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Hi Sylvia. My tt and arm lift was done by Dr. Thomas Sterry. I would highly recommend him - he is very personable and he takes the time to make sure you know everything before you go into surgery. He even stayed with me and rubbed my arm as I was being put under for my surgery, which was very calming. Overall, it wasn't too bad of an experience. I am 4 months post op and just about all the swelling is down. The arm scars are a little annoying, but I know that they should fade over time. I am very happy with the results. If you want to know more, please feel free to ask.

I am one who is very open about having the band. I have learned that, yea, people may have concerns or negative reactions, but its your life - if this is what is best for you, who cares what anyone else thinks. I have found that having support from my friends and family have helped me succeed on my weight loss journey. I have also found that most people are supportive of the decision and are very happy that I felt comfortable telling them. The more more educated people become about bariatric surgery, hopefully less negativity will occur. Good luck!

Hi Karen, I was banded at NYU in 2010. I'd be happy to be your buddy. Feel free to message me and I'll send you my email...

I was banded by Dr. Ren in August of 2010. After losing 75 lbs, I now speak on behalf of the practice at their information sessions. They are all great in their office. You should contact the office regarding if you will be staying over or have an outpatient surgery. I had outpatient and was in and out of the OR in an hour. Dr. Fielding will choose which band he puts in once he gets to surgery, unless you really have a preference. I'm pretty sure most of the surgeons in the office use the lap-band more than the realize band, but it is like coke and Pepsi (personal preference).

I asked my ps about stretch marks and he said that there is nothing out there as of now that really does anything for getting rid of the remnants of stretch marks. I know there are ways to prevent them before your skin stretches, but once the marks are there, he said there is nothing as of now that has been shown to work.

Hi All...I saw my surgeon today for my 6 week post op appointment, and after telling him that I had been using Mederma for the past 3 weeks, he told me it was better to switch to a silicone-based gel. I was wondering if anyone had used the gel's (not the strips) and which brand? I bought the Scarguard MD today at CVS but I wanted other input from other's who have gone through this. Thanks!

Hi all.. I am 24 and was banded in August 2010. I am in my maintenance phase after losing 75 lbs. I started at 215 (I'm 5foot) and I now weigh 139. Even though im a little further along in my journey, I'd be happy to be there for anyone who wants the support. I speak at the information sessions at NYU medical center because of how great I feel following my surgery. I also love chatting with people my own age, who are going through the same thing that I went through... Just message me if you want to chat...

I also, am one month post-op from a tummy tuck, but i also had lipo of the flanks and my arms done as well. Although I don't remember too much of the first day or so, I definitely recommend a recliner if you can. And use lots of pillows around you to make you as comfortable as you can. If you can get a small memory foam pillow to sit on, it will help make you more comfortable as you will be on your back for a while during your sleep periods, until you are able to roll over onto your sides. I was able to roll to my sides at about 2.5 weeks out... Since I had my arms and back done too, i was on pain pills regularly (every 4 hours) for at least 2 weeks (slowly started weaning myself to half of a dose during the day), but now I only take one at night because the lipo causes lots of bruising in the lower back. I had two drains in my abdomen, and was only able to shower 24 hours after they came out, which was about 6 days post-surgery. I was able to take the binder off and sponge bathe myself...or have my mom do it for me...while the drains were still in. I woke up from surgery with a binder on for both my mid section and my arms. After wearing his binder for the first 3 weeks, I have now switched to more of a spanx like product. My arms haven't been in anything since a week after surgery. As for exercising, I am not really allowed any type of exercising or heavy lifting until at least 6 weeks which will be on Feb.1., although I was told no heavy exercising until about 3 months post-op. I feel pretty good though overall, except for the AM when I have to get out of the bed... You will do great!!

Hi everyone. I was banded in 2010 at NYU by Dr. Christine Ren. Just wanted to see who else was around the NYC area, and how everyone is doing with their weight loss journeys! Its always good to have local support from people around the same age!

I was banded by Dr. Ren, although I know all the surgeon's in the office, as my Dad and I speak at their information sessions as live testimonials. They are all fantastic and some of the top doctors in the field. Dr. Fielding was even one of the pioneers of the band, who helped bring the band to America from Australia. You will do great!

I had, as I mentioned in my earlier post, a Tummy Tuck, Liposuction of my Flanks (love handles) and an Arm Lift. Most people don't usually do this much surgery in one shot, although it really wasn't that terrible. I honestly don't remember much about the first week post surgery as I was too drugged and slept through most of it, but I am a month out now, and the only thing that really is still sore, is my back (from the lipo). The lipo really keeps you sore for a good while after, although I am back to driving, off the pain meds and doing really well. Overall, if you find a plastic surgeon who you like and has a good reputation (as you want a great result), as long as they know the anatomy of the band and have worked with bariatric patients, you shouldn't be nervous at all! If you have more questions, please feel free to ask, both about the band or the cosmetic surgery.

I'm from Long Island and was banded in August 2010 at NYU. Just recently underwent plastic surgery, a month ago tomorrow, to remove excess skin on my tummy and arms.

I agree with most that there are a lot of factors in whether you will have excess skin or not. I think it mostly has to do with genetics, age, how much you lost, how you carry your weight, etc. I am 25, and although I did not work out as much as I could have, I did have a decent amount of excess skin, and underwent the tummy tuck, and the arm lift a month ago, tomorrow. I was actually told by personal trainers that I had worked with, and doctors tell me that even if I exercised to the extreme, I still would have had the skin... I also think it depends on if you are a guy or a girl because my father also had the lap-band and lost 160lbs. He has the sagging skin on his abdomen but he can hide that in his clothes. He has no hanging skin on his arms or legs...just looking at him you would never be able to tell he was large. He chose not to get the skin removed as it isn't causing him any problems and he can hide it.

Although I was banded in 2010, my recovery seems like it was yesterday. If I recall, I really had no real pain after the surgery, but the gas in my chest was the most uncomfortable thing. While you had it go away quickly, mine lasted up to two weeks. For new bandsters, it is important to know that each person has a different recovery experience as well as a different weight loss journey. The first few weeks post surgery can definitely be annoying, and it may take several fills before you feel like you are restricted, but everyone has a different experience. A tip for those of you new bandsters, who are still learning the ways about timing while you eat, I found that setting a timer for 20-30 minutes on my phone, was the perfect amount of time to eat as long as you take one bite every 30-45 seconds. My doctor told me that it takes about 20 seconds for the food to pass through the band into the lower portion of the stomach. Also, by keeping yourself on schedule while you eat or drink, will fill you up faster and give you less of a chance of having the food get stuck (as you focus during during those seconds to savor and chew the food to a pulp). As you progress in your weight loss journey, you will have days when certain foods will go down, which others won't. My family who had the band, as well as others I know, refer to the band as a "fickle b***h" because how tight you are can depend on not only how much Fluid is in your band, but on stress, alcohol consumption (makes food go down easier because it relaxes your esophagus,etc.) I speak at the information sessions as a live testimonial for the NYU weight loss group in manhattan. If you have any questions on pre, post or cosmetic surgery, please feel free to ask me (whether here or In a message...)

I find it really interesting about the different types of problems that can come about from these surgeries. While I did not have fluid/blood build-up after my surgery (TT/Arm Lift/Lipo of Flanks), I did have a problem with an infected suture in my armpit. My surgeon does not use outer stitches, rather surgical glue - He places a thick internal stitch that dissolves and then covers it with a surgical glue that comes off as the scabs fall off. Luckily it reduces the scars so 3.5 weeks post-op and my scars look pretty good. Unfortunately, since the inner stitch somehow became infected, he had to take the stitch out, which left me with a small open wound in my armpit...although it isn't a big problem, it is more aggravating to have to deal with cleaning and keeping an open wound clean (as you both probably know and understand). With all this being said, I hope for all our sakes that the worst is over and it will all be downhill from here...and that we will all look wonderful a few months from now!! I will post some photos in the coming days of both my arms and my abdomen...as they have come a long way from the photos I posted in my gallery after 1 week...

If you are not doing so already, make sure you are taking small sips and waiting like 10-15 seconds between sips. The bigger the sips, the more gas builds up, which added to the gas in your body from the surgery, results in an uncomfortable feeling.

Thanks! When I was heavier, I used to work out with personal trainers at a small gym near where I lived. For me, it was the best option as I didn't have to be seen at the gym with all the "thin" people who would just look at my and stare. The trainers not only helped with the exercises, but explained much of the anatomy about how your muscles get stronger and why you need to alternate days between weight training.

I think it is normal to have some tingling during moderate activity, as if I remember correctly, as working out causes the small muscle fibers to rip slightly so they can regenerate themselves (during resting periods) to become stronger. If it happens when you are not exercising, you may have a pinched nerve somewhere in your back. I have a pinched nerve in my elbow which causes tingling and an internal itchiness sensation. I usually feel a similar sensation after working out, but since the symptoms come and go at other times, I knew there was something wrong (which is when I went to see my doctor). Hope this helps!

Thanks...I find that when I am up and about or just sitting/relaxing I'm okay. The only time I get really achey and uncomfortable is transitioning between positions. Which is why I only take the meds when I sleep.

I agree about the pain. If I had just gotten the TT and the arm lift, I probably wouldn't have been on the pain medication for as long as I was. I was taking my pain medication every 4 hours for the first week or so, and then I lessened it during the second week. The lipo of my flanks really gave me a beating. My entire back was one giant black and blue for the first week, and is still really tender. I am off the pain pills during the day, but because moving around at night is not comfortable (because of my back), I still take one before I go to bed. I too, though, am thrilled so far with my results!!

Congrats on getting your last drain removed. I luckily only had two drains and had them taken our after 6 days. You will feel so much better without them...also, you are allowed to go to the gym? How long ago did you have surgery? I was told that at 6 weeks post op I can start cardio, but I can't really do much more until the three month mark...

Just to let you know...after speaking prior to surgery with multiple doctors and other people who have had these procedures, it is highly advised that the arms and legs not be done together. Most doctors will do tummy, breasts and arms together, and some will do legs and belly (although my surgeon specifically told me that it is better if tummy is done first and healed), but I don't know of any doctor that I've spoken to who would do arms and legs together.