sirensiren

I went with Dr. Kelly. My close friend went with Dr. Garcia a few months later. I ultimately had the better experience, but she still loves Dr. Garcia and had a great experience in Mexico with her care. Dr. Kelly has (I could be wrong on exact numbers here) 12 years of experience, Dr. Garcia has 2-3. Here was the difference in our experiences: A few days after surgery, I had symptoms of being allergic to one of my post surgery medications. When I called Dr. Kelly (on a Sunday at that) he called me back within 20 minutes and spoke to be at length, and called me again the next day to follow up. When my good friend was having dysphoria and odd flu like symptoms after surgery, she called A Lighter Me and the hospital that Dr. Garcia performed the surgery at, and it took an entire 3 days to hear back from either. She ultimately went to the ER here and discovered she was severely dehydrated. Had she had Dr. Garcia's direct phone number, she may have heard back far sooner, but the hospital ultimately she be prepared for things like this and ALM bears the responsibility to be available to patients before and after they have their money. I have total confidence that Dr. Garcia is great, my friend is in superb shape and is quite happy! I am quite happy with my decision to go to Dr. Kelly, and I'd recommend him first soley based on our two experiences. I think they are both great choice, and as you'll see patients of either doctor will recommend the one they went with!

That is excellent! It's great to hear the perspective of a MD regarding Mexican surgeons such as Dr. Kelly, and I'm glad your experience was as positive as mine. I truly enjoyed TJ and think I may even plan to visit just for fun and shopping this Fall (and I live in LA, which is full of fun and shopping!). The care was far better than what I've received here in the states to be honest, and Dr. Kelly showed genuine care for my well being and spent nearly an hour talking to me personally the night prior to surgery about my health history. I really felt taken care of. He never once exhibited signs of having substance abuse issues, which is something I am personally familiar with. As far as I know, there is one confirmed death than happened over a year prior to ALM disbanding from him. Anyhow, I think the surgeons in Mexico deserve a lot of credit and confidence- they are under far more of a microscope than those at Kaiser and other USA hospitals because they rely entirely on private paying patients like us, and we all report back on each detail of the care. As I finish my small plate of green Beans and truly feel full, I must say I am extremely happy with my VSG results from Dr. Kelly!

I had Dr. Kelly last November (after doing 2+ years of research). I am completely happy with the care I received and the wonderful results of my surgery (BMI 18.5!!!), Dr. Kelly occasionally emails me to see how my progress is. I sent a friend who chose Garcia after ALM said there were safety concerns with Dr. Kelly- she had a fine surgery, but after surgery she had major issues and it took 2 whole days to get ahold of Dr. Garcia OR ALM...she turned out to just be dehydrated, but her symptoms were quite alarming. Dr. Kelly responded to my calls and emails within 30 minutes. I am sure she would still recommend Garcia, but I am very very happy with Dr. Kelly and doubt any rumors about his character or work quality at this point.

I've worked in plastic surgery for many years, and I can tell you that in order to get that youthful "perky" look, it's almost necessary to add a little bit of volume. This can be achieved (IMO) through a cohesive gel "gummy bear" implant, or through a fat transfer from your own body. Saline implants typically need to be replaced in 10 years and feel fake and Water balloon like- whereas your own body fat will survive (to varying extents) and a cohesive gel implant (as far as we know) cannot "pop" and seems to likely look good for up to 20 (or even 30!) years. That said, a full mastopexy can certainly get you nice and perky and you don't need to worry about having a foreign body in you! It's all about what you truly want. I'd do a lot of research and look at photos and decide what look you'd really like. A LOT can be achieved through a circumareolar ("doughnut") lift with a small implant and you wind up with no real visible scarring. Your body looks impressive, it would be great for you not to have to have scars! Also, I actually recommend sub glandular placement (above the muscle) for the new cohesive gel implants, they have a better chance of being soft and we will last longer as they will sag with the natural breast rather than have the risk of "bottoming out" (you can look that one up, it's not pretty).

Lots of great encouragement and feedback on this topic- thanks! I went to my general doctor for labs and an EKG to check everything and I'm in great health and everything checks out great, so I am going to go for (or continue to go for it) and listen to my body. I think a big part of being healthier is not being sedentary in general- it's great that the sleeve has us eating less and therefore losing weight, but exercise is such a huge part of being healthy too, and makes me appreciate being healthier all the more!

I was told that during my entire journey. In our society, it's OK to harp on people for being "thin", but it's not OK to get on someone's case for being overweight (think about it, if someone at work said "you're losing weight, stop it!" vs. someone saying "you're gaining weight, stop it!", the ladder would not be met well at all!). Sure- you may not be as big as some people, but if you are still significantly overweight, you are still at risk for far more health problems than someone at an ideal weight, and achieving an ideal weight is not going to be any easier with age and the natural slowing of metabolism that comes with it.

Anyone use these types of work outs with success? I keep in mind, we are "special"- we consume 900-1200 calories a day, and perhaps we shouldnt be getting too "hard core"? Or is it a good idea to hit the work outs hard to burn stored fat? I'm personally at the 7 month mark, so I'm essentially "healed" and my energy is level. I work out with trainers now who are aware of my surgery and take it fairly hard (for me), we box and do a lot of heavy weights

I started with personal trainers 8 weeks out and abs were no issue. I think everyone is a little bit different, healing time depends greatly on varied factors like age and other health conditions. I'm sure the strength of your abdomen in general plays a factor too.

Thanks! I have taken typical fiber before, but when it comes to a fiber that is known for expanding in the stomach I'm not quite sure- fiber is even recommended to me by my doctor to help digestion. I find that perhaps drier foods (go figure) tend to be easy to eat a lot of, moist foods (cooked veggies, fruit) are not only healthier but they seem to fill me up better. I get about 80 ounces of Water a day, I also do about 20 ounces of juice (green juice I make myself) too.

Jack3d contains DMAA, a stimulant some liken to a gentler ephedrine. I got some off Amazon out of curiosity, but just find it to be mildly uplifting- I prefer ephedrine for work outs myself. DMAA is derived from geranium but it can be pretty potent stuff for some.

Glucomannan is an especially effective Fiber for making the ("normal") stomach feel full, so I am wondering.. is it safe to use fiber to induce some fullness after VSG? Though this may arise controversy because I am in fact talking about synthesizing fullness in an already reduced stomach, I'll tell you from experience glucomannan merely helped a bit with satiety when I had a "normal" sized stomach, if at all. I wonder if there are safety issues anyone is aware of from taking fiber after your stomach has virtually healed? I notice my stomach seems to have a greater and greater capacity every day, and though I absolutely recognize that it is no where near where it was before surgery, I know that now I can go out to eat with friends without it being evident I am eating less (I am at month 7), and I can get through about 8-10 ounces of food in a sitting. I'm getting 1500-1700 calories a day now, and I tend to get hungry frequently. I fight this urge, but sometimes it's hard, and I think perhaps this fiber supplement may help a bit. Anyone else have experiences with fiber? Good and bad?

I've lost roughly 50 lbs over this past 5 months after surgery (yay!) and I've noticed a small to moderate amount of loose skin. My question is, does this ever just improve on it's own? In theory, I shouldn't be a "loose skin person"- I'm in my 20's, I have a personal trainer, I run, I have a diet almost entirely of veggies and protein now, and I'm decent about getting water in. Did things ever just snap back into place for anyone? I know for certain the loose skin on my formerly DD breasts is not going to retract- that I am certainly going to see my cosmetic surgeon about. I'd rather not have to resort to surgery for my abdominal skin, I am hoping that perhaps time will allow my skin to find it's way back home!

These are some great replies! THANK YOU! I fear that my habit of drinking Water around my meals was somehow hazardous. I am actually doing great in terms of weight loss, but I notice I can eat more and more and more..and that scares me. I do not want additional surgery in a few years due to stretching!

You can stretch out your sleeve back to your old capacity by eating too much or drinking Water too soon after eating- myth? I am 4 months out, and I notice my capacity grows and grows. I do get fearful that perhaps I am stretching it out, but many think stretching is virtually impossible. I have heard many people claim that drinking water with or too close to a meal stretches out your sleeve. Really? If so, I am doomed. I merely avoid water during meals, 5 minutes later or so, I can sip a bit- and do! Insight?

My close friend recently went to Dr. Garcia after I recommended Dr. Kelly (my surgeon), but she received a call from A Lighter Me that they would have to move her to Dr. Garcia or give her deposit back- she chose Dr. Garcia. She was quite happy with the whole experience- until she had massive drain pains at home, signs of pneumonia (turned out to be OK, thank God!), but she spent DAYS not being able to get ahold of Dr. Garcia. Sandy, or anyone at A Lighter Me. This is NOT alright- these were symptoms of something serious. Even now, Dr. Kelly responds to my e-mails and questions within 30 minutes to 2 hours after I write them. When I had a concern after surgery (a simple medication allergy) he called my within 20 minutes (on a Sunday!) and spoke to me at length about how to go off the medication and what to pick up at Rite Aid here in the states. He sent me an e-mail to follow-up that night as well. I don't think there is a perfect choice of surgeon, but I am much happier with the way Dr. Kelly personally handled my care vs. what my good friend experienced with ALM and Dr. Garcia. I too went through ALM, but my experience was quite professional- I was confident in recommending them to her. I am just glad she is OK, but her incisions are less neat than mine, and one is sewn in a way that will not allow it to lie flat after healing. I can only recommend Dr. Kelly based on my own individual experience- it's rare to hear anyone on this board truly regret going to one of the popular surgeons in Mexico. Most of them are actually very experience, and thrive on the recommendations and raves of patients like us.

Though the sleeve is reported to eliminate 40-60% of your "excess" weight, I consider my goal to be "healthy" range BMI, which I am now. I have a trainer 2x a week and run 4-5x a week each morning. Personal goals are so personal, however! I believe that though a surgery may give you statistical expectations, you should make your own goals personal and about you. At the same time- be realistic. As someone who has been overweight since they were 12, I am ecstatic to be at a healthy BMI for once, and I strive for perfection, but I know in reality I do not have the genetics to look like a fitness model (plus 6 pack abs scare my husband LOL). I'd just be realistic about it, and perhaps consult a trainer and a nutritionist about what your expectations should be. For example: people who are at a very high BMI, they tend to lose a lot of pounds compared to lower BMI patients after VSG, especially in the beginning- some times people with lower BMI get discouraged, but in reality they are likely losing at similar rates percentage wise. (This is a generalization, some high BMI patients are slow losers too). I find a good way to figure out how much weight people lose and what some of the struggles are is to peruse this website and check out various threads on the topic.

When was your surgery? I would ask the staff at the hospital- they would know if something was alarming.

Yesterday I went to the LA Free Clinic for my hypothyroidism (MAN, free clinics suck- I had children coughing on me for 3+ hours in a hot waiting room to see the doctor WITH an appointment!). The doctor was immediately concerned about my VSG (performed in November) and wants me to come back for an EKG, bloodwork, liver function, and all sorts of other stuff. Necessary? I've lost 40 lbs in under 4 months. I ask, because I feel like it's fair routine with everyone to get back to their day to day lives (assuming nothing alarming comes up), after they recover. What kind of follow-up care did you have? What seemed necessary to you? I feel great, I have more energy than I've ever had- the adjustment to the lower calories has resulted in a few dizzy spells which have lessened with time. I want to be safe, but I have a month ahead of me in which I spend my one day off a week sitting in this clinic, waiting to be seen in a closed room with sick people, screaming babies, and other such things you'd imagine at the free clinic. (Unfortunately, I cannot afford to go to a pay clinic- I know all the cheap ones and they are still expensive). What are your thoughts?

My surgery in Novemver with Dr. Kelly went great, I was happy with the service of A Lighter Me as well- sorry to hear that some people didn't have as smooth of a trip due to their coordinators making promises they cannot keep. If you're concerned that dr. Kelly is not qualified in the US (which has similar standards and training to Mexico) you can look up and verify this information fairly quickly. I did confirmed his work in the united states as a trauma surgeon, I do not beleive he is qualified in the USA as a bariactric surgeon. He can certainly still come to the USA and lecture on bariactrics or be involved with a practice. It seems like there are some concerns with the circumstances around his complications in recent months- DO YOUR RESEARCH. Beyond investigating posts on here, call the hospitals he has worked at. Contact people with nothing to gain or lose whether you get surgery with him or not. Certainly, whether a surgeon is a good choice or not can change over time due to all sorts of circumstances or findings, but if a bunch of recent patients are genuinely coming forth to profess their support and admiration of his work- he's probably not morphed into some malpractice monster doctor wielding a crusty scalpel it's not impossible there aren't real issues that have come up, but genuine safety issues are usually easily verified or discredited with a few short phone calls to a medical facility, or though looking up public information provided by medical boards and government agencies.

Glad to hear your experience has been great, dr. Kelly sleeved me in November!

This is so reassuring! I was afraid I was eating massive amounts of food! The reality is I am staying stable at my weight, and that is a lot better than gaining. I guess 5 ounces at 3 months out is not so bad. BTW You look GREAT Blackberryjuice!

I think so long as you have enough time to do the pre-op diet (1-2 weeks depending on surgeon and your BMI) you're good. Once you finish your paperwork you're done- so long as a surgeon has space on the schedule I think they would take you. Mexican surgeons are great with lots of experience, do your research and you'll probably be more than happy with your choice and the care you receive!

Thanks! I think I am going to pick up some Vitamin E oil from Trader Joes today. I also ordered Kelakote on the recommendation of a plastic surgeon I know. I will let everyone know if I'm impressed or not.

I know that 65-80% of the stomach is removed with VSG, but as you heal the stomach becomes capable of holding more contents. When does this stop? I am shy of 3 months out, and I am capable of eating 5 ounces of food (more than half a cup!) and feeling some comfortable restriction. I then stop. I feel like I shouldn't be done healing, and there is likely room for more expansion. I am already at a point where I've actually lost and gained weight. I hear more often than not that significant stretching is a myth. I never take my meals to an extreme degree, or have had vomiting from over eating. I try to avoid testing restriction. I am fearful that if I am capable of eating 5 ounces in a sitting now at a mere 84 days post surgery that this can only increase. I feel like every week I can eat more and more, and I don't like it. I want it to stop.

I drink 2-4 drinks a week, and my BMI is down to 22......22 My BMI hasn't been under 25 since 6th grade! =0 So I say, enjoy responsibly.