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Hi Lynn and happy new year! You certainly have to be comfortable with the surgery. You need to weigh out the pros and cons. It is generally for people that are obese or morbidly obese and have been for a while. Those that cant get off the weight or yo-yo. Those that have health issues. As we know, there are major health issues of being severely overweight. With the surgery, you will lose weight, but if you push overeating and you continue to eat high fat and high sugar foods, you will eventually gain the weight back. It will take a while but you will. That is in your control. As for pain, the sleeve will be less painful than the full gastric bypass. I had the mini gastric bypass and I had no real pain. Some gas pain that was uncomfortable but no pain. I didn't have to take pain medication. I had it done on a Thursday and was working on Tuesday (desk job at home). I was doing laundry and walking around the house on the Saturday and Sunday - also trying to keep moving (it relieves the gas) and it was no problem. The only thing I would not do is lift anything heavy. Or bend with my stomach (I would bend with a squat) as not to put any pressure on the surgery site. I had the mini gastric bypass done in November 2020 and was also wondering if I should get it done. I did not qualify for insurance as my BMI was too low and I do not have any other health issues, so I had to pay for mine personally. I had a lap band that I needed removed so I had to make the call if I do a revision to mini gastric bypass or try weight loss on my own. At that time, I had already gained almost 30 pounds from my lowest with the band (I had the band in 2009 so it was 10 years). I tried and tried to loose weight on my own. I would loose 10 then gain it back. I never came close to losing 30. So, I did the surgery and I am happy. I am down 23 pounds in just a little over 6 weeks and I could never do that on my own. I want to lose a total of 60 pounds so I am 1/3 of the way there in 6 weeks. It may slow down but I am ok with it. Now, am I eating wings, nachos, pizza, burgers, fries, cake, cookies? Nope. Will I try these at some point? Yes. Just like any diet, as you see the results, its somewhat easy to be "good". I have had crackers, flavored rice cakes, bananas, salted almonds, carrots, turnip, butternut squash soup, etc and lost weight. When I hit a plateau ( recently) I went low cal and low carb and pushed through. So, you control your weight loss. The surgery just makes it easier to do that!

OK ladies, so this might be a weird question, but since the weight loss surgery I've noticed that I've developed some "squish (loose skin)." It's not nearly as bad as I'd thought it was going to be, which is good, but yet, it's bad enough wear it's difficult finding panties that fit...in a way that flatter me? I suppose that's the best way to put it. Is shape wear the only answer to this problem or are there specific brands, styles, materials that can be recommended? I hope my weird question makes sense...

Hello I have my first appointment Jan 11th with the dietitian to start my 6 month requirement. I'm right at a 40 BMI with no major comorbidities. I want to loose some weight during this process, but I'm not sure if I will become disqualified if I go under the 40 BMI or if the go off the first weigh in.

The itch is so stupid. I wish I had told them to suture me up. The surgeon said I even had a reaction to the antiseptic. I have great skin for healing but not when it comes to be allergic to things. I get it from my mom! Glad yours are doing well! I also need another week. I am going to email my boss tonight and take the rest of my time left from 2020 (it rolled over this year) so I have five extra days. I feel bad but I’m not at 100% yet. I also had diarrhea. The Fiber and colace made it worse. So I was taken off it. After the purées and being off them, I’m much better. I have an IG dedicated to this journey of anyone wanted to follow and I’d love to follow you lovely people! :) Mine is ANewJourneyAwaiting if you want to follow me. I can’t wait to start being able to walk longer distances and start exercising. I can’t imagine it being cold as I live in Florida. It’s been just perfect days here. 

Oh good! It was the best thing I ever did. Only wish I had done it sooner bc maybe then I wouldn’t have all this loose skin. Nothing a little PS won’t fix though! My first time for PS though so I’m nervous. When is your surgery date again?

My skin on my face is angry. I have always tried to take care of my skin as best I could but since the surgery my face is just awful. I plan on mentioning this to my surgeon tomorrow at my post op appointment, but has anybody ever had these issues? Skin on my face is red and burning and flaking. I am moisturizing. Picture below [emoji24] Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using BariatricPal mobile app

I had minor tuck and tighten surgery but I did not have a ton of loose skin - I have a thin line for a scare looks like a scratch Barely. My next one will be my legs they are in need but i have found working out and using the skin tightening lotions to work pretty well. Just takes a long time

Have any men out there had plastic surgery and care to comment about it? I'm pretty sure I've settled in at my long-term weight and am now wondering whether I want plastic surgery. Most of you can probably relate to what is going on. I have sagging skin everywhere: neck (which I hate), chest, LOTS on the stomach, thighs and buttocks. I'm not sure if I want to do just the neck, or include the stomach--or do the whole things. I'd be interested in good or not-so-good experiences you've had. What is the scar like if you have the stomach done?

So pretty BayougirlMrsS. Glad you finally had a chance to wear the blouse. Such a lovely colour. Love the snake skin shoes too.

I had a Belt Lipectomy/ butterfly lift with stomach muscle tightening, augmentation and thigh lift. My worst areas were excessive loose crepey sagging skin of the butt area and even more so my thigh area. I should have kept my own before pictures of how bad it was but I was so ashamed. I did let the surgeon share my before pictures but its hard to truly see how bad it was before. for me it was worth the scars. I had a T incision due to how much sagging skin so a incision in the groin area T shape and down the inner thigh. I only wish it had gone to my knees otherwise I have no regrets. I had some issues with the incision healing in the T Incision area but its now healed fine. I have many chronic health issues which made it a challenge so a healthy person fares better of course. Also having a lower BMI and making sure your blood work is healthy (the surgeon checks these things) helps the healing process. I took Turmeric, collagen, vitamin c, biotin (extra) and extra protein and made sure not to push too hard while healing. Im not on my own computer I had problems and had to replace it but its going to take a while for me to get a replacement. my photos are on a solid state drive. I took pictures of my scar progress. In all honesty for me it was a huge difference. I didnt have a lot to remove but it was all loose skin. I would do it again definitely. some people I see have it they dont have alot of skin but they seem to remove fat along with it for me it was about horrid excess skin. It was a challenge also having the Belt Lipectomy which is basically a body lift procedure. Along with the thigh lift. You have areas high tension that the incisions hold together and these can open. There is risk with anything. Basically if it does open the best course of action is secondary wound healing. using Bactigras and keeping it dry and bandaged until it heals and closes on its own. I had some challenges. But I think its mainly my chronic illness that made it challenging. my surgeon made sure I was good for surgery and made sure I was aware of possible things that could come up and I was prepared. My thigh Lift T incision opened but now you cant tell. to me its just a scar and still better than it was before. My body lift I had incision open at the coccyx that also is very common. its a high pressure point. some of my scar areas are so light though, it surprises me. I dont regret that either since my backside was the worst absolute worst. My body and skin felt like 90 years old. I mean i still do. because of my health issues but at least my body isnt sagging anymore! do I see some little things like my calves and backs of my knees and excess skin under my arms yes. but Im grateful I had my surgeries. I am ... I think seven months out from surgery. I had it June 14th. I braved putting on a swimsuit. Just not in public yet. but Ill look for the picture maybe share it here. Im not a fan of myself. I didnt do it for cosmetics but for the physical effects and yes also how it made me feel. I wish I were better at explaining. I tend to write too much. I havent been around Im dealing with some health issues. every time I go to write a post to discuss it I delete it. Thigh lift is a challenging surgery but for me it was something I needed to do. I was so scared when I thought it might not happen. and grateful my surgeon helped it happen. so no regrets here. I am not a fan of sharing pictures sorry I dont have my before. My surgery pictures are on the Hospital BC Facebook Group. probably not the best pictures. My One side the scar is darker because that is my "bad side" medically. I dont remember if I shared other pictures here. I do have other pictures on my portable hard drive some very graphic scar pictures. Ive had so many surgeries in my life the scars dont phase me. I guess Ill say again its still better than all that loose, wrinkled and sagging skin. It helps the weight loss journey feel like i made goal. Im still working on body dysmorphia that likely wont change. but the sagging skin gone is something I dont regret.

I started to respond "Yeah, COVID is really surging here too" and then I looked at your profile on the side panel. I'm in California too, so yeah, LOL. 😂 I'm in a similar place as you - I've reached my weight loss goal and now I'm experimenting and learning how to maintain. I used to say I'll never be thin but then I woke up one day and I was pretty thin! LOL I have excess skin on my tummy and until I get that removed I won't really feel thin, but the rest of my body really is. Sometimes I don't recognize myself when I catch sight of myself in a mirror. I walk 1.7 miles every day and I strength train three times a week. I occasionally allow myself a treat but I mostly eat clean from day to day. I still weigh myself regularly because I've seen so many people say they started to gain in their second year. So I'm staying alert but so far, all is well! Happy new year! Edit to add: this is my silhouette in the window. Sometimes I think my reflection is someone else!

I am 34B. Think actual tissue is an A the rest loose skin. They pretty much are folded up inside my bra. I’m getting 450cc. I asked about cup size that would bring me to and my surgeon said he doesn’t go by cup size bc bra makers sizing is very different from one to the next. He said I’ll prob be a D or DD. It varies from person to person too. Measurements body type etc

I’m looking forward to hearing about your experience! I’m also wondering about sizing. I’m currently a 34 DD, but really just cups full of loose wrinkly skin. I’m hoping to stay around a DD, but full & perky :)

I believe my weightloss will NOT be weightLOSS but instead WEIGHTGAIN! With my hubby going thru Covid, and me not sleeping well with his cpap noises, I decided to let loose and eat what I wanted over this holiday week. We couldn’t get out being quarantined, but did go thru a McD’s drive thru...... and that wasn’t all by far. It wasn’t how much I ate as it was WHAT I ate. I prolly sabotaged myself, but I needed it. If all goes well he goes back to work Monday for half a day, and we’ll see how he handles it. I feel like being locked up with him all week IVE HAD COVID! Lol

So excited for you guys! And also a teeny bit jelly. 🙄 I have named my loose belly skin with underlying fat layer, Gertrude. While I am literally very attached to her, I will not be unhappy when she goes! 🤣

Mine faded pretty quickly to thin white lines that I could find if I really searched for them. The 4 along the lower abd and the bellybutton one were removed along with the extra skin when I had my lower body lift in Aug.

Just wondering how long people where still having to take protein shakes after starting the soft food diet? I have had a brutal time finding a protein powder or drink that isn't too sweet or doesn't make me nauseous. I had a super hard time with protein shakes before surgery too but it has become way worse. Hoping to be able to hit my protein goals with real food sooner vs later. I tried a new protein shake the past two days and instead of loosing weight, I actually gained 6lbs in bloating. As well, I felt like my throat thickened and I had a hard time swallowing for both the days. I think I am counting that a mild allergic reaction?

OMG, we are in the same boat. I am scheduled tomorrow at 8am and sit here googling VSG forums and hoping that I do not regret it. I am so confused, nervous and everything else. Since I lost 10lbs pre - op diet I ask myself ok, why cant you continue this diet and continue loosing weight? All the What - Ifs! I feel you, you are not alone... Sending positive vibes your way! Good luck to you..

I love the exuviance line of products for my face/neck.. but I’m only 32... still though I see some excess neck skin. I was even thinking of looking into Kybella but I think that is for fat deposits and wouldn’t help with just skin sagging

I am using Monat skin care line Rewind.

I am wondering if anyone has found something like a cream or what not that they use to tighten the skin under the neck area?

I loose my taste every so often or it gets strange happened about 4 Times for me. Increase you vitamins and Minerals - I know you had a blood test but maybe you need more now

I don’t know if you spoke to your surgeon yet, but I finished my classes on 12/23. they sent in my paperwork. I got a call today (12/29) to schedule the surgeon consult. I got my surgeon consult for 1/14. so I will have my consult less than a month from classes ending. *and I have to do another round of bloodwork prior to the consult. Which I will do on Monday. I honestly am in no rush. They have halted surgeries for now until at LEAST January 10th. I can just work on loosing some more weight before I actually go in for the surgery . once I have the consult on the 14th the surgeon will say yes or no. If yes, Then my name will go on a list for them to schedule when they start doing surgeries again. Which may very well be a few months away with how bad it is right now with covid

I had surgery on 10/15 starting weight was 230 current weight 192 but my weight is really coming off so weird. I don’t loose weight for like 2 whole weeks one occasion it was 3 weeks then all of a sudden I’ll loose up to 7lbs in one week. So weird, but happy lost 38lbs so far and COUNTING!!!

I’m 6 months post op and I’m afraid I’m loosing too much weight and I sometimes feel like I’m either eating too much or not enough. How do I slow down the weight loss??