xavier

Would love to see where your read machine was better unless its the product advertisement for the staple gun...ever see a machine used on a face? Of course not. AND the photo, where the scar looks perfect is the one person who doesn't scar...would need to see 100 or 1000 cases to see the truth...just sayin"!

Agree, but why not ask for the tiny hand-sewn everywhere if you know about it? Things have changed a little but since it is a self pay elective procedure why not ask for and get what you want? I would bet any $ that no machine or stapler has ever touched the skin of Demi Moore!

I think I see everyone's point of view and feel terrible for anyone with complications such as a leak. It's failure of the product not the doc or (ridiculous) the patient. Overall I think lapband is a great choice and only becomes cost prohibitive in terms of us self-payers if there is a complication. In the absence of a complication (and these are much more frequent with procedures such as sleeve or bypass), I can't agree that its better to have your stomach removed and tossed in the trash (sleeve) to save money on fills! There is no way the cost of fills comes close to what the great majority of us have already wasted on binge food, gyms, pills, diet programs etc!

Just my opinion...ask if your surgeon if he plans to use staples in your skin. Staples are easy and fast but leave the little frankenstein scars all along the incision. They are an indication of a lazy surgeon and I would never go to one who does that. They are for inside the body not the skin. With hand suturing the thread is in/under the skin so there are no side scars/holes. Good luck to all!

I just constantly felt ashamed of myself...maybe that sums up a lot of what you're saying.

Would love to see pix, get details on both!

Well I seroiusly think you look amazing. That waist looks almost like a mannequin...perfect! We are all very self critical...just try to remind yourself of the before (fat, and then skinny but loose skin) even if you have to look at pix before you look at the current result!!!

Has anyone tried that new Xerona laser? Its like a rotating laser light that waves over your trouble area to mobilize fat but no incisions...I saw it on a talk show for a fit woman who couldnt exercise off a tummy bulge and it looked good. I wonder if having the port in there would be a contraindication. I have seen that they have it in Sacramento and I'm sure in LA and SF...any info??

Would have to see the before and after pix to believe. HOW does it work?

It looks pretty darn flat to me!!

Banded more than a year and at the same time had diaphragmatic hernia repair (often related to reflux). I had bad reflux on and off for years and never had one incident of it even when eating bad foods since my band! Also losing weight takes pressure off that are and can reduce reflux. Who ever said reflux is not to be taken lightly was RIGHT! Reflux irritates the cells of your lower esophagus and can nag them into malignant transformation...cancer!

Allen, thanks for the info...I need that kind of realistic info! Sue, Wow! You look great, a beautiful nipped-in waist and your tummy looks board flat! Thanks so much for putting up the pix!

Thanks for your replies! Ok, so there was a certain amount removed but how did that translate to a loss on the scale once the swelling etc. went down? Thanks, thanks, thanks...

Did you who have had PS and or lipo lose a significant amount of weight from the skin and fat removed??

I'm not on this site as much any more but I love to read your blog! Happy (belated) birthday!!!

So glad you got to do that. Its so good for people to see real people and hear the real stories! I loved your last paragraph....are you a fan of Michael Pollan? I thought it sounded like him...I have all his books and I have bought them for others.

Cant wait to read about how it went...youll do great!

Great post...I will re read it often because its so valuable! Congrats!

good luck and let us know how it turns out...

I have heard of people losing their band due to erosion or slippage from pills...now I chew mine with a flintstones vitamin (to hide the taste) or take liquid kids stuff...not worth the risk! But be sure its not an extended release or you are defeating that if you crush or open it...

Get the right med, let your stomach heal...it will. Good luck.

1. 46 2. yes, lb 3. 5/6/09 4. 215 lbs 5. 175 lbs 6. 30# to go 7. no, but I'll reassess when I get closer 8. 7/10 9. 9/10 10. I just feel more normal like people are not looking at me and thinking I am obese.Also it feels good to finally be successful in losing weight...slowly but thats ok for me.

Definitely it is from a shift or increased retention of fluids everywhere in your body...including the stomach tissue inside the band...so, yes, it is tighter. This is also the reason your band is tighter in the morning...there are changes in where and how much fluid you have at different times of the day AND diffferent times of the month...hope this helps!

You can also look a doc up here on this site and see what people say about him or her.You need doc with lots of experience and a low complications rate...after the procedure your relationship is usually more with the nurses or PAs to get fills.

I cant even stand the isopure ones...there's something in them that looks like sea monkeys and they taste awful!!! I use a few protein bars and put some whey powder in soups and V8 and stuff. Tried the bullets or shots or whatever (big red slimey test tubes from GNC) and I couldnt even swallow it! I need help too!