Sadie

Wee update..... Lower body lift done 09.01.10 - unbelievably sore, worse pain ever, but would do it again!!! (had vacation in Florida 6 wks after surgery - flying from Scotland - 9hr flight - did theme parks, wore bikini, felt fabulous!) 7lbs of loose skin gone 14cm at front 10cm at sides, 2cm on back. Band slipped 03.17.11 - no pain but couldn't eat or drink for 4 days. was awful..... Went to operating theatre that night, and band was put back into place. Have gained 25lbs in 2 months.... not happy...... Bariatric Team told me a patient put on 14lbs in 10 days so don't worry about my 25lbs......!!!! Band now has 3mls in it..... another fill tomorrow....... I REALLY need restriction. This extra weight is annoying the hell outta me..... although everyone says I look better, healthier etc. I admit I feel better, permanent heartburn is now gone....no night reflux.....feeling permanently cold is gone and DH prefers me like this! Gonna get rid of this 25lbs over the next 6 months.... BTW Brachioplasty hopefully in the next 6 weeks..... yay! Sadie

Well, here's a quick update on what's been happening.... Maxtopexy was completed beautifully. I am extremely happy with them! I'm now a 34E - I was a 44G at my biggest so woo hoo!! Although I paid privately for the mastopexy (£5,000), I was able to get a consultation through the NHS (National Health Service) with the same surgeon. My family Doctor had referred me for a tummy tuck, but when the PS examined me, he said I would get a better result with a lower body lift... I could have kissed him. And what makes it taste all the sweeter is that I don't have to pay for it! PLUS, he said he'll do my arm reduction too through the NHS, saving me around another £3,000. The lower body lift should be within 6 weeks.... :biggrin:

Thank you for all your kind thoughts! I appreciate it. Well, I'm back home now, all done and dusted! I was taken into the operating room around 10.20am and was all done by 1pm. Everything went extremely well, I am really pleased with them. The Surgeon, Mr Hamilton, was fantastic. He's going to do the rest of my surgery too hopefully. I have no drains in and no dressings either. I have stitches around the nipples that are to be removed next Friday. My DH is amazed by them, he's only seen the saggy ones! The kids say I look slimmer too! From getting on the scales to morning of surgery until today (2days) it looks like I've lost 6lbs! Granted I haven't ate that much, but I'm dying to know how much came off the boobs! I must ask next week.... Anyway, will pluck up courage to post pics soon (my sister didn't believe the after pics were mine!) Sadie :wink2:

I was banded in Edinburgh, Scotland on 02.02.08. To date I've lost 115lbs! Tomorrow is the start of the PS journey at long last. I'm starting off with a mastopexy. I'm being admitted at 7.30am tomorrow and should be out on Wednesday at 10.30am. No drains will be used either, great! At the biggest I was a size 44 G/H, now I'm a 36E but I've lost a lot a of breast tissue and the Plastic Surgeon reckons I'll be either a 36B/C. I'm not bothered about implants, been there with the big chest, don't want them again! DH is more of a butt man anyway! I'm sure he would rather I was having butt implants as this has disappeared too. Anyway, I can't wait until tomorrow and hopefully I'll have either an extended tummy tuck or belt lipectomy scheduled for Jan/Feb possibly with an arm lift too.....:frown: I'll update with progress soon..... Sadie

I know I'm not posting this in the correct section, but thought I would share my news with my fellow victorious valentines. Having lost 115lbs since my banding on 02.02.08, I'm starting on the plastic surgery journey, with a mastopexy booked for tomorrow!! I'm not having implants, having been big chested all my life, now the weight has gone, the boobs have too! I figure I can live with a B/C cup, this is from a G cup! Next will be either an extended tummy tuck or belt lipectomy, hopefully in Jan/Feb '10. Possibly arm lift too, if DH agrees! Keep fingers & toes crossed for me! Sadie :frown:

Hi Dundeedawn I'm in Edinburgh myself, although born in Dundee and brought up in Carnoustie. I have family in your area and visit every 6 weeks or so. I was banded on the 2nd Feb this year and have lost about 6 1/2 stone so far. Good luck on your journey. Spire Murrayfield in Edinburgh do fills, both under x-ray and just in clinic. Let me know if you want the number. Sadie

Will see you there Elaine, I was banded in Feb at Spire Murrayfield. I too am looking forward to meeting everyone to see how they are doing! Sarah

It's my 7 month bandiversary today! I saw my Bariatric Nurse and Surgeon for a check up this morning. They are extremely happy with my weightloss so far. They asked how much more I was hoping to lose, I said another 40lbs to which they said no, that's too much. They said I was to get to a weight I was happy with and could maintain. I asked about PS too. Again, I could have a TT now but if I am still losing weight there wouldn't be any point. I think possibly another 20lbs or so and we'll look into scheduling a TT. Sadie:biggrin:

I had a fabulous NSV yesterday. Went to Next. I had seen a pair of jeans I really liked. Hubby said try on the size 14. OMG they FIT!!! I am so proud. Tomorrow is my 7-month bandiversary and I was wearing size 24 jeans pre-op! Yay me!!!! Sadie:biggrin:

Hi Bernie, well done on your band and good luck in your weightloss journey. I recall for the 2 weeks post op I lived on Complan, clear or strained Soups, yoghurt, Water and coffee. I had around 200mls at a time. Remember, this is a time for healing, not to lose weight. Don't expect to lose much, you don't have any restriction (unless your surgeon put some saline in your band during the op), until you have your first fill. Sadie:biggrin:

Hi Sadie...YAY is right! 60 pounds gone - that is fabulous! And (nosy soul that I am) I really would like to know how your TT journey progresses. Have you already met with a plastic surgeon? Not yet. How did you find him/her? I work with the Surgeons who put my band in and I've known the PS since he qualified. Relative to the cost of the band, is the TT more/less/about the same? The band was self pay at £7950 (british pounds). The TT is around £5000.

As a VV who doesn't post very often, I thought this was a good thread to say hello to fellow VVs, frequent posters and like me, very infrequent posters! As for my band, as of today I'm down 80lbs, yay! Another 40lbs to go then TT! Hasn't been easy, a lot of frustration but I would do it all again tomorrow if I had to. Although I don't know any of you, and I live in a different country from most of you, we're all on the same journey and I love reading about everyones ups and downs. Keep up the good work everyone! Sadie :smile2:

My 1st fill was a week ago - 13th March - I had 5ccs put in a 14cc band. Initially had 4.5ccs, no restriction. Went up to 6ccs, too much restriction so 1cc out. The following day I didn't feel any different. Was told to come back today for another fill. I had to have a barium swallow first and the Radiologist told me he didn't want to put any more in the band - he turned the x-ray screen to show me the barium sitting in my oesophagus! I was surprised as I don't feel much restriction, but it was sitting there slowly dripping through the band for me to see! I did see the Dietician too, I've lost 5lbs since last week! She wants me to keep a food diary until I see her again in 2 weeks to make sure I'm getting enough Calcium, Vitamins etc.