nigel

Hi, I would be interested :tongue_smilie:

Update, Dec 22 2008 Having Tummy tuck and Male breast reduction to get rid of excess skin, Jan 8 2009 2nd procedure, thigh and buttock lift. Will update posts with details for those who are interested in doing the same. Merry Xmas to everyone.

Hi everyone, I am in Adelaide (SA) in a hotel a few minutes from Adelaide Memorial hospital Dec 21 - Sunday. Tomorrow Dec 22 at 7AM I get admitted for stage 1 of my surgery to remove excess skin. Stage 1 comprises of 1 x Radical tummy tuck, and Male breast reduction. Total cost inc GST $6030 surgeon, $800 Aneathesist, $0.00 for assistant, $200 for chest and tummy compression garment (Needed to be worn for 2-6 weeks) and $250 excess for hospital, I will be staying at hospital Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, on XMAS day between 8and 9AM I am allowed to fly home to Sydney, assuming there are no complications, stitches where my belly button is re-positioned are able to be removed by a local surgeon. Stage two entails a Thigh Lift :tongue_smilie: (I have lots of skin on my thighs) and a buttock lift. Cost is going to be slightly under 7K all up for this second procedure. The quotes I had in sydney were about 4 times as much as in Adelaide, the Adelaide doctor also gave me medicare numbers so I will also get some $$$ back from Medicare :tongue: Will update some more details after 1st and second stage are completed. Am happy to give more details when stage 1 is completed and I am back to accessing my PC after XMAS, stage 2 is scheduled for 8 Jan 2009, assuming I recover enough by then, should be OK. Am really nervous and so excited, I just hope it all works out like it is supposed to. Merry Xmas to everyone, and thank you for all the support and advice I have been given from this forum for teh 3.5 years of my Lapband journey. Weight today is 89Kg, after both procedures it should drop about 4-5Kg, making my weight almost exactly 1/2 of what I was prior to being banded :eek: Amazing!!!! Anyone who is considering getting banded, stop wondering and do it, it was the best thing I have ever done in my life, it has changed my life in so many ways.....

Thank you Jacqui, I will definitely look further into it, and talk to my GP, thank you for the advice. :thumbup:

Hi everyone, after 3.5years of being banded I have shed about 75Kg, I was 165Kg and now around 88Kg and goal is 85Kg. I am 179Cm and pretty active going to the gym about 4 times a week for the past year, despite that I can't see that any amount of exercise will get rid of the excess skin, that losing 75Kg+ has left me with. I was in Malaysia recently and visited a surgeon from Gorgous Getaways who advised me I would need 4 operations, Tummy tuck, male chest reduction, Thigh lift and buttock lift, the excess skin would reduce my weight about 3-4kg as well and could all be done in one operation, overnight stay in hospital, 2 week stay in Kuala Lumpur for dressings to be changed etc, all up about $15K AUstralian including all fees and accomodation. I would much prefer getting it done locally in Australia, has anyone had any similar work done locally ideally, or abroad? Any help would be appreciated, when I get the procedure done, I will update the post and offer any assistance to anyone considering getting it done as well.

Best Thing I ever did was have the surgery, I can't even begin to tell you just how much it changed my life. A few stats below, may help you make the decision to have the surgery. 23/07/05 Weight 162.9Kg 05/09/08 90.4Kg 23/07/05 BMI 50.3 05/09/08 28.2 23/07/05 Fat % 62.8 05/09/08 27.1% 23/07/05 Fat Mass 101.2Kg 05/09/08 24.6Kg

Ange, it was the best decision I ever made. Good luck, I am sure you will feel the same.

3 Year's up on July 27th 2008 :rolleyes2: 162.9Kg then, 92 Now :thumbup: Goal 82....

Hi Josh, I am from Sydney, I had teh band 2.5 years ago, I was around 164Kg and am now about 94. The only regret I ever had about the band was not getting it sooner. Beleive me you will feel the same soon. If you have any questions you think I can answer from first hand experience, feel free to ask me.

Dr Brancatisano at www.circleofcare.com.au is excellent. I was banded 20 months ago and have lost 60KG, only 20 or so to go to goal. It was without doubt the best thing I ever have done, I wish I did it 25 years earlier.

Hi I am from Sydney

Hi I am from SYdney, was banded in August 2005, down 29Kg so far

I'm Male

Banded on Monday, home on Tuesday fully recovered on Friday, looking forward to work on Monday I was amazed at how easy the whole ordeal was, I am gratefull for all the info on these forums, they made my decision to band easy.

Congratulations, I cant wait to get banded, 10 more days