LittleGirlBlue

My plastic surgeon and I agreed on a B cup- I feel like a B cup- especially compared to what I was, C cup bras just fit better. I'm a runner too and nothing gets in the way. So glad I chose not to get implants!

I had a full Tummy Tuck, flank Lipo, and breast lift with reduction- NO IMPLANTS. I am a nice C cup and couldn't be happier- nothing like having the girls be the same size and facing the same way!

I had a full Tummy Tuck, flank Lipo, and breast lift with reduction- NO IMPLANTS. I am a nice C cup and couldn't be happier- nothing like having the girls be the same size and facing the same way!

Everyone is different and every doctor's work is different I am a long distance runner that also works out. I wasn't really comfortable running until about 5 months out. My doc released me to light exercise at 10 weeks and full exercise at 16 weeks. You will be great just make sure you take your time to heal properly- if something hurts there is a reason.

Sometimes it takes a little searching:). My surgeon is listed as a reconstructive plastic surgeon. He moved my port when he did the Tummy Tuck and in fact talked my band surgeon into not removing any Fluid from my band. I had a anxiety about the no fluid removal and the port being moved by a non-bariatric surgeon but damn he knows what he's doing. He's not a reconstructive surgeon, he's an artist. Just a few more weeks and I will 12 week post-op photos. Full TT with flank Lipo, breast lift, with a reduction on one side to create symmetry. I freak out every time I look in the mirror. Is that really me?

Thank you's to everyone!!! <3. I was down to 134.2 this morning. The more the bruising fades and the swelling goes down the better I'm feeling.
Did have a little mishap overnight. I ripped the stitches out of my 2nd drain and pulled it 1/2 way out in my sleep. I'd collected less than 15cc's of Fluid the past two days. When I called my PS office and told them about it they asked about my pain, redness/irritation, and then how much it had collected since they took the other drain out earlier this week. When I shared the amount my patient liaison immediately said "oh goodness, we expected it to be draining more- at that amount it will cause you more pain in" I measured the tube to assure I'd pulled it all the way out and they told me to watch for infection but if no problems, bring it in with me for my visit Monday.
This afternoon I drove to the store, walked around a bit and felt great! Oh and with less bruising and swelling I'm beginning to see a more desirable silhouette what a difference a day can make!
xoxoxo- XiolaBlue

Thank you's to everyone!!! <3. I was down to 134.2 this morning. The more the bruising fades and the swelling goes down the better I'm feeling.
Did have a little mishap overnight. I ripped the stitches out of my 2nd drain and pulled it 1/2 way out in my sleep. I'd collected less than 15cc's of Fluid the past two days. When I called my PS office and told them about it they asked about my pain, redness/irritation, and then how much it had collected since they took the other drain out earlier this week. When I shared the amount my patient liaison immediately said "oh goodness, we expected it to be draining more- at that amount it will cause you more pain in" I measured the tube to assure I'd pulled it all the way out and they told me to watch for infection but if no problems, bring it in with me for my visit Monday.
This afternoon I drove to the store, walked around a bit and felt great! Oh and with less bruising and swelling I'm beginning to see a more desirable silhouette what a difference a day can make!
xoxoxo- XiolaBlue

Two weeks post-op. Can't stand up straight yet (PS tells me by week 4). Still quite a bit of swelling around the incision site, upper-inner thighs and pubic area. Pre-surgery weight 128, I'm 5'5". This morning 133.8. Still about 5 lbs. of Fluid and etc. Should be able to start running again next Saturday- I cannot wait. Talk about restless legs syndrome!!!

Two weeks post-op. Can't stand up straight yet (PS tells me by week 4). Still quite a bit of swelling around the incision site, upper-inner thighs and pubic area. Pre-surgery weight 128, I'm 5'5". This morning 133.8. Still about 5 lbs. of Fluid and etc. Should be able to start running again next Saturday- I cannot wait. Talk about restless legs syndrome!!!

Two weeks post-op. Can't stand up straight yet (PS tells me by week 4). Still quite a bit of swelling around the incision site, upper-inner thighs and pubic area. Pre-surgery weight 128, I'm 5'5". This morning 133.8. Still about 5 lbs. of Fluid and etc. Should be able to start running again next Saturday- I cannot wait. Talk about restless legs syndrome!!!

You're braver than me! I'm so scared of doing anything to my face. I've tried botox and that's it (and not sure I will again).
Though I am getting more Lipo on my thighs on Friday. I'm a sucker for punishment!!

Thank you's to everyone!!! <3. I was down to 134.2 this morning. The more the bruising fades and the swelling goes down the better I'm feeling.
Did have a little mishap overnight. I ripped the stitches out of my 2nd drain and pulled it 1/2 way out in my sleep. I'd collected less than 15cc's of Fluid the past two days. When I called my PS office and told them about it they asked about my pain, redness/irritation, and then how much it had collected since they took the other drain out earlier this week. When I shared the amount my patient liaison immediately said "oh goodness, we expected it to be draining more- at that amount it will cause you more pain in" I measured the tube to assure I'd pulled it all the way out and they told me to watch for infection but if no problems, bring it in with me for my visit Monday.
This afternoon I drove to the store, walked around a bit and felt great! Oh and with less bruising and swelling I'm beginning to see a more desirable silhouette what a difference a day can make!
xoxoxo- XiolaBlue

The pic on the left is Me last year this time in July & one on the right is ME now in July this year ....355 to 262

I took 2 weeks off with my lower body lift but people at work knew about it so were really gentle on me. Even so I think I needed three weeks off too. You did well there.
I just had Lipo and took 4 days off. Not enough. Always give yourself more than then less time to recuperate. Nothing worse than having to go to work feeling like crap.
BTW you look amazing!

I think a side effect of the band is that people end up with the mentality that getting no food through is the way they're going to lose weight. The band actually works best when you are at the point where you can eat a small amount of solid food and it keeps you satisfied for 3 - 4 hours. I honestly think at the right restriction level the band assists in controlling your physical hunger to such a point that you will not be obsessed about food and will be able to live with it in a more natural way. Too tight and your body starves and you're miserable and angry because you're not losing (and potentially causing problems with your band too!). Too loose and you fight with hunger all the time.
Finding that 'green zone' is so important in my opinion and what makes it harder is finding it can be difficult. Many people drive towards tighter and tighter bands thinking that will get them there and then they push past it, they're in the red zone and it's not better, it's worse.
Don't look for it to hurt when you eat. Look for the point where you can eat and it keeps you from being hungry again for 3 - 4 hours. That's the green zone.

I am considered to be heavy boned and I am 5'4" and I weigh around 140lbs now. I couldn't imagine it myself when I was over 200lbs but it's actually a BMI of about 24 for me and no, it's not so thin that you look sick. I got down to a BMI of 21 and imo that was too skinny.
So don't frighten yourself to the point of talking yourself out of losing. Just concentrate on getting healthy and see where you end up and are happy with yourself. The rest are just numbers.

Really- did I really need to do this? I understand this is a stage of recovery but right now, exactly one week from my full Tummy Tuck, flank liposuction, breast lift and reduction, I am regretting my decision. The pain is extreme. I want to be at work. I feel like a burden on my family... and I really want to cough.
At any rate, I've attached 3 "1 Week" photos. I will post before pics as soon as I can find them;). I had two drains, one was removed yesterday. Pre-op weight was 128. I'm still very swollen and weighed in at 135.4 this morning.
Oh happy days!!!

Really- did I really need to do this? I understand this is a stage of recovery but right now, exactly one week from my full Tummy Tuck, flank liposuction, breast lift and reduction, I am regretting my decision. The pain is extreme. I want to be at work. I feel like a burden on my family... and I really want to cough.
At any rate, I've attached 3 "1 Week" photos. I will post before pics as soon as I can find them;). I had two drains, one was removed yesterday. Pre-op weight was 128. I'm still very swollen and weighed in at 135.4 this morning.
Oh happy days!!!

Really- did I really need to do this? I understand this is a stage of recovery but right now, exactly one week from my full Tummy Tuck, flank liposuction, breast lift and reduction, I am regretting my decision. The pain is extreme. I want to be at work. I feel like a burden on my family... and I really want to cough.
At any rate, I've attached 3 "1 Week" photos. I will post before pics as soon as I can find them;). I had two drains, one was removed yesterday. Pre-op weight was 128. I'm still very swollen and weighed in at 135.4 this morning.
Oh happy days!!!

Well I wasn't going to post these, but I figured I've been very open and honest about my journey so far and that I should continue to be open even now. I have to admit, posting these is a bit humiliating but I think it's important for people realize this surgery was no walk in the park. It was painful (and still is) and has a long recovery process. Losing over 200 pounds leaves a lot of excess skin.
Last week, May 1st, I had a tummy tuck/hernia repair/skin removal surgery.
The top pictures are the before pics taken the morning of surgery. The after pics are taken today, 8 days later.
You can see on the before pics I had A LOT of extra skin. You can also see the very large hernia sticking out on my upper tummy.
I am still really swelled, have staples from hip to hip, and drains in but I I think my surgeon did an incredible job.

I should also mention... I opted for the breast lift without augmentation because I've never been anywhere close to symmetrical. One breast was a small D the other an average B. I've waited a very long time for symmetry. Took my bandages off this morning and I couldn't be happier with my girls! A very peppy size B and no worrying about maintaining implants.

I should also mention... I opted for the breast lift without augmentation because I've never been anywhere close to symmetrical. One breast was a small D the other an average B. I've waited a very long time for symmetry. Took my bandages off this morning and I couldn't be happier with my girls! A very peppy size B and no worrying about maintaining implants.

I should also mention... I opted for the breast lift without augmentation because I've never been anywhere close to symmetrical. One breast was a small D the other an average B. I've waited a very long time for symmetry. Took my bandages off this morning and I couldn't be happier with my girls! A very peppy size B and no worrying about maintaining implants.

Just curious how all you low BMI bandsters are doing. It's been extremely slow but I'm down to 136:). Happy girl!!! BMI of 23