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ok. I'm 10 months out and have lost 105 pounds. (only 10 pounds to goal.) I want to have cosmetic surgery at around the one year point, maybe 15 month. I'm 55, so no spring chicken, nothing is going to make me look like when I was young, would just like to look and feel firmer. My problem areas are: thighs -oh my gosh, they look like elephant legs belly -not as bad as I thought it would be breasts -were sagging lots before, now not much tissue left at all arms -looks like the skin is separating the lower fat from the upper part of the arm , from the elbow to the armpit, I guess they call it bat wings (part of this is obviously age) I would like to hear from all of you who've had the cosmetic surgery on the thighs and arms, especially the older generation. Was it worth the pain? Is the outcome satisfying? to what degree. Are the scars on the thighs and upper arms so bad that the way they were is better? Thanks,, thanks so much for all your input. I think my age is my biggest concern. If I were 30, 40, even 45, I wouldn't even think twice, I'd just do it! ps. any dallas metro area?

thanks, thanks, thanks for the responses so far! I can see there are problems with every "solution". What to do? Before summertime, I was not fretting as much as I am now. I am single, sounds like a crazy term for one my age, and want to take a vacation. I've been waiting for this weight loss for 15 years! But, now that the weight is off, I still feel bad about taking one. If I can't swim or wear shorts, then I don't know if there is anything else I'd prefer to do. So, if any of you have any ideas for a relaxing, but exciting vacation in the US, and one that is very inexpensive, let me know! ps. I'd love to be able to just ignore the awful skin and go where ever I want and do what I want, but let's face it...if I couldn't ignore the fat, then I won't be able to ignore the skin...

At 237 I was in a loose 20. That is about right I believe. You really lost almost 2 sizes if you were in a tight size 22. Sounds like you are doing well!

I've lost 110 and I want to lose 40-50 more (I think). I will definitely want a tummy tuck once I'm at goal for a while. I also have some excess skin under the arms but I'm going to wait and see how all my training and working out effects that!!

I'm not nervous about the surgery it's self. I've been under the knife several times. It's all the other stuff that is the big unknown for me. Recovery, pre and post diet, post weight loss. The most nerve wracking part is the thought of doing all this and STILL not permanently loosing the weight.

Dear Friend - I want you to have a decent life too. The band is a wonderfult tool to help you stick with a good healthful way of eating. Of course you have been on every diet and wgt loss program out there - we all have. It's not your fault that you cannot stick with a restricted calorie diet or you gain the wgt back. Diets don't work. Goolgle the last sentence and you will find a wealth of information as to why they don't. I don't know how old you are - I am 49 and decided that I didn't want to miss out on life anymore. And I didn't want to loose the wgt only to live in fear of it returning - which it always did. Banding may be slower than The Gastric Bypass - as far as loosing wgt - but it is so much safer and healthier. If you are determined to never go on another diet again, in my opinion, you will not regret getting the lapband. The band, if used correctly and to it's maximum performance (appropriate fills) - will aid you in restricting calories, also you will not be hungry while doing so. In many larger people - you will find that surgeons who have been an advocate of Gastric Bypass will first band their patients in order to get them to a healthier wgt before doing the bypass. You may experience some issues that lower bmi patients do not - but your surgeon will be aware and will watch for this. God Bless... Patti

I am a weirdo.. every time they measure my height i am either 5'7 or 5'8 ... i am currently 8 weeks post op from the sleeve, but i had the band for years prior... so i have gotten to goal in the past ... I haven't weighed myself in a while, but i was last 209, but buildwise.... a size 14 (Australian) is loose fitting on me... i think in around 11lbs i should be able to squeeze into a 12. Yay me!

As for today, it was a successful day. But this evening, I've been grazing...chewing and spitting. ick. And not good things either...just things. Left overs from Trin's plate...duh. I know this is the time on a normal diet I would cave. Completely, udderly go into the fridge and eat anything and everything until I couldn't breathe. Honestly, I'm afraid of the skinny me. I don't know what kind of person she is, how she copes...is she friendly, or will she ruin all the safe relationships I've built? And at this moment, when i see success staring me in the brain...I want to quit. Not really, but in this moment i yell and scream and fight for staying fat. Why??? That's ultimately the question. If i can figure out the 'why' I can have my "Oprah moment'". But I think I;m afraid to consider what it might be. Clear liquids for 2 weeks?? When everyone else is on full??? Gimme a break!!! How come? I want to be normal...alas, for years I haven't been normal. For years I have eaten like a fiend, made myself and everyone around me uncomfortable...I;'ve started the back pain and the joint pain, and I can't live there. That's why I had to have the surgery...so I wouldn't back down. So now, just because the wedding ring is fitting loosley, and the clothes are fitting loosely, and the bone structure is peeking out, this isn't he reason to quit. Fish will come soon enough...that's what I want my first 'meal' to be, broiled fish. It won't be long. I've been eaing my whole life, so perhaps now I can just be patient for a couple more weeks. It won't be long, and then it'll get easier. And now I wait, and pray...

As for today, it was a successful day. But this evening, I've been grazing...chewing and spitting. ick. And not good things either...just things. Left overs from Trin's plate...duh. I know this is the time on a normal diet I would cave. Completely, udderly go into the fridge and eat anything and everything until I couldn't breathe. Honestly, I'm afraid of the skinny me. I don't know what kind of person she is, how she copes...is she friendly, or will she ruin all the safe relationships I've built? And at this moment, when i see success staring me in the brain...I want to quit. Not really, but in this moment i yell and scream and fight for staying fat. Why??? That's ultimately the question. If i can figure out the 'why' I can have my "Oprah moment'". But I think I;m afraid to consider what it might be. Clear liquids for 2 weeks?? When everyone else is on full??? Gimme a break!!! How come? I want to be normal...alas, for years I haven't been normal. For years I have eaten like a fiend, made myself and everyone around me uncomfortable...I;'ve started the back pain and the joint pain, and I can't live there. That's why I had to have the surgery...so I wouldn't back down. So now, just because the wedding ring is fitting loosley, and the clothes are fitting loosely, and the bone structure is peeking out, this isn't he reason to quit. Fish will come soon enough...that's what I want my first 'meal' to be, broiled fish. It won't be long. I've been eaing my whole life, so perhaps now I can just be patient for a couple more weeks. It won't be long, and then it'll get easier. And now I wait, and pray...

Today, I've experienced emotion similar to that of PMS. I feel like I'm extra sensitive today, almost to the point that I could cry over a simple coaching. Something that any other time, I'd take with a grain of salt and continue on with my day. So why am I so thin skinned? I read about others experiencing similar emotional rollercoasters on their pre op diets. I wonder what causes this and PRAY PRAY PRAY that this is no a preview of what's to come. If anyone has any advice or guidance regarding their pre op diet and subsequent emotional (almost) meltdowns, I would greatly appreciate the feed back. Thanks

Like life, the band is what you make of it. It is a TOOL and only a tool to help you achieve your goals. There are up and there are downs, but at the end of the day, once you have proper restriction and if you follow the rules you should loose weight. There is no exercise switch, you have to get up and move. There is nothing wiring your jaw shut (which is a feature I would love!!) so you still have to make smart choices about what you eat. It is not magic, but if you are willing to commit to it vs going on with your life as it is now, where will you be in a year? 50 lbs less? 100 lbs less? vs. at your same weight or more? If you need some re-assurance, this thread always works for me, I truly want to be able to post in there one day!. I know why I got the band, I couldn't take my life anymore, I could stand waking up in pain. I was self pay too and it was the best $16,000 I ever spent.

Hi everyone! Just wanted to introduce myself to this forum. I just got back from my Seminar, and had a private consultation with UC Davis Bariatrics center. And as I have known all along I qualify for WLS, with the Co-morbidies I've struggled with for years. HBP I'm on 3 medications, I have sleep apnea and GERD. Like all of us I've attempted diet and exercise with moderate success, even spent a year on phentermine (speed as they should call it) felt like a tweaker.. Anyways weight came back more and more. So I agree with the Staff, I'm ready for a permanent change in my ways of eating, and I'm ready to make the sacrifices needed in exchange for a longer time stay on this earth. Problem is I'm all alone. My Wife and I cannot even attempt to approach talking about this with out turning into a screaming match. She refuses to read any literature. She's of the opinion that I'm "being a pussy" and that I am taking the easy way out. My mother who because she copies "medical records" she qualifies herself as a health care professional. Who seems to think living with HBP and sleep apnea is better that this "risky" surgery.. I'll admit that I do not have as much to loose as others. My BMI is 36.. I'm 5'7 and 233 lbs today.. But it climbs every month. I am also "young" according to my family approaching 40, but I am the only one that takes 5 pills a day everyday. My wife and family are of all a healthy weight. It's amazing the people that have the best diet and exercise advice, eat the same as you do, and ride the couch the same time you do and never gain a pound. Sorry for being long winded, I'm just trying to vent here, and maybe get some words of advice from people that have been through this with unsupportive people in your corner. I know I'm doing this for ME. I told my Wife I'd like to be doing this for her too and our Son. But I'm not backing down., I'm all aboard.. Just hope this won't damage my marriage..

Trying to decide if surgery the route I want to take to help me reach my weight loss goal. I'm currently 259lbs and my biggest fear of having this surgery is not being able to control my weight loss and I'll loss too much and look ill or I'll loose too much and it won't look good on me. I've seen the good and bad results on several whom have had the surgery some good and some bad... Just confused, can someone shed some insight on the surgery for me?

Thank you so much for your response!! I definitely want to loose some weight before I have kids but my husband is super concerned I won't be able to keep up being healthy because I won't be able to eat as normally as I would before surgery. However, I'M more afraid of gestational diabetes, deformanties, and research has shown that autism is starting to associate with heavier woman who have kids. Did you have your surgery here in the states?

Hi! I'm Stephanie. I originally posted in the wrong section, so forgive me. I have been banded for 5 years! I have been noted as being one of the success stories for my area. I lost a total of 137 pounds with hard work and then assistance of my band! After losing the weight, I had 10 pounds of excess skin removed and I was ready to move on with my life! My surgeon that removed the skin told me that in some band patients, as the swelling from my skin removal subsided, my band could potentially tighten. Did it ever! I got down to 147 pounds and eventually had trouble drinking Water (all of a sudden one morning). I went and talked with my lap band doc and he decided to take all of my Fluid out. He scheduled an upper GI and I was unable to have my X-ray done because I found that I was pregnant. I told myself, "you know what to do, so just take care of you and baby." To my dismay, I miscarried at about 10 weeks. Since then, I emotionally ate because I was sad. One morning, I looked in the mirror (after gaining 36 pounds) and realized, "this is how you got as big as you were, get it together." So, I started working with a nutritionist and a trainer 3 months ago. In that time, despite my hard work, I have only managed to lose 4 pounds. Weightloss is good, though! I was tired all of the time and never had energy. I am also hypothyroid diagnosed. I met with an endocrinologist at the beginning of the week to have a complete blood panel and talk about my struggles. He told me with a smirk that patients with hypothyroid only can be purely successful with the assistance of WLS. Then proceeds to tell me that my surgeon no longer offers banding. That my doctor saw that the failure rate was far too high. He's strictly sleeve and bypass now. I suggests converting my band to sleeve since I ran into so many complications. So, I contacted my band surgeon's office to tell all of this to. An upper GI has been ordered and I have an appointment with my band doctor next week. I was told he only converts band patients to sleeve if they meet certain requirements. What I'm wondering now is if I actually weigh enough to qualify. SW: 268 GW: 145 CW: 179 Has anyone else gone through any of these struggles or have similar personal experiences? I know that I'll officially know next week during my doctor's visit if I qualify but I worry and stress over things like this ahead of time. Any kind words, similar stories or advice would be much obliged. I'm feeling like a failure at this point and need some friends. Thanks for reading, Stephanie Memphis, TN

Hi! I was banded on 8/13. I am constantly amazed when I read about how quickly some people are allowed to progress through food stages. My bariatric center wants us to go two full weeks at each stage. I am getting to week 6 now, which means I will be ready for "unrestricted" textures, including, at long last, raw veggies, fruits and veggies with skin, and nuts. I'm not in such a hurry to have them, but it is nice to reach this stage. I'm pretty contented with the soft food stage as I can eat almost everything I want anyway. But a good salad - oh yum! I've been craving it for weeks now. I have to say I cannot say thank you enough to everyone who posts and replies here. I was beginning to worry early last week as my weight went up another pound. Then someone reminded me (duh me) that I haven't had a fill, and with each new food stage I'm likely taking in more calories again. I am due to see the Dr. on 10/2 and find out how much he wants to do for my first fill. Because of thinning in my abdominal wall from previous abdominal surgeries I've had, he's sending me to a radiologist to have my first fill done under the fluoroscope. I can feel the outline of my port, but have NO problem with this. It may even mean less time for me to wait for a fill - the average is about 1 1/2 hour right now if you go to the office. My point is, right now my pouch is unrestricted, and I'm clearly healing well. I can eat MUCH more quantity of food than I thought in a meal. Still less than before I was banded, but much more than the nurses led me to believe. So I was getting concerned about it. Now I feel much more relaxed and am lightening up on myself. I did feel, for the first time, the sensation of food getting stuck yesterday. I think I took too big a bite & didn't chew it small enough before swallowing. I didn't bring any back up, but there was a minute there when I was quite uncomfortable. Lesson learned! One reason (in my top 10) for choosing banding was because of the low purge incidence. I am not a purger. So PB's are not something I want to experience - EVER. Compliant little brown-noser, that's me! LOL. Thanks to all. I really appreciate your willingness to share your experiences and support one another. It makes me feel quite pleased that I chose this route to help me lose weight.

What are you allowed to eat in terms of: Calories? Fat? Protein? Carbs? I'm 2.5 weeks post-op and allowed to eat soft foods (tuna, Beans, bananas, eggs, etc. But I forgot what amounts I'm supposed to consume. I have been tracking my foods on My Fitness Pal and I love it, but I don't think the amounts are correct on this ap (at least not correct for my banded lifestyle). I basically made up what I think I remember my doctor telling me, and I will ask him when I see him in 2 weeks, but for now I've been eating 1200 calories or less Under 40 grams of fat Under 100 carbs About 60 grams of protein But am I doing it right? I'm not loosing or gaining weight. I was just cleared to exercise and started today, I hope that will get things moving. Just wondering, what are you eating in those 4 areas? ...and what about veggies?

I've been good about taking my Vitamins and getting my Protein in, and I still had some hair loss. I noticed it most when I brushed my hair. It lasted about 3 months, and it happened about 4 to 6 months out from surgery. From what I understand, there isn't much you can do to prevent it. The hair loss isn't just because of WLS; it can happen with other types of major surgery as well. I was proactive about my hair. I talked to my stylist early on for suggestions. I also waited 11 months to color my hair, and I waited 8 months before I had my hair layered or thinned. Normally, I have very thick hair, so layering and thinning was normal part of hair cuts for me. At 11 months out, my hair is back to normal. As for skin, I don't think that has anything to do with the type of WLS other than maybe side effects from the malabsorption issue that happen with by-pass.

I vote tonight's exercise is a nice swim in a hot tub with mebbe some oatmeal for your itching. Oatmeal Bath for Itch Relief Crumble 1 cup of uncooked oatmeal into a bath of lukewarm Water as the bath is filling. Soak 15-20 minutes and gently pat the burned area dry so that a thin coating of the oatmeal remains on your skin. (Be careful getting in and out of the tub, the oatmeal will make the bathtub very slippery.) This remedy is good for the itching that comes from a healing burn or sunburn.

I know when I made the decision to get the sleeve I was sick of being obsessed with food and was tired of all the time and guilt I put in thinking about food. I look forward to loosing my hunger and being able to feel full quickly. Time will tell but I'm optimistic for this change. You will be able to eat most of what you want eventually just in smaller portions. Thi tool will hopefully help us make better choices. Good questions to ask yourself good luck.

@ sounds like you researched through the board, and you know a lot already keep absorbing all the info you see and read once you meet with surgeon/NUT - they will give you more instructions "while you are waiting" get a leg up on your new life start using MFP eat small portions chew thoroughly - pieces should turn to "mush" eat vvv vv very slowly drink at least 64 oz of Water a day don't drink while eating don't drink for 45-60 after you eat NO MORE SODA start to decrease your caffein intake the above a just a few of thee many rules you need to learn and follow for the rest of your life I didn't have a requirement to lose X amount pre-op my doc didn't even put me on a pre-op diet just said "DON"T GAIN ANY WEIGHT"!!! if your doc does tell you to loose 5% of your weight SUCK IT UP!!! learn now that you must ALWAYS follow the "wise words" of your surgeon/nutritionist (NUT) enjoy the start of your journey to a healthier, happier, longer life keeping a blog/taking pictures through time is always good hope things start moving along, meeting your surgeon, getting more info from him getting your surgery date good luck bud kathy

Congrats and your doing great. I lost all my weight just walking cycling and stretching..... Be careful cause I injured back and hip lifting and could not do any exercise for a few weeks. There something about losing a lot of weight and your muscles and connective tissue becomes loose and it my be easy to hurt yourself and or have pain in some areas.it will go away slowly. Don't stop.... Keep going....❤️

Hi all I am new here and have been thinking of gastric, but too scared for that one and will never do it. So I saw my cousin yesterday and she looks great. She has the band, but doesn't want anyone to know so she doesn't know I know about it. I want to talk to her, but I can't so I am here. I have never had any surgery before and am scared to death, but I have tried so many diets they just don't work. I refuse to spend another dime on dieting. I just need help with loosing this weight. I think I am going to call my dr tomorrow to make an appointment to see a surgeon and go to a siminar and hear more about it. My mother is all for it, but my husband is scared and don't even want to talk about it with me. I have a few friends who has had the gastric and he thinks they all look sick and are not healthy and thinks the band is the same thing. i told him I don't care if he isn't behind me on this he doesn't understand how I feel I have been fat for too long now and it's time to do something about it. Anyone have any advice for me I would love to hear it. also I want to know do you have to go to counsling for months before having the band. I can remember my friends having to go to counsling before there gastric surgery for a long time before they got the surgery done. Can you feel the band sitting in your stomach? Do you throw up a lot like people with gastric?

I am now a little worried because, well for one i have to find a new doctor because the one that did the surgery almos killed me... my surgery was a little drastic since the doctor perforated my mesenteric artery and i had to be rushed to another hospital to find out 10 hours later after the oroginal anesthesia that a cut had to be made almost through my whole abdomen so my life can actually be saved!! Now I've lost since may 22nd up to today september 14th 2015 "98" pounds !!!!! Anyone here lost that much??? Please share im kind of worried since this doctor obviously i cant see him again for personal reasons but i was told i would loose 100 pounds within a year and it has been 3 months and a half!!! Super worried here !!

Woo! Hoo! Nothing feels better than loose pants. Congrats!