Meintraining

Jess and Michigan chick. I think I did miss what you where saying. Thank you for clarifying. I'm so appreciative for your feedback and for posting a pic. You look amazing!!!!!! So happy for you. You are rocking it!!!!! I have this perfection thing going on. Im at the gym all the time. My arms and legs armed ripped. I look so healthy but feel like such a fraud under the clothes. I feel like I have to be perfect. You are Helping me to realize I don't need to seek perfection like that. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!
Broncos is love to see the pics!!!!

The only problem I've found with real self is there aren't many reviews on PS I'm going with. I just have to hope it works out. I wish there was a better way of knowing who is the best in their field. I'm very nervous because I canceled my original surgery because I wasn't 100% about him after I saw pics. I liked the pic I saw with the guy I'm going with but he doesn't focus primarily on WL patients. I think I could find something about any doc. It's a scary process and I hope I'm making the right decision!

Jess and Michigan chick. I think I did miss what you where saying. Thank you for clarifying. I'm so appreciative for your feedback and for posting a pic. You look amazing!!!!!! So happy for you. You are rocking it!!!!! I have this perfection thing going on. Im at the gym all the time. My arms and legs armed ripped. I look so healthy but feel like such a fraud under the clothes. I feel like I have to be perfect. You are Helping me to realize I don't need to seek perfection like that. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!
Broncos is love to see the pics!!!!

I'm scheduled with her for 12/9. Can't wait ! Glad to hear of someone else directly with a great experience :-)

IMO Dr. Pandya at Lahey Clinic is phenomenonal.
She did my husbands full body lift, arms and legs many years ago.

It really depends on you and your personal situation. When I had mine done my surgeon and I discussed both and decided the inverted T scar wasn't worth the benefit for me. I really only had excess skin, no subcutaneous fat or anything. And it was limited. Yeah I still have some laxity around my middle... I won't be able to show off a six pack ever because it's just covered by some skin still... But I will be able to wear a bikini so I am good!
Here are my before and afters, three months out. I DID have the muscle tightening which I needed after two kids and years of yoyo dieting and obesity. The top is before. The middle shows how the scar is covered by bikini cut underwear. The bottom shows the scar. I have a bit of a dog ear at the ends which will be fixed, but my hip bones also poke out which makes for an odd bump at the ends! If I could pick where it went I would gain another 5lbs or so back to cover that up and give it a nice contour there.
  

There are many pictures on RealSelf.com
I would start there if you want to see more Vertical LBL incision results.
One good guideline: If you observe your body, look at your scars from the past and the healing process might be about the same. The sutures done by your surgeon will effect your outcome as well as your own aftercare of your incisions/scars. Many of us use various silicone wraps or tapes for scar treatment. Certain Oils can also help keep the skin soft and it gives the scars a fraction of elasticity so that they can heal thin, flat and beautiful.
From my observation of seeing many many pictures of before and after pictures, the vertical incision heals really well. I think more women would agree to it if they knew how well that incision heals.

I will say this... I consulted with five surgeons in person and two on the Internet. Only one on the Internet said the T would be worth it for me. So at least six of mine didn't try to up sell me on that. Can you get a second and maybe third opinion? If you can and they all say you need the T I would maybe believe them.
Re the muscle tightening... Most women who have been obese for more than a couple of years or who have had kids need it. Do this--lay on your back and tighten your core like you are going to do a sit up. Find the middle of your abs (middle from side to side like a line from your pelvis to sternum). Feel for an indentation or separation that parallels that line, most of us have them. If it's wider than two fingers your muscles are separated and you need the tightening.

Caseyann, congrats to you!!!!!!!! Beth Israel is a fantastic hospital. Saved my hubbies life. Thanks for hoping in the thread it's always nice to meet more locals

Sorry you missed the call but congrats! That's fantastic. Can't wait to hear your date.

Wow, he's done a lot of surgeries! Sounds like your in good hands. I am 3 weeks post op today. I originally had a band but never really lost much weight so I decided to do the bypass.

Hello Kerri. When do you think you'll be having your surgery. Congrats and good luck. Glad to see someone local.

Hello I am from the South Shore. I don't see anyone else from my area. :-( I'm having conversion from the lapband to gastric on 1-28-14 with Dr. Hess at Boston Medical. I definitely would love to see some physical support groups but there doesn't seem to be any in my area. I know there are quite a few peeps that have had the surgery so I'm surprised there's not more support by way of groups locally. Nice to have found this sight. I look forward to meeting everyone.

What a wonderful response. I think those of us who have lived this life are the best people sometimes because we can all relate.

NSV's are the best and most unexpected part of weight loss. I am loving them too!!

The stage you are currently in is hard! Most of us have all felt those same feelings. I promise you though it will all be a distant memory once you've had the surgery and your through with the liquid phase and your about 3 months out. Life goes back to a new normal and you will be so happy you took this journey.

Different kind of dream but funny -- The night before surgery I dreamed all night that I was eating -- anything and everything but especially beef stew. In the dream I kept panicing because I suddenly remembered I had surgery the next morning and wasn't supposed to eat. I giggled when the nurse asked me the last time I ate and told her I ate all night long!

I love spaghetti squash...and have recently tried TOFU...in a mock chicken salad... surprisingly yummy (they have it at Whole Foods)...so now that I have taken that first step in Tofutti land, I plan on venturing further...

The stage you are currently in is hard! Most of us have all felt those same feelings. I promise you though it will all be a distant memory once you've had the surgery and your through with the liquid phase and your about 3 months out. Life goes back to a new normal and you will be so happy you took this journey.

Thank you for the encouragement

Awesome! good for you!!!!! It is amazing to me how much value is placed on appearance. All the attaboys etc. because of what one weighs. It's a weird world. One of the fun things for me is when I can actually shop in the normal clothes section or when I can squeeze by a group of people in a congested area. I used to have anxiety when I'd have to navigate through a crowded room full of people, chairs, tables, etc. there are so many little things like that as you go along. Enjoy all your victories!!!!

The stage you are currently in is hard! Most of us have all felt those same feelings. I promise you though it will all be a distant memory once you've had the surgery and your through with the liquid phase and your about 3 months out. Life goes back to a new normal and you will be so happy you took this journey.

When it comes to weight loss, there's no lack of diets promising fast results. There are low-carb diets, high-carb diets, low-fat diets, grapefruit diets, cabbage Soup diets, and blood type diets, to name a few. But no matter what diet you may try, to lose weight, you must take in fewer calories than your body uses. Most people try to reduce their calorie intake by focusing on food, but another way to cut calories may be to think about what you drink.
What Do You Drink? It Makes More Difference Than You Think!
Calories in drinks are not hidden (they're listed right on the Nutrition Facts label), but many people don't realize just how many calories beverages can contribute to their daily intake. As you can see in the example below, calories from drinks can really add up. But there is good news: you have plenty of options for reducing the number of calories in what you drink.
Attached is my sons 4th grade science project. Makes me so proud!

Hello all. Happy to report that today I dropped out of the obese category and into overweight. Happy happy happy. 28lbs to goal!

That's great to hear! Good for you. I don't have advice but was just happy for you. :-)