kimr

Claire, love your term knackeredness. My husband is from England as says knackered quite often. Glad you got to get out and enjoy yourself!

Looks so good! It's crazy to look in the mirror and see the new you, huh? I love it!

PinkPolkdadot, let me know when the get together will be! You can PM me details.

Hi Deanna! So glad you are feeling not too bad and surgery went well!

I was not able to stand up straightly for awhile, way too tight and sore! You will get there but it takes time. My surgeon wanted me stretching throughout the day to help with it. Looking forward to hearing more about it. Send me pics too!

Kim

I'm in San Diego. I had my surgery 2 years ago.

I want to have my arms done as well. No help from insurance.

The pictures were crappy quality as they were a picture of the pictures provided to me by the doctor's hard copy. The results are even better in person. Would love to see yours too! I wore a pencil skirt yesterday and my tummy was so FLAT, it was crazy!

Lynn, if you provide me your e-mail I can send you the pictures. I am not comfortable putting them on the internet with my name associated. I met with 4 different surgeons. I got a full body lift (a cut all the way around my abdomen, so basically a butt life and tummy tuck) and a boob lift. I got estimates from $20K - $40K.

Claire, you have had quite the journey over the last couple of weeks. You seem in great spirits though, so that is great. I'm glad you are doing ok and getting through it all. Hope the swelling goes down soon so you can continue to see the results. I'm also glad to read you are happy with going through with the procedure.

Deanna, they removed 10 pounds of skin from my surgery. I continued to lose more weight after the surgery as I was not hungry at all for awhile. I did not do measurements! Silly me.

Sending before/after pictures now!

ryn2bthin, so exciting about your upcoming surgery! The weeks after my surgery are like a blur now. I do know that sleeping in a recliner really helped. I also need a body pillow for a good 6 weeks. You'll need help the first week as you'll be on pain meds and can't move too well. Are you staying one night in a hospital? The results are so worth it, just keep that in mind!!! I'm so happy I went through it and I had a full body lift (cut all the way around), breast lift and Lipo. Sorry I never posted before and after, I'm a little weird about that. If you want I can send you them via e-mail. Just don't want them on the www.

Janette, sorry about the bounce back. Glad you are going to get back to the gym. The surgery is difficult, but for me, very worth it. If you have any questions, let me know.

pinkpolkadot, I had my first surgery at Pacific Bariatric!

Hi Smallbird

I do not currently go to a group, and the only one I know of is on weekdays. Would love to meet you if you want when you come to SD on weekends!

I'm in SD

My weight has been at a stand still for awhile (although I did loose from the skin removal surgery). I am completely recovered from the plastic surgery. It is wild to have a rock hard stomach!!! And perky boobies. :-)

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and holiday season.

Kim

Good luck to you that are having the plastic surgery in January, I'm here if you have any questions!

I don't have this as an app on my phone.

I can add the picture now, but it's upside down. I can't get it to rotate and save. Sorry. The picture is me with my shirt tucked in! First time in years!

how do I post pictures?

Claire, I don't understand why your procedure should include extra for the pubic area. The lift in the tummy should take care of that. I know that the UK is much more conservative with recovery times. My SIL who lives there said they can;t drive for 6 weeks after a c-section, but here we can drive after 2 weeks.

I was able to drive after one week as long as I was off narcotic drugs. I needed to be able to drive me kids to school. I used tylenol during the day and took pain pills at night to sleep. AT 3 weeks I am still slow, but managing ok. Still can't bend completely down and sleep in the recliner.

it's much tougher recovery than the bypass.

Girls I will try to find some non discreet pictures to post. I'm not a fan of posting pictures of my naked body with me in it! LOL.

AS far as cost, the 3 procedures came to about $27K.

oh, the total procedures I had was the belt lipectomy, breast lift (no augmentation and Lipo in the bra line area on my back (ouch!)

Thanks for checking in Deanna! The surgery went really well. It was supposed to go 7 1/2 hours and only took about 6 1/2. I'm on day 18 post op I believe. The first week was brutal! Even the 2nd week was tough. Because I had a belt lipectomy which the incision goes all the way around, there is not one position to be in comfortably, plus you can't lay flat or lay directly on the tail bone (risk of opening up). I am still sleeping in a recliner and hope to move to the bed soon. I'm still swollen on my tummy, but happy with what I can see so far. My boobs are awesome! They went from hanging almost to my belly button to firm boobs right where the should be. They don't even move! It's wild, I look in the mirror and don't recognize myself. My husband says once we can become intimate, it's going to feel like an affair to him LOL I was able to wean off pain pills during the day after 6 days, so I could drive. I take tylenol during the day as needed and take pain pills at night to sleep ok.

I went back to work after 2 weeks and it's been difficult mostly due to energy levels and I've started to swell in my ankles. I'm now to go back in compression stockings and try to move every 30 minutes. By 2 or 3 o'clock I am done! I worked it out so I could leave at 3 everyday this week and that has been a good idea. I was supposed to travel for work next week, but doctors nixed that.

Let me know what other details or questions you may have. I'm happy to share anything!

Kim

Hi girls!

Wanted to let you know I am having a plastic surgery tomorrow. I'm excited, but SO nervous about the recovery. I am doing a full belt (incision all the way around to remove the loose skin from my torso) and also a boob lift. Procedure is scheduled to take 7 1/2 hours. Please think good thoughts for me!!

Kim

wallflower you look so great!!! I hope you are feeling great too!

Erin, I've seen that pic on FB, but hadn't seen the before. So amazing!!!

I've still got about 20 lbs I want to lose. I'm also pursing the plastic surgery and hearing I'll lose about 15lbs from the skin removal around my torso. That's nice!

Thanks Deanna for this information! I am hoping to get a "mommy makeover" in the fall which includes a Tummy Tuck and breast lift. Is that down time completely out of work? That would be huge for me. You have done such a wonderful job with your weight loss, are you going to proceed with the surgery?

Kim

How is everyone doing???? It's been too quiet out there. Hope all of you are doing great!

Busy time with me right now being a taxi driver for my kids. And work of course keeps me busy. My weight loss is going good and down 116 since surgery. About 30ish more to go. Biggest complaint is the extra skin. Not a pretty sight naked. I'm hoping to get some plastic surgery in the fall, but not sure to what extent. Minimum would be breast lift/reduction and Tummy Tuck. Other areas I'd considered once I learned more would be upper thighs and arms. Anyone else considering plastic surgery?

Come back and chat and tell how you are doing!

Kim

Deanna you look amazing!!! Such a difference. Great job.

I had my one year f/u and I was down 104lbs. My blood work was all good too, so that was good to hear. I still have about 40lbs to go, not sure on the actual # until I get there. I haven't been that low since I was a teenager.

Matos, Protein is the KEY! That is all I focused on for the first 6 months, and still is my priority. Keep trying different ones until you find one you like. The scale can be a wicked ride the first year! So just be aware of that and we've all been there.