Corliss

Hey Punkster, I am glad you got this taken care of quickly. I had my band removed in September, I was in such bad shape after my slip. I had it replaced a month ago. The doctor who replaced it found a huge hiatal hernia which may or may not have been responsible for the slip. I sure hope all goes well with you. Life without a band was difficult after having been banded for almost 3 years. I hope yours stays put this time. Corliss

I had face lift in Monterrey Mx on June 23. I had neck, face, upper and lower bleph and the muscle in my forhead weakened. I also had my ears trimmed. I am extremly happy with most of it, however my forehead does not match the rest of my face. The skin is quiet loose and wrinkled. My eyebrows are low as a result, basically unchanged since before the surgery. I find this disturbing as it is a contrast to the rest of my face. My understanding was that he would in doing the full face lift, elevate my brow somewhat. I told him in consult that I did not want to look unnatural and have that surprised look all the time. When I asked him afterwards if it was going to pull up on its on or if my brows would stay that way, he told me that I had said specifically that I did not want that surprised look. This was all true, and I am wondering if since this was a Mexican surgeon that the language nuances may have made a difference in his understanding what I really wanted or was there some medical reason that he could not have done this in combination with the upper and lower bleph. If you could shed some insight on this issue I would appreciate it. Do you think I could yet have a brow lift or would too much scar tissue have developed from the incisions he made to weaken the forehead muscle? I also wonder if it is usual for patients to not require narcotics after face lift. My doctors gave me Supradol (Mexican tordol and tylenol combo) and Ultracet (ultram and tylenol). This was quiet painful surgery on my face though the arms were not very painful. My doctor told me I was the first patient he had ever had who had such pain with a face lift. That was a bit disturbing because I don't require a lot of pain meds and following lap band was off after the second day of Supradol. Any how I would appreciate your thoughts on these issues and any advice as to how to deal with my mismatched face lift. Thank you, Corliss

:confused:Oh heck 3.5 wks???What do you do? Work from home at a job where you can sit in a recliner and get up frequently and continue to use pain meds. I just had face lift and brachioplasty which is nothing close to what you are having and no way would I consider going back to work at this time. I am 3 and 1/2 weeks out to be exact. I still have some scabing on my arms and have not been able to start the silicone for the scars yet. I have a lot of weakness and quiet a bit of depression which could be from the anesthesia. I am not taking pain meds for the last week and 1/2 but strongly suspect if I had all the surgery done you are I would need to. You may have your drains 3.5 weeks. What did your doctor tell you to expect recovery time wise? I sure hope that it works out that way for you and will watch for your progress, but be warned it sure wasn't that quick for me. Good luck to you and I am truely excited for you, I bet you will love the results. Corliss

Okay am i missing something? I thought you paid him 4000 more to take care of your rolls in upper stomach. He did not tighten muscles correct? Then if he didn't tighten muscles he didn't do an actual tummy tuck, he just cut the loose skin off the upper part of the tummy for the extra 3000 you paid him and the 1000 was for extra time in the OR? I would be very very angry. I think I would get a copy of my operative report first, and unless he had told you in advance he was not tightening your stomach muscles, he owes you some money or a revision. If he explained before hand that he would only cut excess skin he should have also explained to you that this would not give you the flat stomach that a tummy tuck gives. That is horrible to not give complete information either way. He may even be liable for malpractice. :cursing: There is a plastic surgeon who has a thread on this board. I would post and ask him any questions I had and I would deal with my doctor politely but objectively. I would not make any accusations but ask for information and be careful to document everything he tells you. Ordinarily I am not litiginous but having just been through a face lift and brachioplasty I know how much pain and what a slow recouperation it is and this should not be taken lightly. Hugs to you hon, and I hope all goes well as possible. Corliss

So sorry, what a drag. Is your doc going to be able to do it outpatint in his office under local? Good luck hon. Corliss:thumbdown:

Rita, I agree with you. Christ preached love and forgiveness. I have had to work real hard to forgive some people in my life who have been abusers but that didn't mean I liked them, I just didn't have to waste my energy hating them. I certainly don't have to hate a troubled celebrity who may or may not have done the things he was accused of. I wonder at the people who use the bible to justifiy hatred and avoid forgiveness. I have found a lot of peace in my life by being willing to own my feelings and let go of them. I suspect everybody is right where they are supposed to be, and my biggest problem is that I tend to have a hard time avoiding judging the judgemental, lol! All part of my spiritual journey. Corliss:wub:

I just thought I would check in on this thread to see what folks had to say and I wished I had stayed on the forum just talking about wt. loss and cosmetic surgery. I was saddened by the guy because I thought he had too many issues that he should have dealt with as he certainly had the resources. He had very bad judgement in his relationships and in his use of cosmetic surgery, but he did a huge lot of good for a many thousands of starving people. He was just an injured soul. I hope he finds peace, and for those of you who get some comfort out of hating him and pronouncing him guilty of child molestation and wishing him in hell, I hope all of you find what ever it is that you are supposed to learn from this experience and move on. Good luck on your life journey. Corliss

I lost 203 lbs with my previous band. I did not consistently do low carb but it was absolutely wonderful for getting me off plateaus. I lost my band due to a slip Sept. 19, 2008. I gained wt. on every diet I tried. The only one I lost any wt on was a modified low carb where my carbs were from vegetables and a small amount of fruit and of course dairy. I could not consistantly stay on low carb and it was neccesary to get another band. I am thrilled to have a band. At this time I am 45 lbs from goal again and just started back on low carb, high fat, moderate/high protein. I intend to keep my band as loose as possible in hopes of avoiding another slip. Wish me luck! Corliss

TY Patty, I have read a lot of your posts on the plastic surgery forum. You had caught my eye, I identify with so much you have written. Sounds like you did a tremendous amount of work even before you were banded. Please PM me anytime. Corliss

Hey Butterfly, I was banded 2 days after you but this is my second band. I am here to tell you that bands work if you do your part. I lost 203 lbs with my first band. I gained 60 between bands and started with the new band at 49.8 lbs from goal. I had a load of plastic surgery shortly after rebanding and am only just now starting to focus on wt loss. I had so much push to eat from my plastic docs that I have basically ate most any liquids, softs and now mushies that I could get in. I am however feeling that I am wasting time cause I am not trying to loose wt, so I made the switch, today I started seriously watching my carbs and cals. Don't feel like you are the only one who has buyer's remorse because I have heard of many who do. You are an addict to the feeling that food gives you and to avoiding the feelings that come up when you can't eat. You will have to deal with those negative feelings. The best ways I have found its to start a new project and you can let that project be you. Start logging your food and activity on fitday, and try to work in just a little more fun physical activity everyday. If I can help you in any way I will be glad to. Don't hesitate to get in touch with me. You can see my before and after pics on my profile. Corliss

Slush Puppies are not carbonated, but remember to count the calories.

Hi slim-n-tn, I have been in a few times but seems like there wasn't ever any recent posts when I came in, but found some today. I had to have my band removed after almost three years and after loosing to goal due to a slip which was probably due to a hiatal hernia. :frown:I really wanted to be one of those folk who didn't regain their wt. after loosing the band but I was not. I gained 60 of the 203 which I had lost in the 10 months which I was without band. I am so glad to have a new one, I loved the first one till I started having major problems. I am very greatful to have been able to lose the wt and keep off what I did. Corliss Pre surg diet 376 lbs Day of 1st banding 356 lbs Wt at loss of band 170 (-) Wt at rebanding 219 lb Lowest wt since banding 214 lbs

Hi Chris, I was not banded locally but was unbanded at Memorial by Dr. Sass, because I have crazy insurance:cursing: which will not pay for rebanding at Memorial, I went back to Mx and was rebanded (self-pay) June 18, 2009, and also had a load of plastic surgery while there. I am at home busy recouperating mostly from the plastic, the rebanding was a breeze. I am usually in chat on this site, but for some reason i haven't been able to get in lately, so I am exploring the message boards. Feel free to pm me. Corliss 373/356/170 215

Hey, my advice would be to drin some hot tea with honey before eating and then chew your food very very well after taking very tiny bites. Start wit h mushies again and only have about one half cup at a time. Take at least 20 minutes to eat. If that is not enough in itself as you doc for a prescription for reglan. You may be having esophageal spasms. good luck, Corliss

Hey smart blonde, I haven't been able to get into chat lately so thought i would check out some chat buds blogs. Hope to get to chat with you soon. Corliss

Can't get in either! I hear ya on the walking, drug my grand on a walk and it was my first since monterrey besides at the grocery. I took her shopping today, poor kid was dressed like her daddy's mini me. I told her she was a pretty girl and we had to show it. The girls day out was good for both of us. This one was the youngest one, not my usual shopping buddy, but she sure loved it, though she initially protested. She loved one outfit so much that she wanted to wear it home from the store, so I let her! Hope to talk to you soon chooks, Corliss

Just getting a bit quicker start....Good luck! Corliss

Go LK! Have a blast hon. Corliss

My doc specified that I should not get a fill till at least 8 weeks out. I am gonna hold out as long as I can. I am a second go around with the lap band and don't want to chance anything with mine. I lost the first one probably due to a large hiatal hernia which my surgeon repaired when he enstalled this one. The hernia probably caused the vomiting which eventually caused the slippage. Since I dont know for sure what caused it, I do know that I should be able to minimize problems by using it simply for hunger control and not for restriction. If I am not successful in loosing this way then I will go with minimal fill neccesary. Good luck to you my band twin. Corliss:thumbup:

Some docs put in some fill at the point they install the band. I am glad mine didn't. I think the writers sittuation is a perfect reason not to. Corliss

So glad you got taken care of. You will do just fine without the fill. My doc didn't put any in mine at implantation and I have some restriction. If I can get by without any fill I will. Corliss:thumbup:

Better to keep the drain than have it out too quick. I have seen some nasty abscesses where doc took drains out too quick. Tummy tuck is a big surgery. Bear with it, you will be glad in the long run. Corliss

Please do not be so casual about pbing. Productive burping is the term that many of us use. It is a myth that it is not a problem. True it is not as bad as bringing it up from the lower stomach, however, it has its own set of issues. 1. There is acid in the upper part of the stomach also and it does not to be in contact with you esophagus. 2. The esophagus can become stretched with frequent PBing as it is supposed to work to keep the food down not bring it up. 3. This can be a habit which we develop unknowingly. It allows us to eat more and can become a very subtle form of bulimia. We will overeat routinely and pb routinely. This is a problem which can lead to esophageal and stomach damage and bad breath. It can also be difficult to stop once the pattern is set. Again please do not be casual about it. Good luck. Take care of your band, it is a wonderful tool. Corliss

Sounds like you may have some gastric edema. I would just revert back to full liquids if mushies are hurting. Let your surgeon know. I had mine on June 18 and absolutely no problems, no pain. Corliss

Tide, honestly as much as I like Dr Cardenas and the crew in Monterrey, I don't think I would have a lower body lift out of country unless I was prepared to stay at least 6 wks, because there can be loads of edema and Fluid pocked accumulation that could be a set up for infection if not drained properly. If she is not near her surgeon it would not be possible to do that as she might need it and it is extremely hard to get a US doc to do follow up for other proceedures so I would bet the same with Plastics. I did know of one woman from Louisiana who went and had LBL and returned after two weeks and at some point she became septic and ended up in intensive care with a load of complications. It was not the fault of the Doc in Tijuana who did it, but I think they should require a long stay for follow up. I am not trying to scare ya here, but in thinking about possible additional surgeries for me, I don't think I would ever do that one, but If I did, I would want to be near my surgeon quiet a few weeks. I do think Cardenas is an artist, and would probably return to him if I was going to have LBL, but like I said, only with intent of staying there at least 6 wks, then cost would be equal to here. I will post some more pics soon, prob when I wash my hair and post without bandages. I have to wear them all time except changes for another week, then can leave them off at night, then next week, can leave them off in day time and wear at night. Most bruising is gone except right under jaw. My daughter and Kathy and oldest grand absolutely love it, but the youngest is freaked out a bit by the changes in her Nama! I told her I was still the same OLD Nama, that I just fixed myself so I would look prettier. Don't know that it will be okay with her or not. But you guys might want to prepare the children. My daughter had talked to the kids about it, but Graicen can't even remember me being real fat. It is hard for her to conceive that her Old Nama was ever a baby faced gal! talk to you soon, Corliss