MississippiGirl

I had a brachioplasty done three weeks ago. I am concerned about the puckering at the incision sites. My doctor says it will go away as my scars smooth out but i'm just feeling down and wanted to know if anyone has had this experience and did it go away?!? If so, how long did it take?

I was banded on October 6, 2008--losing 130 pounds over three years. I had a belt lipectomy and breast lift with implants on December 7, 2011. I'm doing great. Very happy with results! Doc took 15 pounds of excess skin! I won't lie the first three days it felt like a Mac truck ran over me. By day 5 I was feeling much much better. Today I'm two weeks out. Yesterday was my first full day of doing stuff. I went to another post op doc visit, shopping, light cleaning of the house and cooked supper. By the end of the day my swelling was pretty bad. This morning it is back down and I'm going to take it a little easier on myself today. My question is--how long before the swelling up and down is over. My concern is I go back to work at the beginning of January--worried about if I need to be finding pants that will accomodate this swelling by the end of the day! Any input is appreciated. I'm just ready to wear pants that don't have an elastic waist! lol!

I go for a consult for a full body lift on Monday to see a plastic surgeon. Can anyone tell me if there are specific questions I should ask related to the lapband? I've seen some people say they had their's repositioned so exactly what question(s) should I ask? Any advice is appreciated!

I'm sure it varies per doctor and state but a breast lift with implants and beltectomy will be around 16K.

Thanks Ember! I've been really nervous..i've stayed on forums reading about people's experiences..some people heal quickly and I'm reading that some people are many weeks before they are feeling better! I'm really trying to lose 15 pounds before I have the surgery and revving up my exercise in hopes that will help with my recovery! Just all very scary! It sounds like you are doing awesome tho! Thanks for sharing your experience with me..keep us updated!

So glad that you are in less pain than you were expecting. I know that until December when I have surgery that it is all I will think about! And two dress sizes--how AWESOME is that! I figure I will probably go down 1-but i'll be content with that! I don't know what it will be like to have a flat tummy--that is exciting! How much weight have you lost in all? Were you at the goal weight you wanted to be at when you had the tummy tuck?

Hi Judy! The consult was good...my thighs will need a lift as well...but that will be my second surgery and unfortunately I have MS BCBS insurance and they don't pay for anything! The cost to have my arms and thighs done at the same time will be around 8K.

Sue: I am so sorry! I know I posted on here about what the doc said...but after i got your message I came here to look and now don't see it! Of course, the consult was quite embarassing--I mean getting pretty much completely naked and having pics of your body is no picnic! The doc said he didn't want to do it all at one time. So I will have my a belt lipectomy (sp?) and breast lift with implants done first. Then I will go back and have the arms and thighs done in a second surgery. Thanks for the questions...they really helped! I'm nervous...never thought I'd ever need implants..but oh well!

Sue, Thanks for responding! I've been up since 4:26 this morning..i'm guessing it is just nervousness...I go today! I was looking for answers that were lap-band related. I appreciate the help. If you have any other just general PS questions that you feel are on the top of the list and I may not have thought about them...by all means please shoot them to me right quick! I've written a few down...but apparently i'm gonna be scatter brained today and not operating on a full night's sleep! Thanks, Jackie

Does anyone have any suggestions of an exercise dvd that is really good at focusing on butt/thighs/legs...mainly thighs! Really got to get some more weight off in these target areas!! Thanks!

I'm back on track too! I've bee on track pretty much since my surgery in Oct 08...but over the last three months I've had a lot of work stress and no restriction...so I've gained 20 of the 104 lbs i've lost back. I went four weeks ago to a new doctor closer to my home to get a fill....it didn't help! But I've been disciplined and had self control and I've lost 9 of those pounds I've gained back! I go back tomorrow to get a little more..Hopefully it'll be enough! We can do this! I've also ordered a book that hopefully will help me changing my mindset about food. It's called eating mindfully! I'll let you know if its a good read.

Hi Everyone...been MIA for a little while...just wondering if there were any Smashing Pumpkins which was the group who had surgery in October 2008...just wanted an update on how y'all are doing...

Wow you both have done FANTASTIC! As of today I'm down 103 lbs! I know I could have done better...but I've fought a lot of emotional eating to get these 103 lbs down! I think I'm up to 6.3 cc's in a 10 cc band. I'm suppose to go back Sept 1 to get a fill...but not sure I need one. I'm at the point where I've only been getting .3 cc's when I go...hate having to pay all that money just for that much...and I wonder how the heck can that much really make a difference but it does! I want to weigh 180...i'm at 238 this morning from 341...So I've got about 58 more lbs to goal! I already have a lot of loose skin ESPECIALLY at my belly...so I will definitely be having weight loss surgery. I just worry about the SCARRING!! How are yours healing? It is so nice to touch base with you and see that comparable that we've done fabulous! Keep it up Smashing Pumpkins!!

PLEASE PLEASE REPLY! I just went for a fill yesterday at 11:30. I went from 6.2 to 6.4 in a 10 cc band. Yesterday I could get down liquids and I ate 2.5 popsicles during the day...tried Jello last night..it was NO GO! I got two small bites down and got it to stay down though. This morning I sipped some Water (not very much)...then tried 1/2 of popsicle...I felt uncomfortable so I went walking for about 10 minutes hoping it would pass...it didn't it came back up. I think I am just nervous because my last fill I went from 6.2 to 6.5 and could not even swallow my own spit for two days...I had to go back and they took me back down to 6.2. I think I was nervous during this fill because a NEW nurse pract. was doing the fill. I think I'm still a little nervous just because of what happened last time... PLEASE HELP! should I just try and calm down and see how the rest of the day goes..or should I call the doc? The doc's rules are two days of clear; two days of reg liquid; then mushies...UGH! I'm following the rules! If anyone has had this experience please do share..I'm desperate! Jackie

Thanks jtreece! Very helpful...I think I've decided as long as I can get water down until 5 today I'm gonna then stop by the coffee shop and try a little hot liquids if I can get that down I saw where someone else said try some liquid benadryl for swelling if I can get a couple of tsps of that down maybe I can battle through!

I just have no clue either! It makes no sense how last time .2 can make the difference of not being able to swallow my own spit to being able to eat pizza and anything else I want... My thing is mine is either eating ALL or NOTHING...I mean at 6.2 I can eat anything now i'm 6.4 and can't even eat a popsicle! So does that mean 6.3 is going to be my SWEET SPOT..my thoughts...PRobably NOT! Frustrating!

Congrats on getting the band! It depends...some doctors when they do the surgery do add a small amount of saline to the band...some do not. Mine didn't...but you should still have a little restriction just from the band itself. You should be able to drink all the liquids you want. Of course, make sure you are following your doctor's liquid diet food list. Most people can't tell restriction just from drinking liquid. I'm almost two years out and just had a fill yesterday and am trying to figure out that SWEET SPOT...and right now I'm definitely getting restriction just with liquids! Just be prepared that this is a trial and error thing and that you might not feel true restriction for awhile...In my experience the beginning was alot of WILL POWER and Changing that LIFESTYLE! Hope this helps and don't confuse you more!! Good Luck! Jackie

Thanks Everyone for your thoughts! I am able to sip Water and keep it down....I figured if I try and give it a day or two then the swelling will go down....I just don't know... Here is another part of my dillemma: My surgeon is 4 hours away...which meant I drove yesterday a total of 8 hours...which equals $100 in gas and then my fill is $100. Last month I spent 400.00 between with traveling because I had to go get an unfill which cost me gas up there and my surgeon charges another 100.00 to unfill....So between the last six weeks I've already got $600.00 spent...I just hate to make it $800 if I have to go for an unfill...Oh and this on top of the 16K it cost me out of pocket...I was a self pay! Just wondering if I can just hang it out a few days in hopes it eases up some...and I DEFINITELY Needed the Fill...Gained 3 lbs and could eat ANYTHING! Again...I appreciate any responses!

Before my fill I had pretty much NO restriction!! At all! After the last time when I went from 6.5 to 6.2 a few days later I could eat anything I wanted...which makes me think it is just nerves.. UGH! I know that it does irritate it and cause it to be worse...that's why I tried my best not to let it come up...but fail :-( I was thinking of not sipping anything for a couple of hours and then just sip some Water for the rest of the day..then just sip water tomorrow and wait til after lunch to try anything else... I am usually tighter in the morning and I had 1/2 the popsicle at 9:30! What does it feel like for you after you get a fill?

Ok...I've been doing great, but haven't been checking in..I'm going to do better. So far down a total of 13 lbs in this challenge Woo Hoo! I don't think I will meet my goal of another 15 lbs...but maybe 10 before Easter...anything will be better than nothing! Keep up the Awesome work everyone!