Paulax

I hear ya man, I hear ya! I will go for a consult for a TT next summer. I am way excited, and inspite of being under the knife several times in my life VERY nervous too.

I am 44 and the only place I am considering plastic surgery is my abdomen. Most of my damage, is due to 3 pregnancies and having skin without good elasticity. Therefore, I have stretch marks, and stretched skin. My 95 pound weight loss has exagerated that problem and now I would like a TT. I see you are only 19. You know, you might just be fine after you lose your weight. You are young and you may have been blessed with 'good' skin. Let us know how it goes.

"Boy, I found this forum and have become quite a nuisance of myself haven't I? Here goes. I feel stupid asking. I really am a capable 43 year old woman. But I am befuddled. See my stats below. I need seasoned advice at this point in my weight loss. Some days I feel as though I can eat too much, other days, through reasons beyond my control, my fill feels pretty tight. Historically, I like and need, a snug fill to lose weight. I still have 20 to go, and I am sorry but I can not be a marathon runner. I can not change my personality and become an exercise lover. I do go to the gym 2-3 times a week, work out hard. In addition, I walk for 40-50 minutes around my hilly neighbourhood, almost daily. I just can't see me enjoying and fitting in any more. I admit I am a bit impatient. I could probably lose this weight in the next year, doing what I am doing and losing less than a couple of pounds a month. But that just frustrates me. Origionally, I thought I'd be at goal by the end of this year, but as we get closer to October, I am starting to doubt that goal. I'd like to know from your experience, if adding a small fill will help me get to goal. Do I need one more tiny fill? Appreciate any and all advice from those who have been there. :ducks for cover:

This is an oldie, but since dialit bumped it, I will update. I got a fill. I had lost .2 of my old fill, due to osmosis. That was the only way my surgeon explained it. It has happened before, I am not worried about a leak or anything. So anyway, I got a fill and I started losing again. I am within 7 pounds of my goal. Dialit, I am the very same way, 3 things make my band tighten. Stress, travel, which could also be stress, and my 'time o the month'. This week I have all 3, so I was tight. But I know, this is a fickle friend and in a day or 3, I will be OK. HOpe things are going well for you too. Cheers

I believe it was another online and wise friend, eddieparks, who basically said, never mind....YOU will get the last laugh.

GOOD FOR YOU OUSOONER!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your helpful responses. Ghost, I am going to be spending the next few hours of every day pouring over the excellent links you provided. Julie, thanks for your response. I can see that although it may be more risky than some, it is still worth my while. I went to Vancouver to see some dear friends of mine, girls weekend kind of thing, TWO of my former colleagues have had TTs. I am inspired and determined. The last 10 pounds I lost really loosened up my abdomen area and my skin is now droopy over my belly button. I am going to try to decide WHEN is a good time to heal and go for a consult this next summer. Thanks all. Hugs Chickie, I loved the black cat looking at the Christmas ball, where did she/he go?

I was speaking to a dear friend who I greatly admire and respect. She had gastric bypass 30 years ago, which included a TT to remove her skin. She scared me in a conversation yesterday about the risks of plastic surgery. I told her I was interested in getting a TT next summer. She said that of all the plastic surgeries, that the TT was one of the most risky ones. She mentioned Kayne West's mom, who just recently died after PS. (reportedly a TT and BR) Now it may have been a previous heart problem, but still, it has me thinking. I know many of you have had successful TT. I have had a successful breast reduction 3 years ago. I am now wondering about the risks in a TT. Please put my mind to ease. I COULD live with my saggy skin and buy a tight girdle, but a TT would really put me in a beautiful place, both physically and emotionally. Now, I am seriously wondering if I can just live with the skin. My dh thinks I am beautiful, he really doens't care. But I want my skin tightened. JulieNYC, whose dad is a PS, please pipe in here. I need some stats.

7 Sneaking down there. 182 this morning. Wow, the 70s. I don't even remember the 70s.

Shrinking, that is hilarious. I have yet to name my band. I hear ya on the 'mind of her own' though. Mine does too! Never worry about losing too slow, I know easy to say, hard to do. I just think consistent weight loss will take us FAR each day, each week and each year. Personally, I can NOT believe I have been banded 16 months now. I am so grateful I was courageous enough to go through with the banding. I am 16 months out and 95 pounds down. Yes, I probably could have done it faster, but this felt healthy. Averaged out it is about 1.5 pounds per week. But it was consistent. Continued success my dear. I could care less what the number is either, as long as I am at my sweet spot and I am losing. If I am not losing, then I care about the numbers because they have to go up. And I like to monitor it. I also like this thread because I keep track of my progress and yes the numbers on my fill. I know that my sweet spot at the moment is 3.2. The last time I went in for a fill to break my 6 month plateau, I had lost .2 of my fill. So then I care about the numbers too. Some bandsters keep track of their calories, I don't, I figure as long as I am losing, and I am eating healthy foods, my calories are where they should be. Someone on this board has a surgeon that won't tell her the fill number. That would make me nuts. I want to know, perhaps it is because I like to control and monitor it.

Lots of good advice here. When I lowcarb, I use fitday.com. Since being banded, I find that I don't need to track, as long as I stick with clean foods, Proteins and veggies, some/little fruit, some very little oatmeal. I also snack on cashews during the day. If I am not losing, usually I can blame my lack of exercise and my nut and cheese snacking. I do not drink my calories. I am pretty happy with Water, coffee, milk in my Protein shakes. Hey, good luck and try not to fret about plateaus. Sometimes, and for some of us they are inevitable. Cheers

Perfectly normal for some. I have had the same experience, where I thought my doctor missed the port and then 2 weeks later to find myself VERY tight. There is no one perfect explanation for this, but it happens. Congrats on your weight loss. Feels good doesn't it?

Again, I absolutely agree with your opinion and I would not base my decision on posts on a message board. My purpose was to discuss the benefits and risks of a TT. I asked many questions on this very board before I got my band, or even spoke to my surgeon. Lots of valuable information and discussions came from those who went before me. Cheers.

I just gasped. What a tremendous difference! You must be so happy already. Wow! Continued healing my dear!

Absolutely, I have gone through numerous surgeries and come out walking. I'd have been a great guinea pig. I guess I am just curious as to the % of risks. AND I love seeing and hearing others' success. Thanks my dear!

I absolutely did loose a lot of hair. My hairdresser noticed it. I am 16 months out now and the hair did grow back, but now I have hair a few inches long and the rest much longer. lol! But it did come back. Shocking though.

Pictures Meriposa Bella, WE WANT PICTURESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. Thanks for the positive report. I love hearing of PS success.

CAUTION! CLEAN FREAK ALERT! I freak out when people, and sometimes my good Canadian friends, don't take their shoes off in my home. I just think of all the shit, piss and puke people step on in the streets, and THEN YOU WANT TO COME INTO MY DOMAIN AND SPREAD THE GERMS AROUND???? OMG, I FREAK! Not that I say anything to my friends, but I am washing and scrubbing the floors after they leave. PS, I went for a walk this morning and couldn't believe the gross spit on the sidewalk. AND I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY. But someone is hocking a gooby every 10 meters....I just can't imagine anyone wanting that in their house. BLAAAAAAAAAAAA PS, I apologize for the bad language. But this topic sure gave me a good laugh this morning.

I LOVE that my jeans don't wear out huge holes in between my thighs anymore.....

I keep coming back to look at your most recent pics Ghost. I just can't believe the difference your surgery made. It LOOKS like you lost 30 more pounds. I am also THRILLED as I am thinking the same surgery for myself. But now you have to go read my post about risks and put my mind at ease.

I was once told, that sometimes we hurt the ones we love the most. Hugs on the fainting spell. My jaw dropped at the difference in your thigh area. UNFRIGGENBELIEVABLE. I love seeing the difference a surgery can make. I am astounded. LOOK AT YOUR SHAPE GIRL. YOU ARE PERFECT!

Like you, my weight loss was quick at first, then it tapered off. If I average it now, I lost less than a pound a week. But I am proud of that, and it added up because it was consistent. I am now, 16 months out and 95 pounds down. OK, I just checked my calculation, I am wrong. I lost on average of 1.5 pounds per week on average. I tend to lose a bunch, then maintain, lose a bunch then stall. Anyway, just remember, a year WILL go by and each and every day and week you WILL be lighter. Good luck on your journey.

OOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo there are a lot of cuties in our size. Thanks for that.

Thanks Sweetie, I will look there. I don't mind paying for good quality, our feet are so important.

And I meant to say, WOWEE, since the swelling went down, you look super ultra awesome. That's it. I want a TT, spring or summer. Sorry about the recent swelling Ghost, take it easy. hugs