jfran

Too bad I'm in TN, but if I ever relocate.......

Looking good. Don't see why you would have a problem dating. very nice butt lol

Thank you very much!

Good to hear that online dating can work. This pic is before surgery on the left and after surgery (about 2-3 weeks after). I don't have any recent pics. I am 3months post op and most of the swelling is gone now.

Hey everyone. I do appreciate all your advice and comments. I am dating a little more now. I joined match.com and that makes a huge difference. I figured it would be weird, but so far its been an interesting experience. As far as my physical appearance goes, I'm still working on it. I had PS to remove excess skin around my abdomen along with a butt/thigh lift. And I must say that my butt looks damn good now in a pair of fitted jeans. I am so much happier with myself and working on the confidence issues. And, just in case anyone was wondering, I had the PS for me and no one else.

I would like to know the answer to this one too. I am scheduled for medial thigh lift in May. My surgeon is planning to put the incisions in the groin crease only.

Hey Dr. Schulman:

Thanks again for answering all our questions.

In may I am planning to have a medial thigh lift combined with inner/outer liposuction. should I be worried about scar migration? What techniques can be done to prevent or minimize this?

Karen G.: I just had my arms done 6 weeks ago and I am happy so far. Even now there is still a good bit of swelling, but the skin is not hanging the way with was. I had over 2lbs of skin removed just from my arms alone. The scar is obvious, but it will lighten with time and the trade off of being able to where the correct size top is definitely worth it. I would have to be a size bigger just because my arms would fit. It may be a while yet before I fill comfortable wearing a tank top, but all in good time.

I just had a LBL and brachioplasty. It was approximately $14,000. I am having a breast aug/lift with bra line back lift, stomach Lipo, inner/outer thigh lipo and medial thigh lift done in May and that is approximately $19000.

I have posted a thread - jfran goes for plastics. You can see some pics there.

Your prices may be a tad high, but its different everywhere. My second surgery has been discounted a lot because I am a return patient.

I am from TN so things tend to run a little cheaper here.

Hope this helps, good luck getting to goal. I had been plateaued for 9months and decided just to go for it even though I was 25lbs from goal. I am glad I did.

Hey everyone:

I haven't posted on here in forever, but I thought some of you may be interested in my plastic surgery journey.

I am basically having a total body lift, but instead of doing it in one surgery, I am doing in 2 stages.

Dec. 3rd I had a lower body lift (tummy tuck, thigh lift, buttock lift) which means I have a scar that goes all the way around me. I also had brachioplasty (arm lift) with Lipo.< /p>

Stage 2 will happen in mid May: Breast lift/augmentation, bra-line back lift (gets rid of the fat along the sides of your breasts under your arms and lifts the back), stomach lipo, lipo of inner/outer thighs and medial thigh lift.

Believe it or not, the first round of surgery wasn't bad. I had some moderate discomfort, mainly from the swelling, but I never had any severe pain. Pain meds kept everything in check.

My doc says I am a textbook case and that I am healing very well.

The doctor removed 11.5lbs of skin and fat (2.5lbs of which was from my arms).

I am doing well, back at work and school. I can't wait for Stage 2. I feel like a new woman.

The pictures: Left to right- my transformation before Lapband, mid ways through losing weight, the night before PS, 3 weeks post op PS.

Later when my swelling goes down, I will post some bikini type pictures.

Good luck to anyone ready for plastics.

Man this thread is having a hard time getting started. I guess it is official, East TN has NO singles. I guess its time to move.

No Idea: Are you working for UT school or hospital?

Where else? UT. If you know of any east TN or TN singles on the board, send them this way.

I tried to get this thread started a few months ago....no one seems to be interested... its a shame.

FocusonMBM: your a good man.

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions regarding my original post.

I wanted to give you guys an update. I went out on a date today with a very sweet guy. We have a lot in common. He too has lost 100+lbs this past year (not through surgery) and is really into health and fitness. I am trying to take all of your suggestions and just be myself and be more confident. This past year losing all this weight has really led me on a journey of self discovery, and I am still working on really determining who I am and learning to be confident and comfortable with it.

Thanks again.

These are befores from my cousins wedding in Oct. 06. I was a bridesmaid and hated to wear the dress. Currently, I am on a 3 month plateau and have decided to take a mini break and just maintain my healthy lifestyle. Then in a bit I will try to lose the last 15-20lbs.

PS. Click on the thumbnails to see them larger.

PSS. Everyone is looking fabulous!!

I am sure glad this came up. I have tried to stick to chicken and fish. Wanted to attemp Olive Garden but a little scared has anyone tried there food. what did you order?

At Olive garden: I get chicken Spiedini. It is chicken skewered with grilled veggies. I sub in brocoli instead of the potatoes. It is around 300 cals. Stay away from the bread and Pasta.

My bill has doubled because I eat 5-6 small healthy meals a day. I am also trying to minimize the processed foods especially those with HFCS. I eat fresh veggies, fruits, whole grains, and lean Proteins. It sucks that it SOOOOO EXPENSIVE to eat/be healthy.

I eat 2,000 calories a day and burn 500-750 calories through exercise everyday. My body doesn't seem to lose on low cal diets.

Thanks everyone, both male and female, for your advice, compliments, and comments. I am really not in any major hurry, I am just now really finding myself and I would just like to meet someone I can have fun with and sometimes I just wonder if I am giving off a "hands off" vibe. Maybe, maybe not. I am probably just to shy with the opposite sex. I am definitely not "bitchy and whiny"...I am going to choose to ignore those comments. I know that when its right it will happen for me.

Thanks again everyone.

I'm approaching my 1 year bandaversary in a few weeks and there has been one issue over the past year that I can't seem to get a handle on.

This past week I've been miserable and after a few days of weight gain (just 2 pounds in a week)...I finally figured it out.

Correctol took care of it. 1 dose didn't work. I took 1 and a half dosage the following night.

Finally, relief...and those 2 pounds gone.

Constipation has been an untold issue for me since being banded. I remember having this problem when I was on Atkins a few years back.

I've increased fiber...I've decreased fiber, MoM doesn't help. Softeners don't help....I require a stimulant to do the job.

I'm really concerned with what my liver and large intestines are going to look like before long.

My doctor has recommended many things and even a script.

But the only thing that I can get to move me is sugar. But I try to avoid sugar as my new way of eating. Yet, it's either a Krispey Kreme or Correctol.

Can anyone shed some light on this issue? I need my large intestines to not absorb so much Water. HELP!

Check your Calcium intake. If you are taking a supplement and eating a healthy diet then you could be getting too much Calcium which can back you up. I had this problem. I stopped taking the supplement and added one-two prunes a day and haven't had anymore problems.

my grocery bill has doubled. I have completely changed my diet to whole grains, fruits, veggies, and lean protein....Expensive to eat healthy.

I was finally able to progress to real food last Tues, after 5 weeks of a full liquid diet!! Not once during that five weeks did I cheat, but this weekend is fair game. I was slowly testing the waters all week making sure I could tolerate what I was eating and minding portion sizes. No problems at all, not even with spicy food. In fact, I have discovered I don't have any restriction right now, except in my head (still scared of the band...). I have my first fill on Tues and everything may be VERY different, so I am eating yummy, not-so-healthy food tonight. I will have a fabulous mexican dinner 86 any and all fear or guilt!! It has been so long since we have been out and I do miss the taste and smell of good mexican food!! Then tomorrow, I am off to the gym with my new workout clothes, new ipod shuffle, and new membership. I have lost quite a bit of weight in the last 6 weeks, even with no exercise. I am so happy!! I will be unstoppable when I start working out!! I just hope the fill goes well?? Do I need to fast/liquid on Monday to get ready for the fill?

I couldn't even make it 2 weeks on liquids so YOU GO GIRL!!! After first fill, the majority of people don't notice a difference, so pace yourself on the Mexican because it may be a while before you get restriction.

My doc says nothing to eat or drink at least 4 hours prior to fill...it maybe more if under fluro.

I second thedailyplate.com....I love this site and it is starting to help me get off my plateau. Since you are only exercising 3 days a week, try adding another day or extending your workouts 30 minutes or so.