Dr-Patient

sassypants,
I used to be a person who made fun of people who got Botox--guess what--Now I'm the one getting Botox.
I had cheek filler injected several years ago when I lost 60 pounds using legal speed--otherwise known as prescription Phentramine. I'm glad I did--that filler is still there and doing it's job. My face would REALLY be different if I hadn't gotten it.
Once I have been at a stable weight for some time, I'm getting filler again. Because gosh, darn it--I'm frackin' worth it.
Dr-Patient,
YOU GO GIRL!!!! Rock those clothes and do not allow anyone to deny you your full poetential for weightloss. I can't help but think there may be some element of jealousy behind some of the comments many of us recieve.
Before my surgery, I was a person who isolated herself and wasted too much time on what others thought of me. Since I've lost some weight--I've gained more confidence in myself and I can honestly say--I won't be takin' crap from anybody anymore--I've endured too much and accomplished too much to live a healthier life.
Blessings to y'all,
Kathleen

If I may chime in...you should get a second opinion. People can lose weight with either procedure, and regain with either procedure. But with the RYGB, as others have said, malabsorption, etc., can happen.
I can give more info later, but...get a second/third opinion.
And still, in the end, it is YOUR choice for this elective procedure...especially since you are self-pay. Don't pay for an elective procedure that you really don't want.

There will be a day when they say i dont reckonize you when you look at the picture you sent them now. Let that be the guiding force that drives you to your next goal..
I have pictures of my face being round and big most see it on my wall and dont even know it is me. It doesnt bother me at all it just gives me that push to push on!

Hi,all! For some reason, I didn't see the most recent posts. To ALL of you who posted since my last post, excuse my delay. I appreciate all of you.
Sassy, you are sassy! Great idea, though! I may do that! LOL.
I felt SO GOOD yesterday at my board meeting. I wore a knit skirt and a sweater that I actually forgot I had because it's been packed away in bins in my basement for years. I also wore control-top pantyhose--Berkshire--which I still had, and some heels. I looked good, was confident, didn't hide from folks. Damn, that was great--not feeling ashamed. Great.
All your advice is helpful. I know what my situation was(especially my depression and self-induced isolation). So I do not regret my VSG . I'm early in this with months and pounds to go. They will all just finally see a normal-weight me!!!

Also give it time. I think everyone who loses weight quickly has the "skinny face syndrome" eventually the skin and body will catch up and all will be good.

Let friends use any word...gaunt, skinny, bony, under nourished...You continue on your path and let your doctor be the best judge.

Don't get discouraged. I think the rapid changes in our weight/shapes can seem extreme to those around us. Try not to be overly influenced by their surprise and concern.
Also, I feel that the rapid physical changes to our bodies take some "settling in". That we can look a bit "gaunt" or drawn as the weight starts falling off. I have seen it in others early in their weight loss process. I have also found that, over time, their bodies seem to adjust. Their new, sharp edges soften again and they look fantastic (and not due to weight regain, just to body reshaping and adjusting). Hang in there and keep up the good work.

Are these really "friends"??? At 218 lbs, are you ready to stop losing weight? My face is "falling" LOL, but so be it. I am not caring because I want my ideal weight to come. I want good health.

ive gotten this too. people keep saying my face looks sunken in and gaunt. i too am still over 200lbs. its probably just the shock of them seeing such rapid weight loss in so little time. I dont see it like that. im happy with the way i starting to look so to i hope you dont get too bummed b/c you are doing a great job!

Wow, good for you wearing those clothes. Give it everything in the meeting!
Please post some photos

Right now your goal is to be a healthier you. Someone, somewhere will always have something to say. Keep your goals as your prize to living a better life and let everything and everybody else just roll with it... Or don't.
Continued blessings and success.

Personal Opinion here..... but I think that is very shallow and inconsiderate for them to worry about "how thin" your face looks. What about how much your health is improving? I had someone ask me ..."are you trying to be stick thin?" and I wanted to tell him...uh yea if it means I no longer have to take 3 blood pressure pills a day..and an occasional anxiety medication to help counteract the blood pressure meds. So if me looking too thin makes you feel uncomfortable... then that's something YOU are going to have to deal with NOT me.
I would ignore them... friends they may be...but at the end of the day it is about your life, longevity and health and if they can't understand that..then shame on them. And you keep losing...don't base your goal on what you think is satisfactory for the others in your life. DO YOU!...

First, congratulations on your surgery.
This one is for you baby. Like many of us we have faced some opposition as we went to about getting ourselves healthier.
At our heaviest we consistently put off our needs our own expense. Now it's your
Time. Diva time.
How ridiculous that comments was telling you to stop loosing weight. The Diva time just started. Don't be sad your opinion is what really matter.
My face too looked thin and I got a ways to go so what.
Good luck

Next month send them a doctored picture a skeleton head on your body with your eyes and mouth with your hair and ask how you look now you think your face is a lot thinner lol

Try not to let people bum you out. You have a goal set and it will make you happy to achieve it. They're just not used to you seeing you looking different. They'll get used to it, do your thing and the others will catch up with you in time. Do what makes you happy x x x
I'm 5 days post op and my mother told me yesterday she's worried I lose to much weight cause my face is looking gaunt. Block out the stuff that holds you back and hold on to the stuff that pulls you through. X x x x

Thanks, you guys. I'm feeling better somewhat. And a friend who had the RYGB in Sept., said to tell them to "kiss your skinny ..... ... in a couple of months!" :-)
I did this for me; they'll see the fly butterfly emerge from the cocoon and then they'll see the total package. They hear in my voice that I'm happier! It'll be fine. All is well.
I have a board meeting tomorrow and am wearing a knit skirt and sweater I haven't worn in more than 7 years! Yes!

Dang. I sent a picture of me to some friends, and they think my (usually basketball) round face is "too thin!!" "don't lose any more weight, you'll look like calista Flockhart!" (not skin tone; skinny).
I am still 218 pounds! I am happy with the changes. I want to get to 175 at least! I told them they will just have to get used to seeing a smaller face. But...hmmm. I'm a bit bummed.
They even used the word "gaunt." Dang.

I was lucky enough to have two doctor's appointments this week - my three month follow up with my local bariatric doctor and my PCP.
I lamented to my bariatric doctor about my stall. How I haven't lost anything in the past 18 days. I was kind of whiney about it. She just looked at me like I grew a 2nd head. She said, "You're going great. You've lost a total of 50 pounds. What was your expectation?"
I got to thinking about that - really, what number was going to make me happy? If it was 53 pounds would I automatically to over the happy side? What about 63 pounds, is that the magic number?
She pointed out all the good things going on - lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, my ability to walk seemingly forever pain-free, my increased energy level, etc. All good stuff, right? So why am I so hard on myself about the number on the scale. She asked how often I'm weighing - I'm back to weighing every day. She told me to stop that, but I weighed again today.
The best thing she said about my weight was this - "If you graph your weight loss, the line won't be linear, it's going to be more of stair step." And you know, she's right. I graphed my weight loss to date and it looks like stair steps.
This morning I went to my PCP whom I haven't seen since late-October, about 2 weeks before surgery. Her jaw dropped when she saw me. She cannot believe the difference in my appearance. Then we started going over the labs and she was amazed. She actually said "You are glowing! You look happy. Your eyes are clear and bright. The transformation is amazing."
Sometimes we get so hard on ourselves because we're not losing a the rate in which we think we should. "I'm a slow loser!" "So-and-so is losing so much faster than me!" We need to STOP! This is marathon, not a sprint. I didn't get to 256 pounds overnight, I'm certainly not going to lose it overnight.
Sometimes it's good to step back and look at things from a different angle.

I think that was Stephannie saying 'bless her heart' about the person who made a comment to her. Maybe I read it wrong. But, funny stuff.
As I posted yesterday, folks are saying my face is "too thin" but I'm still 218 pounds and am just getting started. They'll just have to get used to not seeing a basketball face and blubber body. Oh yeah!

I think people get used to seeing you fat it's a shock to see you getting thin. It's going to take awhile for them to get used to it. I doubt you look bad, it's just different and sometimes people don't like change

Don't let anyone stop you, if your like most of us this if probably the first time you've done something for yourself in a long time. You deserve this. Also it's probably the same as when someone wears glasses all their life and suddenly you see them with contacts and they look completely different. It takes a bit to get used to, then all of a sudden you can't imagine them with glasses anymore. They'll get over it - stay the track and keep up the great job your doing. 32 pounds - go you!!!!!!

Tel them to leave you alone, It probably looks thin due to the fact it was fat before.
Don't send any more photos you do not need the negitivity, you do what you want!

The Black Tea is good. I also kinda like/can tolerate the grape and apple melon. Many like the coconut. They all have an aftertaste that I don't like. I like that they are clear, but I had to give em up because they have Splenda in them. Three bottles just sitting here. Oh well.

It doesn't seem that you'd need one; is he 'new' to doing laparoscopic procedures? But...surgeon's preference.
They lube it up before inserting. Removal feels like a pulling thread, but no biggie and is quick. In short...don't sweat the small stuff.
Aside from basic hygiene, no need to groom the area; in fact, doing so may lead to increased risk of infection. Just leave it alone :-)

I'm only 9.5 weeks post-op, just under 40 pounds gone, and it already 'feels' great!
I'm already wearing clothes I haven't worn in years. I see my clavicles!! I see veins in my wrists and ankles that I was always proud of. (I have nice dark skin so it's not like varicose veins, it's 'thin enough to access them if needed' veins.)
There's less body surface to wash in the shower and I can reach everything without all those contortions I had to make.
I already fell that I'm 'bringing sexy back' for myself and it feels great!
I used to snore and sometimes wake myself up from it. I don't think I've snored in the past six weeks.
It already feels great; I can't even imagine what 100 pounds down will feel like, but I pray I live to find out! You,too!