Karen12345

I've lost 170 lbs and the nutritionist I saw told me that if I got 60 grams or more of Protein, that I wouldn't lose my hair and it worked. She said that our skin and hair is made of protein. Although I have had to have a tummy tuck and breast lift, my skin looks great. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Thanks Danielle! I'm very excited and no, I will be getting my arms done in a few months and my thighs a few months after that with Dr Quiroz. Since my stomach was the ffluer de lis (vertical t cut) only in the front, I will probably need work done on my back and butt. I'm gonna see how the doctor thinks I should do it. It's hard for me to take off more than 9 or 10 days so I'm having to do everything one at a time. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Tracy I'm having my surgery at CosMed on Thursday the 9th. Will you be there? If not, we will for sure be talking via this website. Good luck! And I lost the 170 by exercising about 6 days a week and I miss it but it won't take long. Heck, I thought it took a long time to lose 170 lbs but now I look back and realize that 2 years was really quick. Funny how I thought when this all started I'd have it off in like 10 months, lol. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

It's really great! Thank you! You will be fine and love the results! I love the magic of plastic surgery! Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Danielle, glad to hear you are doing well. I am going to Dr Quiroz in 5 days (as you know) for the breast and neck lift. I am so happy with everyone's good results from his work. I went and met him and toured the facility. I was totally impressed and like you said, I really think you can't find anyone better here in the US and their prices are incredibly good. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Oh, I had only maintained my weight loss for about 3 months but waiting would not have gotten rid of any of that skin! Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I had lost 170 lbs and got down to 150. I had a massive amount of skin. I am up to 165 post surgery and it's all in my legs and butt. But I can tell you I didn't gain ANYTHING in my stomach..it's really incredible what they can do. I'm getting a breast and neck lift in 5 days and then the arms in about 4 months and the thighs several months after that. I want to shrink my thighs a lot first, lol. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I returned to work 1/2 days 10 days after my tummy tuck. Consequently it took me long, long time to heal. I had my drain in for 6 weeks. I think if I hadn't overdone it so soon, that I would have healed much faster. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Tracy I had tummy tuck 8 weeks ago. I had lost 170 lbs so there was a lot of skin. My healing took awhile. I just got my last tube out 2 weeks ago. I over did it from the beginning and I think that made the healing more difficult. Now in 5 days I'm having a breast and neck lift (I was instructed no Vitamin e before surgery so check that out). I haven't been able to start exercising but mainly because I don't want the swelling to come back before my next surgery. If it weren't for that, I'd probably chance it. I've attached my before and after. I'm so happy with my stomach now! Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Let's see if it's still upside down... Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Lauralou, I didn't think I'd want or hopefully need the tummy tuck, but it became very important after 170 lbs. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I had my lapband 2 1/2 years ago and I guess I'm at goal weight. I always said my goal was 150 and I got there and have maintained it several months. I have so much lose skin that it never would have tightened up. Now it's so tight that I can hardly eat a piece of pizza! That "after" picture was just a few days post op. The doctor says I was still swollen and I couldn't believe it. The port wasn't so visible then but as the swelling came down, it's poked out more and more. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I had the same problem. My esophagus and pouch were all torn up. I've had a total unfill and am just living with it that way. Thank god I'm at goal weight. I've lost 170 lbs. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I have a wide mouthed Vitamin Water bottle and I drop 4-5 ice cubes in with with powder and my liquid. Then I shake it really hard. The ice gets it stirred completely. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I don't know why, but that picture uploaded upside down, lol. But you can see the hideous lump! Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I don't know if you can really see it, but it's huge!! Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

The whole situation of throwing up blood totally freaked me out! It would heal and then come back, heal again and come back again. The only way for it to heal was to be completely on liquids or mushys. I was starving and often just ate ice cream. I've got $11,000 in ps and spending $8000 more in the next few weeks with another $10,000 shortly after that. I'm hoping that will motivate me to not gain any weight. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I got an erosion in my pouch and was throwing up blood. I am at goal weight. I've been unfilled for awhile and am doing well. I am actually eating healthier since getting a total unfill. I know it's a possibility of gaining weight but the lapband isn't an option for me now. I understand that eating around 1200-1500 calories is now and forever my way of life. I have completely changed in every way in the last 2 1/2 years and having lost 170 lbs. I recently had a tummy tuck and am going for the breast and neck lift in 3 weeks and soon after getting my arms and thighs done. I absolutely love being a size 8/10 and my new healthy lifestyle! Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I understand your concerns. I had my abdominoplasty here in Houston for the same reasons. Now I wish I would have done it in Mexico because I could have had two procedures for the price of one here. But I just didn't feel comfortable leaving my area. I wanted to recover at home.nim having my breast lift and neck lift there and am looking forward to it. Staying in their recovery boutique for 6 nights. I will actually get more rest there because at home I was constantly popping up to do stuff. It will be a mini vacation. Good luck to you. Karen Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I am 7 weeks out and week 3-6 were the worst. I can't exercise yet but started feeling great a few days ago. Made me realize how bad I had been feeling. I went thru a little "depression" crying all of the time. It was kind of rough. I think it was also all of the pain pills I was taking and then trying to quit smoking. It does get better. I just signed up for an all girls mud run, an obstacle course thing and I'm looking forward to that! Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I'm going on the 8th of August. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I emailed my PS that is doing my breast and neck lift next month. He will take out the port and all of the tubing for $200! He consulted with his bariatric surgery partners and they said it was totally easy and completely safe to just leave the empty band in. Yay! I'm so excited! My port is huge and painful. I may be more excited about this than the breast lift! Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Want to have just my port removed. I've lost 170 lbs and it was sticking out a lot. It makes exercising (and everything else) very uncomfortable. I had to have a complete unfill because I got an ulcer in my little pouch from taking antibiotics. I recently had a abdominoplasty and it's even worse. I'm having a breast lift in a month and with that tightening of the skin I'm sure it will be even worse. I'd like to have it done here in the US but I think I can have it done cheaper in Mexico (where I'm having the breast lift). Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

You may want to check out Dr Quiroz in Tijuana. You can fly into San Diego, they pick you up at the airport and bring you back. He is board certified in the us and Mexico and does great work for about half the price. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Really try to get your 60 grams of Protein in. It will keep you from losing your hair and keep your skins elasticity. I'm 2 1/2 years out and have lost 170 lbs and didn't lose any hair and my skin is great. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk