The first bands were implanted in Sweden in 1985. The first laparoscopic band was placed in September 1993. After extensive trials in the United States the FDA granted formal approval for marketing to Inamed in June of 2001. The first two bands were the 9.75 cm and 10 cm band and later the Vanguard band was brought in. Inamed was purchased by Allergan two years ago and they recently came out with the new AP (Advanced Platform) band. Johnson and Johnson purchased the rights to the Swedish band, and received approval for marketing in November 2007.
The most advanced band currently in the U.S. is the AP band. It has a shape of 360 degrees, allowing easy placement around the stomach. This band, in some international studies, has shown much higher initial weight loss than any other band in the world market today.
The Realize band does not have this natural round shape (see above). This leads to potential band failure by the balloon rubbing against itself. In one series, of 20 patients, four bands had to be removed because of balloon failure. To a patient, this means another laparoscopic surgery to replace the band.
Advances in the Realize band are not in the band itself, but in the port and in the closing mechanism. Until they solve the inner balloon issue, it is unlikely that the Realize band will be widely adopted in the U.S.
The older Inamed bands (9.75 and 10 cm and the newer VG) bands are the most widely implanted bands in the U.S. and have a long history of safety. They have been supplanted by the AP band in the U.S. and Australia.
All bands are made of a solid silicon base, that is inert to the human body. They are designed to not degrade and last a lifetime. Technical problems with the band are typically with the port or tubing. This results in a simple outpatient revision, and is reported to occur 1.8% of the time. Allergan has reported no balloon failures, unless the surgeon inadvertently punctures the balloon with a needle.
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