of these reset diets out there on the web. For some reason,, I can't get the reset diet loaded on the OCC forum. Just Google "Sleeve Reset" or "Pouch reset" or go to the OCC website/Facebook support groups and search.

Have you tried the pouch reset?

The OCC is also on other social media platforms, like Facebook, contact an OCC coordinator for more info. This Forum is not as active as the Facebook groups.

I can suggest that your husband join the OCC forum and we also have several Facebook support groups. He can sort of stay in the background and observe other OCC patients with their journey and it could make him more on board. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1033707290046323/

Have you tried the Sleeve rescue diet? There's also another option, the Sleeve revision surgery that's offered by the OCC.

The OCC has a post op schedule they follow. Your OCC surgery coordinator should be able to answer all your questions. I personally can't answer that question, but I can guess, I''m trying to remember mine, I'm thinking it was 3 days after surgery your on the way home. Call 1-866-893-8005 and talk to an OCC surgery coordinator.

Yes, there's only one airport. If your going with the OCC, go with what your surgery coordinator recommends. The surgery is easy peasy. No need for extra days.

You would be fine to come alone. Your in good hands if your having your surgery at the OCC. Plus you'll meet several other patients at the OCC the same day as your surgery. You'll travel in a group to the hotel for recovery, meet others who had or will be having surgery. It's kind of like you'll be surrounded by OCC patients.

Saw this article,, what does everyone think about this subject? https://www.statnews.com/2019/10/27/weight-loss-surgery-preteens/

We are proud to be one of the few Certified Hospital and Surgeon bariatric practices in the world. Read more about our Surgeon and Hospital Accreditations on our website: https://bit.ly/2NGTJtr

I'd be consulting your lap band doctor. 7 years is about the life span for the lap band. Seems patients start having issues with the band and opt to switch to the sleeve. Get it checked out ASAP.

Congrats go to the OCC for recently receiving their re-certification. JCI certification confirmation 2019.pdf

Sorry, but 99.99% of the gastric sleeve patients on this forum are self pay. You are in what we call "insurance hell" for weight loss surgery patients. If you're an insurance patient in the USA, you're not going to find much information here concerning the insurance hoops and requirements that may pertain to you. Here's some food for thought, there have been numerous patients that had insurance but still chose the OCC for their surgery and were self pay. Many found out that with all the insurance hoops and other requirements, plus their portion of the deductible and co-pay, the OCC and its award winning bariatric program was a better choice. www.obesitycontrolcenter.com

If you were banded in 2003, my opinion is that your way past the average life of the band. Most patients of that era only got 6 to 10 years out of the band before having issues. The OCC uses the Marriott in TJ for the patients and companions to stay post surgery. For info pertaining to reflux, hernias, etc, contact the OCC and talk to one of the surgery coordinators at 866-376-7849

A tummy tuck is where a plastic surgeon will cut and carve with a scalpel to remove excess skin around your waist line. Liposuction is where a special thin hollow rod is inserted under your skin that has the capabilities to cut and suck fat deposits without removing outer skin. My best advise is to go to Youtube and which a few videos on these subjects.

There's pros and cons to each. The Plication surgery and sleeve are really similar. On the Plication, they fold and sew the stomach to the same size of a sleeved stomach. It can be reversed, or say undone. Sleeve is permanent, you can't undo it. But most have better results with the sleeve than the plication. If you consult your surgeon, they can give you a better perspective and some statistics.

No need to exchange money to Peso's, everyone takes American and Canadian money, especially if your just using it as tip money. Places like Walmart will do an exchange right at the cash register.

I loved my band,, but after years of high maintenance and fills, unfills and acid reflux. I found it time to dump the band and go with the sleeve.