brol1k

Happy anniversary. You look awesome.

Congrats! Wow great job.

Hey I've seen you on YouTube before! You look great! Way to go

thank you

Finally its been 2 long gone years since I had my gastric sleeve done at columbia presbyterian hospital in NYC with Dr Aaron Roth on june 07,2011. I was at a max 565 pounds undocumented, and 2 years later im at 300 pounds. Ive lost a staggering 265 pounds in the span of these couple years and I couldnt be any happier with my journey.

Here is my newest slideshow which features before surgery pictures and then pictures after my 1st year surgiversary. All the pictures were taken in clubs and whatnot but thats b/c I am a manager and even promoter for a well known DJ here in NYC. Ever since having VSG done, Ive wanted to be involved in the entertainment business somehow, its something i enjoy alot b/c I get to socialize amont other promoters, DJs, and club owners. Please rate, comment, subscribe and follow me at my social sites:

https://twitter.com/BrolikDaManager

http://www.facebook.com/brol1k

http://followgram.me/brolikDaManager

I wish you all the luck in the world! I think you have an excellent case.

I just had my first consult yesterday with a plastic surgeon yesterday and it was very depressing. I don't qualify for help from insurance but believe me the extra skin is there. If I want to undo the damage done by being morbidly obese for 20 years, it's going to cost me around $22,000 (extended Tummy Tuck and breast uplift, surgeon wanted to talk me into implants but I just don't want them).

I don't know what to do, so for now I will probably do nothing. Ugh.

But I think you have a great case and sending them the video is a GREAT idea!

Wow Im so sorry your insurance wont budge either, im somewhat lucky b/c I do know they do approve it with the right documentation, I wish you all the best as well, and dont give up.

Ok I have a lot of things to say.

First, I LOVE your heartagram tattoo on your left wrist!!!!

Your video had me in tears. I can't related to being denied but I have had major depressive disorder since I was 10. I know how scary and awful it feels to get into a funk and sit in the dark. My heart breaks for you having to deal with that.

But holy cow, you are such a freaking inspiration! Not just the weight loss (which is amazing) but in your determination to get the vsg done in the first place. And like you've learned, the squeaky wheel gets the oil so to say. Dont stop pushing your insurance company!

Also, you have very nice eyes

A note to everyone I can't stress enough: see your PCP for EVERY little skin problem post op. even if we know what it is having lived with chub rub for years before surgery and know how to treat it, there HAS to be documentation! It can be hard enough, as Alex has kindly informed us, to get approved with documentation...without, you'll be self pay. Document document document!

Thank you, darlin', for sharing your story I'm happy to be part of the group you opened up to! And keep us posted!

First off, thank you for noticing my heartagram, it is my favorite group of all time, Villes voice is just heavenly. Getting into that funk was horrible as I too suffered form anxiety and depression, its a stage in life I no longer want to return to and that day, I saw it knocking on my door again. It just sucks that some people like myself can never have something without hassle. All my life I had to fight for what i wanted. All those denials to get WLS done paid off in a certain way, its taught me to fight, keep moving, be relentless, and determined, Im not going to stop pushing my insurance, I already got the letter from one of the surgeons, and one from the plastics himself, im just waiting on my dermatologist to write his and I shall present them with a huge packet of high quality pictures, letters, an article from columbia presbyterian, and a dvd copy of this youtube video, as well as pre op and post op weigh in charts. I believe that should be enough proof.

And youre absolutely right about documenting, If id have known, I def would have it all documented since day one but never knew about any of this....And thank you for the compliment, making a guy blush here.

What insurance do you have?

My insurance company is HIP CMO and the surgeons name is Dr Vadeem Pizarenko.

Insurance companies suck!!! And the sad part is we pay them. I was denied 3 times for my surgery saying I was not morbid obese. Really! What the hell y'all looking at. Keep fighting. Had my surgery Monday. Don't give up that's what they want you to do

That took a lot of courage to share with us and post. I am so proud of your accomplishments. But please don't be ashamed, you have worked so hard! I have to say though, that your surgery is medically necessary, and I stan behind you 100%, not that you need me too! You are so amazing to have come this far, that I am so glad you are not giving up. This was an amazing video and I applaud you on your courage and success!!

Insurance companies do suck. But I am going through the appeal as we speak, im getting those letters put together, having this video put into a DVD disc, weigh in charts pre and post op, and print outs of all the comments from my supporters including the article columbia presbyterian did on me last year.

I totally get how you feel. If I have extra skin I will feel worse than being fat but at least you are getting healthy! Does your insurance not cover it period or did they not think you really needed it?

They cover it but said I didnt need it, they just didnt get ebough proof from plastic surgeons office, but im working on the appeal as we speak and thank you .

Awry??? Hell... anything starting off with a subject line of of "penis size" had no where to go but awry....

hahaha true this.

Hey all, during the last few months, I have gotten a few dozen emails and messages of people asking me about my loose skin, and if I can make a video showing them. Well after much debate and over night thinking, I went ahead and made the video. Didnt upload it right away as I needed to sleep on it. please know, that I have never taken my shirt off in public due to me being ashamed of my previous weight (565), and now due to my excess skin, i feel even more subconscious. I However got denied once for reconstructive surgery....in the video ill explain in detail, please watch, rate, comment and subscribe.

I thank you all for your support.

I have them and now they droop low due to the excess skin, can stand to wear a regular T shirt, i always wear button downs to help hide them. Im looking into getting a gynacomastia.

hahahaha this topic has gone totally awry

Hello, Alex here, 6'3" started 565, pre op 486, almost two years later at 302. always looking to motivate and be motivated also

agreed, just ask the question lol

as always here is my latest update plus rant about JcPenny store clerk, sorry it took so long and hope ya'll enjoy

Congratulations brotha.

Sent from my iPhone using VST

Bronx, NY in the house hahaha.... finally joined this group after much people telling me to join. Hello to all.

Hello to all, fellow bronxite here.... had surgery done at columbia presbyterian, im 16 months out and almost 270 lbs down.... Journey has been tough but great at the same time. Anyone wanna make friends or a chat buddy, dont be afraid to hesitate!

Bronx lady here I was sleeved what will be 2 years in Jan. Anyone want to keep in touch and make a fellow VSG buddy?

Congrats on the feat, and yes I would!

You are beaming confidence!! Thanks for sharing. You look awesome!!

confidence comes with the weight loss, just make sure it doesnt make you arrogant or self centered b/c I seen people turn this way. and thank you!

You look great. Hot to I must say.congratulations

lol Oh stop, you guys just being nice to me but thank you! hehehe

I started at size 60 waist, went to a 48, 44, now 40 in 16 months... in Shirt from a 6Xl to a 2xl sometimes depending on the brand a 1xl and im at 310 lbs now highest being 565. I have spent in a year so far about $300-$400 in clothing. I finally out shrunk casual male which was the reason I spent so much being their clothing are so expensive. My primary place to shop now is Jcpenny, I get my jeans at the Levis isle and shirts all around the store depending on the style...Not one to be picky about name brands, if I like the way it fits, Ill buy it, thank god I do take a female with me to give me the thumbs up or down hahaha

hey guy

many people watch utube videos - i am not one of those

that being said.............i started watching your 17 minutes video saying yeah right i'm not gonna watch this whole thing - i did though - wish i had some popcorn to enjoy!!!

what an emazing journey you are continueing to go through - when you are a little heavier weight to start' date=' it must be very hard/discouraging maybe - but you stuck through thick and thin and have succeeded

it was wrong of your surgeon to say that you probably stop your weight loss at 280-290 lbs, i can understand that couldn't of made you feel too happy

on the other hand, theres nothing like a person saying you can't do something, and out of spite - you do it!!

kindof confused about the gall bladder/hernia surgery - i thought these were common surgeries that apply to many sleevers? good luck w/those operations too

wish you the very best

you are completing the rest of your first journey - now starts the new journey for the rest of your life

continued success, health and happiness[/quote']

Thank you for sitting through the whole entire video, reason the video extended so long is due to the 4 minute intro/video slide show. I'm glad it wasn't boring for the whole 17 minute hahaha. I know he gall bladder/hernia is common amongst many sleevers but I was taking pills to prevent the gal stones but lost the weight so darn fast that the pills in my guess didn't keep up hahaha.

And yes, your right, out of spite I will lose more then he said I will, nothing will be more satisfying then seeing his face knowing I exceeded his expectation yet once again.

I don't mind saying' date=',you're hot![/quote']

Well thank you darling Hahaha wanna message me? Hahaha

OMG u look amazing! Very handsome!!!!

That is very impressive' date=' congrats![/quote']

Great job!

Thank you guys for the support!

Looking good!!!

thank you darling!