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I have this visual of lots of swelling and edema after surgery. If the skin is that tight, doesn't it stretch it a bit? I have already picked my surgeon for the TT and have every intention in the world of getting it done. May I ask what you paid in Mexico for the breast lift/implants and the TT? Did you have them done at the same time? Who did it? Would you go back? I still need to find a surgeon for the breast lift/implants as the TT surgeon won't be doing that.

i have my surgery at 6/2/2011 i have lost 10 kilos or a little more but now i stop losing i dont know why I have no special diet and i don't know what i have to eat my doctor told me to drink juice only for 2 months but now i hate juice and started ti eat is this wrong ? I dont know also im not taking Vitamins or any thing my skin became dry help me with your experience

This is my take on the issue: IMO... I repeat... IMO... The formula to avoid is: Low Calorie Diet + Low Exercise/No Exercise/Low Heart Rate Exercise = No Long Term Success! / Flabby Skin Results / Excessive Loss of Lean Muscle Tissue... I recommend: REASONABLE Band Restriction + Moderate Calorie Deficit created by a combination of exercise and diet (rich in lean Proteins, moderate in complex carbs, light on simple carbs), low to moderate in fats (especially saturated/trans ) + Copious amounts of 60%-85% cardio workouts + light to moderate strength training = Gradual Persistant Progress with Long Term Success! If you're already dealing with a depressed metabolism due in part from eating so few calories - then increase your calorie intake slowly. A rapid swing in calories going up will almost certainly result in a weight gain. Add maybe 100 - 200 every third day. Protein shakes??? IMO these are for supplemental purposes long term. Once you're able to eat solid foods - you should be getting most of your protein from lean solid sources. Solid foods and liquid foods will have different impacts on your metabolism as well. When you can't get a meal in or you aren't getting enough protein, supplement with a shake. Your body can store fats, your body can store carbs, but it cannot store proteins. A highly excessive protein intake can be coverted to stored fat - but it is a costly conversion compared to the other macronutrients. I have found it's best for me to eat small amounts very frequently. I'm not even certain I'd call them all meals - but every few hours I'm eating a food source that is a reasonable mix of carbs/fats/protein. It helps keep blood sugars stable, energy stable, and metabolism cranking. Good Luck! Brad

I was banded on jan. 17, of this year, and I stopped loosing weight 1 week ago, I was getting really discouraged and started thinking that there was something wrong. Thanks to your question and all the people that answered I don't feel like I am alone and that this was just going to be another failed attempt at weight loss. Thank you.

It's very frustrating to be stuck and not loose weight. The Whole 30 plan is really good. There is a lot of support for the plan and you only do it for 30 days then see how you feel. Sugar is in everything and one of the worst things we can eat as are the bad carbs. There are so many good books out there on why protein is better for you from the original Atkins to , Eat Fat Get Thin, The Keto Reset Diet, Zero Sugar Diet then there is the Paleo diet and the combined Paleo keto. Other books Fat Chance, The Case Against Sugar, Why we get fat, Grain Brain and so many more tell us why sugar, white products and bad carbs effect our health. If reading and researching made me loose weight I'd be thin for the rest of my life. LOL I guess it's a trial and error for each person. I'm still stuck but I do know I feel better when I don't eat sugar. I wish there was an answer to getting past the stuck phase. Good Luck and I hope you get your sugar levels under control.

one other thing to remember, the quicker u loose weight the less time your body has time to react which is why a lot of people worry about the loose skin thing. your body is resillient but it also needs time. everyone here is giving u good aadvice and u will help your skin out too by working out and buliding lean muscle which will in turn burn more fat. good luck on ur journey!

hello Bella, if you asked for my opinion, go for the la-band, i also want to have it, i hope in the next weeks i will be a new lap-banded. I think the lap-band is more secure than the gastric by-pass, and don-t worry about not loosing weight, i think with the minimum effort, we will loose weight.better have some walks in the park, than risking your life, because in the gastric by-pass, the risks are bigger, an the operation is irreversible......compared to the lap-band, which you can remove any time.

Im having this same issue my plastic surgeon said that i would be needing a lift and augmentation I was a 40 DD before vsg now im a 38 C I have nothing besides skin and nipple I have surgery on March 19 i will keep you posted on how it goes.

I'll have to look into a lift. I think I would need a lift and implants at if they were to remove all the excess skin alone, there would be nothing at all left.

I am in Banderville !!! Things were running a bit late yesterday so I didn't get my band until around 3 in the afternoon. Iwas scheduled for 1:15. So far everthing seems to be going good. Mostly sore, not actual pain. It was something for me crossing that plateau of getting the band, now on to the loosing. Two of the incisions kept bleeding a bit last night so put a extra gauze pad on each one and now they are fine. Yes, it does kinda feel like I've been beat up a bit. All the people that work at Northwest Weight Loss Surgery are great! A big :clap2: THANK YOU :clap2: to everyone there. :biggrin1:

This is the list that Nina sent me: Pajamas, the nurses and doctors will be checking your incisions so you might be more comfortable in your own pajamas than the hospital gowns, however, hospital gowns are provided if you prefer. Non skid slippers, thongs, or slip on shoes of some sort. The hospital floors are very clean and waxed, so you'll want non-skid. It will be sore to bend over so you won't want to tie shoe laces so slip on shoes are easier. A favorite robe, many times it is comforting to have a favorite robe. Computer - if you have a laptop you are welcome to bring it. The hospital and hotel are set up with wireless internet connection. Any of Dr. Aceves' staff can give you the password at the hospital. You do not need a password in the hotel. Cell phone - Most cell phones work well in the hospital, if your phone does not work most of the staff will loan you their phone. The electrical system is the same in Mexico as the US so you do not need a converter for your hair dryer, computer, or cell phone charger. Shampoo - this is provided by the hospital but many prefer their own brands so they prefer to bring their own. Book or other reading material. You will not likely feel like reading the day of surgery but you might the day after surgery. Loose fitting clothing to wear coming home. You will likely feel a bit bloated after surgery so bring a sweat suit or something very loose fitting and comfortable for your ride home from the hospital. I do not suggest bringing much cash with you. Unless you want to do a little shopping the day before your surgery there is no need for much cash. You will want to purchase dinner the night before surgery and $25.00 per person will cover that easily, less for most restaurants. If you want to have access to cash then credit cards are a safer alternative. You will not need to convert US dollars to pesos, you can use US dollars for your companion in the hospital cafeteria and all businesses around Mexicali if you choose to do a little shopping I also took my own pillow and am very happy I did - the ones at the hospital are small and hard. Your love can stay with you in your room - the couches are very comfortable - so he might want to bring his own pillow too. The heating pad was very important to me. The gas-x not so much. If you have any other questions, ask away -- there are lots of us on here that had Dr. Aceves as their surgeon and will answer any questions you, your love, or your family may have - you are in for a wonderful experience on your journey to your new healthier life!

It's a frustrating process, you definitely need more fill to get to green zone. Hopefully you're close. I was there for two whole weeks and this last week I've noticed I've slipped out if the zone. I seem to be loosing a lot ofy weight Fromm tummy area do that's affecting my fills. I'm going in this Tuesday for another very small fill to get me back in the zone. Hang in there, there is no magic amount of fill that is the same for everyone. Some people are fine with a few cc's others need more. Fingers crossed you get your full next appointment and it makes a difference for you. Great weightloss so far too!!

Only 2wks post op, you're still very swollen and the restriction is greater than when your swelling will go down. Don't concern yourself with calories right now. While losing you'll want to be between 450-850 cal/day and not really anymore than that. The first two weeks is nothing but liquids. You shouldn't worry if you can't finish you liquids all at once unless they aren't going down at all. Sip your liquids...you can't take big swigging gulps of liquids like you used to. Give yourself time...I'm 5 weeks post ok and experienced the same thing. Even still I can only drink about 1/2 skin fast protein drink when I drink one. I usually save the other half for later in the day.

So I hit 1 year post op last month. Here is my story. Right before my 30th birthday I decided that enough was enough. I had been on the waiting list with my ex-husbands insurance for gastric bypass, then we divorced and I lost my spot anyway. I had lost aprox. 60 pounds on my own after the divorce through lifestyle changes, mainly cutting soda (a huge addiction to me at the time) and being more active, these small changes helped a lot because of the extreme sedentary life I lived during my stint as a house wife (with no kids). After losing the 60 pounds I got down to about 215 but jumped back up to 235 pretty quick. My ideal weight -I thought- was about 200 maybe 195 and I knew that I couldn't drop any more weight on my own, after all the 60 was tough, and I gained half of it back. I knew that I had to figure out how to get surgery. The reason I was on a waiting list to begin with is because I am young, with no health problems other than my weight and the insurance I had only approved 40+bmi with no comorbidities. I was always around 38 or 39 bmi. So I had it! I started looking and found surgery options in Mexico for around $4500-$6000. Mind you I was a 29 year old college student with a $12/hour job, newly divorced, living with my mother because I had nothing to my name. So November 2012 I decided I would save the money and do it! I got my income tax for around $2000 and worked 50 hours a week at my regular job and got a part time graveyard $8/hour security job in a bad neighborhood in a shopping center (I guarded a parking lot in the dark!). It was all worth it! I finally found a Dr. (Juan Garcia) and a US company to book everything through (Ready4AChange) and booked my trip! The total cost of everything including my airfare was almost exactly $5000. April 15th. I made it to Mexico. Flew into San Diego and the driver picked me up from the airport (even took me to walmart) then took me across the border to Tijuana and to the Marriott. It was a very nice hotel. I met 3 other people who were with the same company having surgery with me the next day (there were 5 or 6 of us total).We bonded ate dinner that night together and all rode together to the hospital in the morning. Even though there were a few of us, we all got wonderful treatment like we were the only patients. Only the 5 of us were in the wing our rooms were on and we all knew what rooms we were in incase we felt up to talking after surgery. We were in the hospital for 3 days and I don't really remember much except the last day. They keep you very nicely doped up so the pain is totally manageable and give you everything you need right away so you can just doze all day! Day 3 in the hospital we were all up and walking and I bugged the nurses enough that they let us take out IVs outside to the patio and get some sunshine We went back to the hotel on Day 4, I think. Stayed in the hotel with room service bringing all the broth and popsicles we wanted. The Dr came the next day to the hotel and tended our dressings and answered any last questions we had before leaving. After 5 days we got driven back to the airport at the time we needed to get to our flights and went home. It all happened with out a hitch, for the most part. The surgery was wonderful. I wasn't nervous or hesitant at all. The Drs and nurses were amazed I was alone, after all I was a 20-something woman all alone in another country about to have life changing surgery! My support group was intact at home, but I wanted to do it alone. So now its been 1 year. I still throw up 2-3 times a week because I don't know when to stop eating, and I get chest pains almost every meal. I am glad that I have these bad side effects because I eat too much and need to learn!! If I am good then they don't happen, so they are my fault totally. I have lost 87 pounds since surgery and a total of 130 pounds from my heaviest weight. I wear a size 5 pants now and work out a few times a week (could be more, but I am working on that). My eating habits are SO GOOD now compared to what they were and I love to cook now. I try to eat fish three times a week, tuna for lunch one day, salmon for dinner, and another fish for dinner. I also try to have one night of chicken for dinner every week. I try to eat out only 1-2 times per week. I am getting scared because I think for the first time I have gained weight since surgery, I think I have gained a couple pounds while I was sick for the last couple months (hurt leg then broken tooth ouch!) and didn't work out. I can eat a lot more now that I think I should and I think after finals are over next week I will go on a liquid diet for a few days to try to shrink my tummy back down. I can eat more of certain things and then when I eat dense, protein rich foods (like chicken and tuna) I get full really fast! Last night I ate a whole bagel with cream cheese, then about an hour (maybe 1.5 hours) later I ate ANOTHER ONE! I had micro vomits after and even threw up in my sleep (still trying to control the acid reflux). So my only issues one year out is that I feel like my stomach is stretching, I have severe acid reflux (that can be controlled if I remembered to take a darn pill), and I very badly need a tummy tuck! I would do this all over again in a heart beat. I feel so much more alive and vital and HAPPY since my surgery, and I was not depressed nor did I have low self esteem or problems having fun before, but this is like more than I can describe a million times better way to live than how I was before. I feel so bad for people who think they cant afford it, or are too scared to try the surgery. Living 100 lighter makes life easier! Everything is cheaper, clothes, groceries, eating out. Everything is easier, taking the stairs in a parking garage or at the library is done with out a thought (except that I don't want to wait for the slow elevator), I don't worry about things I sit or stand on will break, I want to go on roller coasters at parks. I want everyone who ever lived a day as "morbidly obese" to live one day in my shoes and realize that for $5000 (I have seen less these days too!) your life can be so different. I was in a size 24, now I am in a size 5. If I got a tummy tuck I could probably be in a 3, and I could wear a bikini (I have lots of skin on my lower abdomen that keeps me from wearing one now). The money might seem like a big hurdle, it took me almost 6 months to save and I got almost half in income tax. But it was worth the extra work, every day. Its worth it to do anything you can to save that money! BTW, it took me almost 9 months after the surgery to get out of debt that the surgery put me in....but again...TOTALLY WORTH ALL OF IT!! I think that is my total story, sorry for the long winded-ness. I have never told it all on a forum and thought that maybe I should add to the information out there, after all I met one of my dearest and best friends on a bariatric surgery site, found out about my surgeon, and found all my confidence and information on a site like this one

My surgery was on Monday morning and I have four horizontal incisions and one drain tube hole. The drainage hole is really like an open cut and I change the loose dressing daily until there is no more oozing. The four main incisions are covered in a transparent wax materiel and my surgeon said that I would not be able to remove it unless I tried very hard so it is ok to take showers. My nurses said that I should avoid direct flow from the shower because it could cause it to wash away. What has been your experience with this type of closure? Question two: I am experiencing a lot of back pain because I am favoring my stomach. I walk slow, deliberate, and hunched over. I have lots of rolling cramps which I understand to be normal, but I also have a persistent pain about 4" below my far right incision. It feels like something is attached there and when I stretch or move it is tearing apart. I am three weeks out from my follow-up appt and I live two hours away from the hospital so I can't just drop by and ask him what to do. Coincidentally, that is the only incision which has any bruising however minimal. Do you have any guess as to the source or time for this pain?

@@DeniseNCC1701 what a great story you write so well "gooder " than me LOL book/blog will be helpful to others great keeping such good records I never did explaining your voyage to others is very helpful newbies especially appreciate your comments/advice for what they are going to deal with you have done amazing what a transformation weight loss does slow down after awhile (ie 9 months) not exercising enough, making some bad choices, grazing knowing the problems are 1/2 the battle i'm sure you will work on fixing/helping some of these issues with continued hard work, i'm sure you will loose more weight i see the determination in your pretty eyes please "visit" more often its nice to hear advice from other sleevers keep up the good work good luck kathy congrats

I have wrinkles like you described, and others crosshatching those like a checkerboard! I was always the one people said had perfect skin....not any more! I knew this was coming, at least the wrinkles wont kill me like the fat could!

Diane, wish I could help you more, the only thing I try to remember is an article I read, only you can change the way you think about yourself. You have done so great so far with your lifestyle change, now for the really hard part - convincing the inside Body image influences behavior, self esteem, and our psyche. When we feel bad about our body, our satisfaction and mood plummets. If we are constantly trying to push, reshape or remake our bodies, our sense of self becomes unhealthy. We lose confidence in our abilities. It’s not uncommon for people who think poorly of their bodies to have problems in other areas of their lives, including sexuality, careers and relationships. A healthy body image occurs when a person’s feelings about his/her body is positive, confident and self caring. This image is necessary to care for the body, find outlets for self-expression, develop confidence in one’s physical abilities and feel comfortable with who you are. Self esteem is a personal evaluation of one’s worth as a person. It measures how much you respect yourself. physically: (how happy you are with the way you look) intellectually (how well you feel you can accomplish your goals) emotionally (how much you feel loved) morally (how you think of yourself as a person) How you see yourself affects every part of your life. High self esteem makes for a happier life. It allows you to be your own person and not have others define you. Self esteem, self confidence and self respect are all related. Self esteem is also defined as the judgments a person makes about themselves and is affected by self confidence and respect. Self confidence is believing in our ability to take action and meet our goals. Self respect is the degree to which we believe we deserve to be happy, have rewarding relationships and stand up for our rights and values. All these factors affect whether or not we will have a healthy body image. Think of it as the three A's.... Attention -- Refers to listening for and responding to internal cues (i.e., hunger, satiety, fatigue). Appreciation -- Refers to appreciating the pleasures your body can provide. Acceptance -- Refers to accepting what is -- instead of longing for what is not. Acceptance is probably the hardest thing for anyone with a weight problem or poor body image to deal with. 1. Affirm that your body is perfect just the way it is. 2. Think of your body as a tool. Create an inventory of all the things you can do with it. 3. Walk with your head high with pride and confidence in yourself as a person, not a size. 4. Create a list of people you admire who have contributed to your life, your community, or the world. Was their appearance important to their success and accomplishments? 5. Don't let your size keep you from doing things you enjoy. 6. Replace the time you spend criticizing your appearance with more positive, satisfying pursuits. 7. Let your inner beauty and individuality shine. 8. Think back to a time in your life when you liked and enjoyed your body. Get in touch with those feelings now. 9. Be your body's ally and advocate, not its enemy. 10. Beauty is not just skin-deep. It is a reflection of your whole self. Love and enjoy the person inside. Hope this helps some. You are no longer the funny fat girl, but think of yourself as the funny hot mama!

I think it's a good thing that you don't feel your port. 1. It means that it's sewn in good and tight. 2. You're swollen and your body just needs to adjust to everything and it sounds like it's doing that well. 3. It's good not to feel your port under your skin now because after you lose those extra inches, you don't want to look like a quarter is trying to pop out from your tummy. Don't worry, your doc will know where to find it.

1. Running at least 5 times a week 2. Shopping in any store I want to and not worry if they carry 'plus sizes' 3. Wearing a pair of heels longer than an hour without putting flats on 4. Travel without being wedged in a seat on the plane fighting to keep the armrest down because its rising bc of my hips 5. Walkin confidently in a room lookin good in my skin and clothes without pulling and tuggin tryin to hide my love handles

My understanding is the diarrhea comes from getting rid of the fat. The fat doesn't just disappear into mid-air, so we mostly poop or pee it out. Usually around ovulation I get constipated and after ovulation I get very loose stool for a couple of days. I usually see a woosh when the loose stool happens and it stays off. I don't have IBS but going from constipation to having the opposite problem has started happening now that I've been sleeved. I've always had constipation problems before surgery since a very young age and surgery has only made it worse. I now mix fiber powder in my protein shakes to keep me regular and I go every day or two. I drink lots of water

I havent been on since posting "just wanna kick myself in the arse". I have done some serious self evaluation and feel on top of the world! I was discouraged due to low self esteem, no support system, couldn't get a fill, finding out I had 2- 1cm seromas (like what the hell is that? right! my thoughts exactly. lol) and poor communication between surgeon and true results. Now 45 days post op I wouldn't do it over again but it made me stronger. When I went to my first fill I found out I lost 8 lbs more than where they expected me to be. 281 before, 260 on the 6/27th and 257 today-(5inches and 2 sizes down). I was told to slow down because loosing it too fast will cause my skin to sag. I was going 5 days a week from 5/27-6/20 for about an hour. I drink 2-4 liters of water OR crystal light a day. I would be lying if I said I eat right every single day so I will not lie I will not say what I eat or ate unless asked for everyone is different but I will say I ONLY DRINK WATER OR CRYSTAL LIGHT NOTHING ELSE! I eat lots and lots of fish. I decreased my gym activity before I was told to because my work load increased so I am still active. Since being told to go 2-3 times a week it seems like my motivation is leaving but the weight is still falling off. The few things I try to do are park far from stores (regardless of the heat) and I take the steps (no mater how long it takes me). So I strongly suggest being more active. Get a pedometer and challenge yourself. I still have trouble with my diet but Im starting to think if I did everything by the book I probaly would have lost double the weight, Oh well! I'm not perfect but I'm striving just to be better. I forgot to mention I had 2.2cc already in my 10cc band and 2cc was added. I don't feel any difference but I will be pateint.

Not that I know of, but check with a medical prof to be sure. I've had bloodcots (superficial) and my mother has been hospitalized more than once with DVT. In both of our cases, we probably would have welcomed some numbness because blood clots *hurt*. Even my little superficial ones - the whole area was red, and an angry red over the area of the actual clot. Seriously, you could see exactly where the clot was, just by looking at the skin, and you could feel heat radiating like a sunburn. And I swear, a gently breeze blowing across my skin hurt, let alone anything touching it. My mother with her DVT - I can remember her literally crawling on her hands and knees from the car into the house because the pain was too great to stand or walk. So I personally wouldn't associate numbness with a clot, but I'm not a doctor so that means squat.

I completely understand. I went to Salvation Army today as I am down to one pair of jeans and they are starting to get loose. The last pair of pants I bought was a size 20. I found a pair of 16 and yes a pair of 14. Not to snug and I still have a muffin top ( I don't think I will ever lose that body feature) and a XL turtleneck. I have not been in these sizes since before my daughter was born and she will be 22 on Monday. I am loving my sleeve.

Hey everyone, Just wanted to check in and see how you're all doing?? I can't believe it's the day after tomorrow. Are all of you ready? In my hospital bag I've got a change of loose clothes for going home, a few basic toiletries, Gas-X thin strips, a pack of fresh wipes, and a couple of magazines. What are all of you bringing?