ev1988

Hey everyone!
I haven't been on here in awhile, but I saw this thread so I thought I would write a quick comment. I am from Villa Grove originally and live in Tolono now. I had my surgery at the Illinois Bariatric Center almost 3 years ago, and they host a support group at their Champaign location on the 1st Thursday of every month (so tonight) at 6:00. It helped me a lot when I was first starting out, and I plan to go tonight as well. Just thought I would let you know in case you wanted to in person support too!

Hey everyone!
I haven't been on here in awhile, but I saw this thread so I thought I would write a quick comment. I am from Villa Grove originally and live in Tolono now. I had my surgery at the Illinois Bariatric Center almost 3 years ago, and they host a support group at their Champaign location on the 1st Thursday of every month (so tonight) at 6:00. It helped me a lot when I was first starting out, and I plan to go tonight as well. Just thought I would let you know in case you wanted to in person support too!

Hey everyone!
I haven't been on here in awhile, but I saw this thread so I thought I would write a quick comment. I am from Villa Grove originally and live in Tolono now. I had my surgery at the Illinois Bariatric Center almost 3 years ago, and they host a support group at their Champaign location on the 1st Thursday of every month (so tonight) at 6:00. It helped me a lot when I was first starting out, and I plan to go tonight as well. Just thought I would let you know in case you wanted to in person support too!

Thank you for all of the kind words! I am about 26 months out from lap band surgery and was down about 155 lbs total from when I started. My lapband surgeon is actually the surgeon that did my Tummy Tuck, and he charged me about half of what other plastic surgeons were asking for. He does not advertise as a plastic surgeon because he only does abdominoplasties on his own lapband patients. Unfortunately I had to pay out of pocket because I got sick of waiting to meet the criteria for insurance. Mostly I was ready to have it done and it was worth a few thousand dollars to me to have it taken care of.
I have attached a couple of pictures. They aren't the best quality but they give you an idea of what it was like before and after. The before was taken right before I left for the hospital and the after was taken less than 48 hours later. I am very happy with the results so far!

My Tummy Tuck was completed on Thursday and I feel great! I had very little pain and was up and moving in no time. I was able to shower on Saturday and remove the bandages, and I cried when I saw my stomach. I am so glad I had this done, and I would choose to do it over and over again if it would go as well as it did this time. There is still some swelling and I still have my drains in, but neither are too bothersome for me right now. I go back on Thursday afternoon for my week follow-up, so I hope to get some good news then! For anyone thinking about having it done, I HIGHLY recommend it!

Thanks for all the kind words! I actually didn't have to have any fill taken out before surgery, but I asked for some to be taken out after surgery because I felt like my pain medicine wasn't going through the band. My surgeon took out .2 ccs of Fluid and I felt a lot better. I think that was the good thing about having my lapband surgeon do the Tummy Tuck as well. He knew what to expect with the band and listened when I said it felt a little bit too tight. I have my follow up appointment on Thursday and I am keeping my fingers crossed that the drains will come out. They don't bother me much, but I am sure I will feel better with them gone!

My Tummy Tuck was completed on Thursday and I feel great! I had very little pain and was up and moving in no time. I was able to shower on Saturday and remove the bandages, and I cried when I saw my stomach. I am so glad I had this done, and I would choose to do it over and over again if it would go as well as it did this time. There is still some swelling and I still have my drains in, but neither are too bothersome for me right now. I go back on Thursday afternoon for my week follow-up, so I hope to get some good news then! For anyone thinking about having it done, I HIGHLY recommend it!

Thank you for all of the kind words! I am about 26 months out from lap band surgery and was down about 155 lbs total from when I started. My lapband surgeon is actually the surgeon that did my Tummy Tuck, and he charged me about half of what other plastic surgeons were asking for. He does not advertise as a plastic surgeon because he only does abdominoplasties on his own lapband patients. Unfortunately I had to pay out of pocket because I got sick of waiting to meet the criteria for insurance. Mostly I was ready to have it done and it was worth a few thousand dollars to me to have it taken care of.
I have attached a couple of pictures. They aren't the best quality but they give you an idea of what it was like before and after. The before was taken right before I left for the hospital and the after was taken less than 48 hours later. I am very happy with the results so far!

Thank you for all of the kind words! I am about 26 months out from lap band surgery and was down about 155 lbs total from when I started. My lapband surgeon is actually the surgeon that did my Tummy Tuck, and he charged me about half of what other plastic surgeons were asking for. He does not advertise as a plastic surgeon because he only does abdominoplasties on his own lapband patients. Unfortunately I had to pay out of pocket because I got sick of waiting to meet the criteria for insurance. Mostly I was ready to have it done and it was worth a few thousand dollars to me to have it taken care of.
I have attached a couple of pictures. They aren't the best quality but they give you an idea of what it was like before and after. The before was taken right before I left for the hospital and the after was taken less than 48 hours later. I am very happy with the results so far!

My Tummy Tuck was completed on Thursday and I feel great! I had very little pain and was up and moving in no time. I was able to shower on Saturday and remove the bandages, and I cried when I saw my stomach. I am so glad I had this done, and I would choose to do it over and over again if it would go as well as it did this time. There is still some swelling and I still have my drains in, but neither are too bothersome for me right now. I go back on Thursday afternoon for my week follow-up, so I hope to get some good news then! For anyone thinking about having it done, I HIGHLY recommend it!

My Tummy Tuck was completed on Thursday and I feel great! I had very little pain and was up and moving in no time. I was able to shower on Saturday and remove the bandages, and I cried when I saw my stomach. I am so glad I had this done, and I would choose to do it over and over again if it would go as well as it did this time. There is still some swelling and I still have my drains in, but neither are too bothersome for me right now. I go back on Thursday afternoon for my week follow-up, so I hope to get some good news then! For anyone thinking about having it done, I HIGHLY recommend it!

Thank you for all of the kind words! I am about 26 months out from lap band surgery and was down about 155 lbs total from when I started. My lapband surgeon is actually the surgeon that did my Tummy Tuck, and he charged me about half of what other plastic surgeons were asking for. He does not advertise as a plastic surgeon because he only does abdominoplasties on his own lapband patients. Unfortunately I had to pay out of pocket because I got sick of waiting to meet the criteria for insurance. Mostly I was ready to have it done and it was worth a few thousand dollars to me to have it taken care of.
I have attached a couple of pictures. They aren't the best quality but they give you an idea of what it was like before and after. The before was taken right before I left for the hospital and the after was taken less than 48 hours later. I am very happy with the results so far!

My Tummy Tuck was completed on Thursday and I feel great! I had very little pain and was up and moving in no time. I was able to shower on Saturday and remove the bandages, and I cried when I saw my stomach. I am so glad I had this done, and I would choose to do it over and over again if it would go as well as it did this time. There is still some swelling and I still have my drains in, but neither are too bothersome for me right now. I go back on Thursday afternoon for my week follow-up, so I hope to get some good news then! For anyone thinking about having it done, I HIGHLY recommend it!

My Tummy Tuck was completed on Thursday and I feel great! I had very little pain and was up and moving in no time. I was able to shower on Saturday and remove the bandages, and I cried when I saw my stomach. I am so glad I had this done, and I would choose to do it over and over again if it would go as well as it did this time. There is still some swelling and I still have my drains in, but neither are too bothersome for me right now. I go back on Thursday afternoon for my week follow-up, so I hope to get some good news then! For anyone thinking about having it done, I HIGHLY recommend it!

My Tummy Tuck was completed on Thursday and I feel great! I had very little pain and was up and moving in no time. I was able to shower on Saturday and remove the bandages, and I cried when I saw my stomach. I am so glad I had this done, and I would choose to do it over and over again if it would go as well as it did this time. There is still some swelling and I still have my drains in, but neither are too bothersome for me right now. I go back on Thursday afternoon for my week follow-up, so I hope to get some good news then! For anyone thinking about having it done, I HIGHLY recommend it!

My Tummy Tuck was completed on Thursday and I feel great! I had very little pain and was up and moving in no time. I was able to shower on Saturday and remove the bandages, and I cried when I saw my stomach. I am so glad I had this done, and I would choose to do it over and over again if it would go as well as it did this time. There is still some swelling and I still have my drains in, but neither are too bothersome for me right now. I go back on Thursday afternoon for my week follow-up, so I hope to get some good news then! For anyone thinking about having it done, I HIGHLY recommend it!

My Tummy Tuck was completed on Thursday and I feel great! I had very little pain and was up and moving in no time. I was able to shower on Saturday and remove the bandages, and I cried when I saw my stomach. I am so glad I had this done, and I would choose to do it over and over again if it would go as well as it did this time. There is still some swelling and I still have my drains in, but neither are too bothersome for me right now. I go back on Thursday afternoon for my week follow-up, so I hope to get some good news then! For anyone thinking about having it done, I HIGHLY recommend it!

My Tummy Tuck was completed on Thursday and I feel great! I had very little pain and was up and moving in no time. I was able to shower on Saturday and remove the bandages, and I cried when I saw my stomach. I am so glad I had this done, and I would choose to do it over and over again if it would go as well as it did this time. There is still some swelling and I still have my drains in, but neither are too bothersome for me right now. I go back on Thursday afternoon for my week follow-up, so I hope to get some good news then! For anyone thinking about having it done, I HIGHLY recommend it!

My Tummy Tuck was completed on Thursday and I feel great! I had very little pain and was up and moving in no time. I was able to shower on Saturday and remove the bandages, and I cried when I saw my stomach. I am so glad I had this done, and I would choose to do it over and over again if it would go as well as it did this time. There is still some swelling and I still have my drains in, but neither are too bothersome for me right now. I go back on Thursday afternoon for my week follow-up, so I hope to get some good news then! For anyone thinking about having it done, I HIGHLY recommend it!

My Tummy Tuck was completed on Thursday and I feel great! I had very little pain and was up and moving in no time. I was able to shower on Saturday and remove the bandages, and I cried when I saw my stomach. I am so glad I had this done, and I would choose to do it over and over again if it would go as well as it did this time. There is still some swelling and I still have my drains in, but neither are too bothersome for me right now. I go back on Thursday afternoon for my week follow-up, so I hope to get some good news then! For anyone thinking about having it done, I HIGHLY recommend it!

My Tummy Tuck was completed on Thursday and I feel great! I had very little pain and was up and moving in no time. I was able to shower on Saturday and remove the bandages, and I cried when I saw my stomach. I am so glad I had this done, and I would choose to do it over and over again if it would go as well as it did this time. There is still some swelling and I still have my drains in, but neither are too bothersome for me right now. I go back on Thursday afternoon for my week follow-up, so I hope to get some good news then! For anyone thinking about having it done, I HIGHLY recommend it!

My Tummy Tuck was completed on Thursday and I feel great! I had very little pain and was up and moving in no time. I was able to shower on Saturday and remove the bandages, and I cried when I saw my stomach. I am so glad I had this done, and I would choose to do it over and over again if it would go as well as it did this time. There is still some swelling and I still have my drains in, but neither are too bothersome for me right now. I go back on Thursday afternoon for my week follow-up, so I hope to get some good news then! For anyone thinking about having it done, I HIGHLY recommend it!

I am 24 (25 next week) and I am so glad that I chose to get the band last February. Since I started this process in December 2011, pre-op included, I have lost 116.5 pounds. I still have about 45 more pounds I want to lose, but I wouldn't change a single thing so far. My friends and family have been so supportive since I got the surgery, and I haven't really dealt with any negative comments about the band. Everyone is just happy for me that I am starting to feel better and look better too. Don't let the fear of what other people will say keep you from doing it, because I wish I would have considered it when I was 18.

hey EV.... you have gotten some really great advice. I would deff.. got get other opinions. When i started to my research on the TT and breast reduction. I really wanted to have them done at the same time and my PS will do them... but i read and read and read and most every one said... don't do them at the same time because the TT is sooooo painful. So i didn't go with my gut and only had the TT done. I soooo regret that choice. Now this is just my experience ... but, my TT was what i would consider ... almost pain free. I compared it to the pain i had when i had my two boy via Section. If i had known that i would have done them both at the same time.
My total for the tt.... this is everything... doctor, rn, operating room, hospital one night stay, compression garment, meds and a year of follow up.... $8800.00
It has been 16 months since my tt and i have to say, i had the best experience and over-the-top excited with my results. This year... i will be wearing a bikini to the beach for the first time in over 20 years....
i wish you all the luck....

So I had my first plastic surgery consultation today to discuss the excess skin on my stomach mostly, but I also brought up a breast lift and an arm lift. The doctor explained to me that there would be 3 separate surgeries for those procedures. I was under the impression that at least a couple could be done at one time, so now I am confused as to whether I was wrong or whether the doctor gets more money that way. I know that is a horrible way to think, but that was the first thing I thought of. I really don't want to have 3 separate recoveries for each of the surgeries, but I am guessing I will have to have at least two separate ones. Any thoughts?