Gastric Sleeve with MiniMizer Band in SE Queensland

http://bariatricsolutions.com.au/banded-sleeve-gastrectomy/

greenfrog wrote:

So its like having a sleeve, with a band?
Very strange... that such a small skinny 'cable tie' can stop your stomach stretching, what about the other area above and below the tie?


randomly... I goggled minimiser band images and got an equal amount of band and bra pictures.... hehe

I think how it works is when you eat/drink obviously your stomach stretches, but then it comes up against the cable tie and that causes sensation of fullness????

So its like having a sleeve, with a band?
Very strange... that such a small skinny 'cable tie' can stop your stomach stretching, what about the other area above and below the tie?


randomly... I goggled minimiser band images and got an equal amount of band and bra pictures.... hehe

I had the Minimizer ring when I had my gastric sleeve 02.02.2015, and I - thankfully - have had no problems.
I still have good portion control!

I don't know which ring a sleever had put in about 3 years ago on here -- minimizer or maximizer band? but she has had a lot of troubles and biggest regret getting the ring in after about 2 years. The ring embedded into the stomach and can't be removed. I recall wishing I had the ring too as I have regained ALL of my weight and I can eat a lot and I am malnourished and need regular iron infusions now... But after hearing her story I'm glad I didn't get the ring.. please be careful  - the surgeon who tried to help her said it should never have been used.

Hi, 
I can only tell my personal experience. I had it put in with my sleeve opp 1/4/2015. After revising from a band.

I dont feel as though I have had any trouble to date.

 My surgeon is into yearly gastrectomys and I had mine last friday 15/4/16. I am doing the post op visit with him tomorrow. However I was given the report when I left the day surgery.

It stated my stomach and esophagus were normal and no follow up is required. That is only after one year though.

I think they have started doing them because so many people are putting on weight after a few years.

I will ask him tomorrow what the research is saying. There will definitely be 2 yr studies out for australians now.They have been using minimiser rings on Bi pass patients for a while now, so hopefully they are fairly safe. But we are on fairly new ground and we dont know what will happen in 20 years.

I'm in to get done on the 5th may atm. Still no real feedback on minimiser ring or how people are coping etc. hoping someone will add their experiences soon. I've read studies on imbarcation but not minimiser, will google more

Quote :

IT'S A CABLE TIE.

I haven't read your post, except for the above, and I sniggered 'cos that was exactly the first thing I thought of when I saw an image of it!

http://www.bariatricnews.net/?q=news/11837/maximise-weight-loss-minimizer-ring

You had your surgery in October and had the ring.
How did things go?
I'm being sleeved  at SJOGM 2nd Feb.  Haven't had the consult with Mr Watson yet, but he did talk about these at the info evening.

Couldn't think of the words for the life of me.
IT'S A CABLE TIE.

I'm having maximiser ring with sleeve in October (Perth).
I asked my surgeon about the maximiser ring and this is what happened in regards to my question.

He showed me a small strip of blue plastic that looks like one of those pull ties they use for handcuffs but nowhere near as long.  It has different width settings.

THE MAXIMISER RING GOES AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE SLEEVE BUT HAS NO CONTACT WITH THE SLEEVE.  THERE IS A DECENT GAP BETWEEN THE SLEEVE AND THE RING. (Surgeon showed me with model of a sleeve and a blue maximiser ring.)

IF YOU EAT TOO MUCH AND STRETCH THE SLEEVE TOO FAR OUTWARDS, THEN THE SLEEVE WILL HIT THE RING AND THEY WILL HAVE IT OUT WITH EACH OTHER.  (I'm picturing my kid hitting his trampoline net and being bounced right on back towards the middle.)
 
THE BELIEF IS THAT THE RING WILL WIN AND RESULT IN KEEPING A PRETTY LIL SLEEVE.

THERE IS NO PORT OR ANYTHING ELSE AND IT CAN BE REMOVED BY SURGERY.

ITS JUST AN OUTER RING LIKE THE ONE AROUND SATURN.

OR MAYBE I'LL THINK OF IT AS MY SLEEVE'S LITTLE HALO.

I believe there is some "discussion" on whether placing the ring too high around the sleeve may cause a bulge toward the top so some place it around the middle area.

I haven't been able to find any negative info about it and have been doing quite a bit of looking.  Have heard some good feedback though.

If you are in Perth then speak to Dr Leon Cohen at Mercy Bariatrics as he does the minimiser band.  It's a bit far for you to travel but he is brilliant along with his team.  He is the only one that I found that was completely knowledgeable and had statistics and facts.  He also listens to YOU not him telling you what to do.  He does a lot of international travel to meet up with other experienced surgeons to get the most up to date procedures too and he doesn't judge.  He will give you a goal and if you decide you want to beat it, he, along with his team will happily support you.

Hi, I had my sleeve done a couple of years ago and am struggling with weight gain as well. I've emailed my surgeon to ask what he thinks and to get more information on the minimiser. So I will let you know what he has to say. My concern is that it seems similar to a band, but I've read some very good research that was done overseas over a five year period which looks promising. Of late I've been doing the yo yo diet thing again which is depressing and I'm beginning to wonder if after this amount of time wether reducing calories is even worth it as I eat less than everyone. I have stretched my sleeve and don't regret having it done.
I'll post again when I hear something. I'm also in perth.

Hiya, I have the Minimiser Band with Bypass so not totally the same as what you are wanting to know but I can give you some advice from personal experience.  I've also had the lapband previously.  In some ways it is similar and in others it isn't.  It doesn't 'feel' the same internally and the port size is heaps smaller.  It's more there to stop the stomach from stretching over time which is something they are finding common after 5yrs or so as the stomach relaxes.  Due to so many surgeries/revisions I was happy to go with this as no way am I having ANOTHER WLS!

There isn't as much long term research into it as it's still a fairly new procedure and more common in US and has just been introduced to Australia in the last few years.  There are pros and cons with it.  Yes you need to eat slower and chew food more thoroughly, but not as intensely as you needed to with the band.  Yes you can cheat with sliders, but with the sleeve and bypass, it's harder to eat too any sliders without feeling sick so yes you can have your chocolate and chips, but you won't be able to gorge on them like bandits do.  Plus I feel full quicker because I've had the bypass.  The band I never felt full.

Some sleevers & bypassers can have dumping which is a side effect from eating too much sugar/salt or fat.

I do find my reflux can be quite excessive if I don't ensure I take my tablet daily which wasn't a problem at all when I had the lapband.  I also don't feel I would ever need a 'top up' for restriction but it's also nice to know that if in 5yrs I am gaining weight, I can have a top up to resolve the issue straight away without the continuing yo-yoing with the diet which I've had for years.

Hi PC I'm not in Queensland, I'm in Perth and I'm yet to be sleeved but my surgeon is planning on using the minimizer ring on my sleeved stomach in October.   I found your thread as I am searching for people's opinions on the ring too.  My concerns are will it act as a lap band type device which could come with the troubles ganders usually have with certain foods.....  I am after the opinion of someone sleeved with it in.... On how they feel.  My surgeon thinks it will be great, basically stopping the sleeve from stretching after a few years as some people report.   

How new is this?  Has anyone on this forum had it done?   Do people feel their bands have stretched and this could be an answer??

Hi Everyone,

I am starting to look down the road of gastric band to gastric sleeve and have a couple of questions.

1. What are your thoughts on using the MiniMizer band with the gastric sleeve to help prevent stretching? I would particularly love thoughts on this from people who have the MiniMizer.

2. Can anyone recommend a surgeon in SE Queensland (paticularly interested in the Brisbane and Sunshine Coast areas) that use the MiniMizer.

Thanks :)