SkinnyKathy

Thank you , Dr. Schulman, for this prompt response. I think this is definitely what I want to do. Can you tell me, given how much I have to lose, but also the fact that I have a pronouced apron even now, approximately when in my weight loss journey would be a good time to get the panniculectomy done?

Dr. Schulman, I have more than 200 pounds to lose and I am just getting started but I have a plastic surgery question that I hope will become a real dilemma for me in the future. I was wondering if you have ever done plastic surgery on a patient who has a *lot* to lose somewhere mid-way through the weight loss period? The reason I ask is because I have always had a very significant "apron", and after two pregnancies it has only gotten worse. I am constantly battling yeast infections down there, and it makes it challenging to exercise because no matter what kind of undergarments I wear (and choices are slim at my weight), I bounce all over the place. Now I was banded only a month ago and I haven't lost that much weight yet. I know this is only going to get worse as I lose more weight. I imagine that by the time I lose weight down to my goal weight, my apron will be down to my knees! (gross thought). So I was wondering if it be possible or advisable to get a tummy tuck or pannenectomy (whatever it is called when they cut off the apron) sooner, and then go for a full body lift when I get to my final goal weight. I know this seems like I am getting way ahead of myself, but I am a planner and setting goals and milestones for myself helps keep me motivated...

Hi all, I have more than 200 pounds to lose and I am just getting started but I was wondering if anyone who is on a *long* weight loss journey like me has ever had some plastic surgery done somewhere mid-way through the weight loss period? The reason I ask is because I have always had a very significant "apron", and after two pregnancies it has only gotten worse. I am constantly battling yeast infections down there, and it makes it challenging to exercise because no matter what kind of undergarments I wear (and choices are slim at my weight), I bounce all over the place. Now I was banded only a month ago and I haven't lost that much weight yet. I know this is only going to get worse as I lose more weight. I imagine that by the time I lose weight down to my goal weight, my apron will be down to my knees! (gross thought). So I was wondering if it would make sense to get a tummy tuck or pannenectomy (whatever it is called when they cut off the apron) sooner, and then go for a full body lift when I get to my final goal weight. (notice I said, when, not if! gotta keep a positive attitude!) I know this seems like I am getting way ahead of myself, but if I thought I could get PS sooner I think it would help keep me motivated...

I was banded on September 9 and I quickly lost 12 pounds, in pretty much the first 5 days or something like that. But since then I haven't lost a pound. It's been almost two weeks since I lost anything. I've been following the diet pretty closely. I'm on mushies now and I'm eating non-fat cottage cheese, hummus, non-fat yogurt, soup, scrambled egg, and sugar-free protein drinks. I don't have much restriction now. My doctor said not to worry about portions right now, just focus on healing. I am not restricting my portions now, but I know I am eating far less food than I used to, and much lower carbs and calories. I am drinking unsweetened iced tea all day. I haven't started taking vitamins yet. I just joined Curves and I had my first workout today. I know I should be more patient, but I feel like I am exerting will power all the time and I have nothing to show for it in the past two weeks. I think I need to measure my portions. I already have an appointment for a fill at 4 weeks post-op which is the soonest I can get it done. I hope this will get easier in the future, because right now I feel like I am working hard and have nothing to show for it. Please tell me that it will get better!!! UGH!:bolt:

I don't know. I even had my husband pound my back like he was burping a baby and it didn't do me any good. I am learning to be extra careful not to swallow air because it kinda hurts when I have an air bubble in there that I cannot burp out!

I was experiencing that, too, from right after surgery until about a week and a half afterwards. I noticed it in particular when I twisted to the left. I asked my doctor about it in the post-op appointment and he said that it is the port site that is inflamed which is normal. He said that in order to attach the port to the abdominal wall he had to disturb a bunch of nerve endings and they are still "angry at me" which most of his patients experience. Twisting in particular, he said, aggrivates these nerve endings. I pretty much don't feel it anymore now, a little over two weeks after surgery.

I have experienced that, too. I used to be able to make myself burp easily anytime I needed to. But since I got my band it simply doesn't work. Unfortunately I can still swallow air (not on purpose!) but I don't have a way to bring it back up again. I think this is the reason I am experiencing more gas... on the other end...

I was wondering if that's what it was. But if I'm in ketosis, wouldn't I be losing weight? I thought ketosis was when you're burning fat for energy?

I am a little over two weeks post-op and I have recently started on mushies. I have been following the diet pretty closely, eating mostly hummus, yogurt, cottage cheese, soup, and protein shakes. The last few days I was wondering if all my food was going bad because it seemed like everything I was eating had a bitter taste, but now I realize that the bitter taste is in my mouth, not my food. Has anyone else experienced this? Also, I know this is "bandster hell" time, and I don't have much if any restriction left, but I have not lost any weight in the last week in spite of the fact that I am eating much less than I used to and very little carbs. I quickly dropped about 10 pounds in the first week and then nothing this week. UUURRG! I already have a fill scheduled for four weeks post-op which is the earliest I can get a fill.

Hi all, I just joined this forum. I was banded on September 9 so I am now one week post-op. Everything seems to be going smoothly so far. I only had pain for about two days, and I could manage it with alternating Tylenol and Advil (liquid gel caps). I felt a lot of restriction at first, even to the point that drinking Water was somewhat difficult, but now I don't feel too much restriction. On the other hand, I haven't been too hungry yet. This afternoon I got a bit hungry and then I realized that I hadn't really eated much of anything today, just drank water and unsweetened ice tea and an Isopure Protein beverage. So I had some Soup and I feel much better. This liquid diet is gonna get old quickly, I can tell you, though. At least I only have one more week of liquids and then I can go to mushies. One interesting thing I am noticing is that the skin in the area of my incisions is so itchy. Is anyone else experiencing that?

Hi everyone! I've been browsing on this forum for a while but I thought it was about time I introduce myself and start posting. I just got banded one week ago. So far so good. Healing is coming along nicely. I am still on the liquid diet, and I am just starting to feel hungry. At first after surgery I felt quite a bit of restriction, but now I don't have too much. I've got quite a lot to lose, and I'm not really sure what I should select as a goal weight. Since I'm starting at 433, to be honest, I would be happy getting below 250. Funny how that as a goal weight would be higher than many people's starting weight... But I would really like to get down to more like 170. For my height (5' 9.5") that would probably get me down to size 14 or even 12. I suppose I don't have to decide right now, my first mini-goal is to get out of the 400s! That shouldn't take too long as I am already down 13 pounds in the last week. Well, I think I will be around here for a long time...!