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I am concerned about the same thing ,, but have been told that in my area (south florida) there is a program that actually does the tuck for free or really cheap cause they use the excess skin for burn victims ,(not sure if thats true) but also my surgeon says if i lose slowly and gradual and exercise alot i may not need it ,, and i have to lose almsot a total of 15o pounds....

There is much confusion surround WLS surgery and WL in general. Some people think- oh WLS is easy, now you can eat what you want and not have to worry about it. That is soooo wrong. Actually, I worry about what I put in me more. Rather think about, I have to make sure what I am eating has protien, is healthy, and won't get stuck. Some, and I have even been guilty of this, think the scale is the only sign of success. What gets me and I have had this confersation with the doc, is that doctors look at BMI only. You get on the scale and they say oh you are over weight- shame, shame, you must diet. They don't look at everything- your over all health. While we know being morbidly obese is not good and leads to many healthy problems, being slightly over weight is another ball game. I weight 187 lbs, I have been in a 14 for months and now I am starting to move to 12's. While my weight isn't going down, apparently I am toning and my waist is smaller. My wedding rings are falling off my hand. My glasses slide down my nose. Heck, even my socks are big on my feet. So while I see the scale number not moving, something has to be happening because of my clothes. Some seem to think that WLS is a magic bullett and it will cure all that ails you. No way, I wish my mental fatness was cured. I still feel the part of the fat girl. I am amazed when smaller clothes fit, I still feel huge. I still crave the unhealthy. I still have to fight the demons that make me want to eat when I am not really hungry. The triggers are still there, I just have to recognize them and fight them. It's funny many people I work say nothing about my weight loss, ignore it. No one says hey you look good or gee you've lost a lot of weight. I know I must look smaller after loosing 60 lbs, but I wish people would notice. I actually like it when people ask, I like educating people on WLS. Some think it's a good thing, other think I was crazy. But, it is my decision, I made it and I believe in it. My band may mess up some day, I may have to have a revision, but for now it's working just fine and I am happy with it. My brother who is a medic, freaked when I told him. He said I was making a mistake. He worked with some one who thew up everything he eats and he hurts all the time. The band has made his life miserable. I told my brother, that isn't how the band is suppose to work, likely the dude is to tight or is trying to eat to fast and or to much. Now my brother sees what the band can do if worked properly. So, if people as- yes I had the band and this is how it works for me.

If I understand what you're referring to, I think it's that the band gets stitched in place from the outside during surgery. The upper stomach skin is pulled down around the band and is stitched there, effectively making a tunnel shape if enough stitches are used. My surgeon didn't use those terms, but he said many surgeons only use a few stitches (like three or four) to attach the band. He said he uses anywhere between six and ten stitches, to make a fully secure placement, and that slippage virtually never happens. I can imagine that securely stitching the band in place lke that would make a tunnel shape quite easily. Fills only tighten or loosen the band in place, so I don't think the physical size of the band would change all that much. I'd expect that's why they ask you to go on liquids for a few days after a fill, so things can adjust to the change. Dave

Hi, I had a Gastric band fitted 9 years ago before the technology was even proven or not to which i had a huge amount of health issues which resulted in me be so deficient in a multitude of different Vitaminsthat my only option was to have the band removed in order to have a baby as my body was shutting down. I have since given birth back in January to a perfect little baby boy I went from 70 KG to 146 KG in 9 months as my body was so starved of any nutrients it went in to a state of shock when i could eat and stored everything i ate even a small light meal during the Morning, noon and night time sickness my body stored and kept hold of everything and the Dr has said that this was quite normal because of the circumstances and the shock i put my body through. That said i am now experiencing more issues i had a Gastric Sleeve in order to loose the weight but still be able to eat small portions so i could loose some of the weight but still remain healthy and i have to admit i have lost 31 KG Since giving birth but a lot of this was Water retention i came out of hospital almost 15KG lighter already so i feel that the operation cost me an absolute fortune but has been a complete waste of both time and money. I feel in a way cheated that it simply is not working at all i now exercise 4 hrs per week high intensity classes as well from circuits to Spinning and still nothing i would ideally like to loose another 24kg and it simply is not moving i do not crave chocolate at all so tend to eat berries and fruit and can barely eat bread so if i do eat a Soup at lunch time i have less than half a slice of bread i mainly eat chicken and steak with some sort of vegetable by way of salad or sauteed in some olive oil and chili etc... but even then the portion is less than a 4yrs old, i calculated my calorie intake daily to be in the region of 500-750 in total inclusive of Hot Drinks. i was depressed after giving birth as all of my friends gave birth and came back out in their skinny jeans and i had to wear my maternity clothes up until i had to go and buy some new clothes last month. I don't actually know what to do now as i am simply not losing the weight and i am desperate i do not want to be the fat girl picking up her kid in the playground i hate it i feel uncomfortable and conscience everywhere i go i do not go out of the house unless it is to visit or meet people that i knew when i was pregnant i have not seen any of my friends that i knew before i fell pregnant because i am to conscience that they are all judging me for being that girl that put on all the weight and ate like a pig and it simply is not the case i have tried everything over the past few months from slimming world to calorie and fate counting and i am even about to try slimming pills which i have had sent over from Thailand as i am that desperate at the moment. Anybody's helps would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

My lab director came in my office and made a comment to me "Why are you wearing your husbands shirt to work?"... I laughed. I am wearing my shirt that used to be snug and now it just falls off! It is thick and warm and its cold here today so I just inadvertantly put it on. I guess i will have to retire it now... The second one was what he said after that. We continued to chat and I said I had lost over 40 inches, 10 in my hips alone! He said, "Thats great but dont loose too much weight. You know you can loose too much!" It was the first time someone has said for me not to lose too much.. I am still considered obese and have 45 more pounds to loose to get in the middle of my normal range!!!! I took the comment as a positive though... I told him I still had 45 more pounds to go and he just shook his head and walked off. LMAO! Yay for getting healthy and thin and feeling great about bagging clothes and people saying not to lose to much... I want that problem!

To be honest, the most negative remarks that I receive are from those who are already overweight. I get a lot of praise and good feedback from those who are skinny or who do not have a weight problem. However, for some reason many of those who I have encountered that had something negative to say where from overweight individuals. I've been told that I'm losing weight too fast. That I have saggy skin. That "they don't need surgery to lose weight." It just goes on and on. Yet, it's almost funny. I laugh at these people. It's like they want to justify their fatness or something. They want to explain to me why they are fat and not losing weight. However, I don't care. I don't even start these conversations. Somehow these people need to justify something and bring these conversations up. The best thing to do is ignore them. You're doing this for yourself and no one else. Each time someone asks you "how much have you lost" tell them and make a big deal about it. That's what I do. You're going to be looking hot, rockin' out in a mini skirt and stilettos while they sit on their asses complaining. THIS IS A GOOD THING!

Hi everyone! Thought I should log in an update. I am now 11 months post-op. I've gotten through all the challenging transitioning and healing which takes place for a good nine months or so after surgery. Before/After Stats: (Surgery was performed on June 9th, 2014) Height: 5'6 Before Weight: 210 lbs (highest weight was 240) Current Weight: 127 Before BMI: 34 Current BMI: 20 Surgery Day Pant Size: 16 Current Pant Size: 2 or 0 Things went like this: I had my surgery. I followed my doctors orders. I didn't pay attention to stalls. I focused on Protein and hydration. I weighted myself daily but honestly didn't pay too much attention to the number, just checked to see that the pounds were still dropping. I never obsessed over anything, just enjoyed my journey into this new lifestyle, even the tough days. My biggest challenges: Definitely drinking enough fluids. I still struggle with getting 64 oz in!! Also I should do better about tracking my food consumption every day. (If I don't track, I don't eat enough) The hardest time for me: Even months after I added solid food it seemed like eating would never "feel" normal again. Always too full, always slightly queasy after eating, always getting things stuck in my esophagus, always dealing with heartburn. There were nights when I would just be so tired of feeling sick from eating food....but I always kept in mind that this was a temporary stage and that it would pass. It did. Now I can eat anything including Pasta, bread, red meat, chicken, and lettuce. Just very little amounts. What I wished I had done differently: Added strength training as soon as I was cleared for exercise. After loosing all of this fat I also lost a lot of muscle mass which led to that gaunt post-wls sickly look for a few weeks. Now I do yoga nearly 7 days per week. It would have been waaaaay better to have started earlier when I still had muscles to work with. Here is the most important thing I did: I worked very hard in the beginning to reset my entire relationship with food. I had to find new ways of coping with stress and new ways of rewarding myself. I did a lot of personal detective work to understand the why's and how's of my food addiction. Food to me now is just a tasty fuel for my body. Do I add good or bad fuel to my machine? Without having so many emotions interwoven with the act of chewing, swallowing, and stuffing food inside my stomach, it is now easy to choose the healthy fuel. The coolest thing so far: Honestly, it's the knowledge that I have just increased my life expectancy and long-term quality of life. That's a huge deal. I can see myself as an active, engaged, healthy, and youthful senior citizen. I'm only 37 but I feel like I've given myself the most loving gift possible...a healthy future. Other totally awesome things: I take up sooo much less space in the bathtub. I spend much less money when eating out. I am oftentimes the thinnest person in the room, which is so so weird. I no longer want to hide myself inside baggy sweaters. I am wearing tank tops without an added cover-up. I look 10 years younger!! I have beautiful cheekbones which were formerly hidden underneath a plump and chubby face. There is such a thing as a clavicle bone and I LOVE running my fingers along the ridge! Getting up off the floor is so much easier. Walking though a parking lot or up the steps is much easier. I CAN LEAVE FOOD ON MY PLATE which is something I could never do before and is now one of the most empowering choices I make on a daily basis. The downside: This cost a lot of money, $14,000 out-of-pocket. I went from a C breast cup to an A. I lost all my butt. Seriously, it's a sad situation about my ass...there is none. I lost all the excess fat, but also my womanly curves. I have a very loose wrinkly stomach and a saggy place where my butt used to be. I've spent a fortune in clothes and Protein drinks. It's been tough having to explain myself to family members. The downside in no way compares to the positive things that happened as a result of my wls. My current goal: Is to consume between 1500-1800 calories per day. My nut said to change gears and fatten up my diet. I am supposed to add carbs, calories, and fat. If I don't track I am only hitting about 900-1200 calories per day. I can only eat about 1 cup of food at the most. Now when I'm stressed I find it difficult to eat as opposed to binge eating my stress away like I used to. So believe it or not, my biggest goal at the moment is to stop the weight loss and maintain my current weight. I hope this can be helpful to those out there who are considering getting a wls, are struggling thorough those early days when all you can focus on is sipping broth and forcing down Protein shakes, and those who are scared to take the plunge. I feel this is the best decision I could have made for my current happiness, future health and quality of life, and to model healthy eating habits/behaviors/relationship with food for my two daughters. Good Luck to all of you beautiful and brave people!

You need very little. My tablet computer, some loose-fitting yoga pants to wear under your hospital gown when you're walking the halls (walking is AWESOME - DO IT A LOT), a zip-up hoodie to wear over the gown so you don't freeze to death, some face cleansing wipes, a nice minty lip gloss, toothbrush & paste, deodorant, hair brush. Some folks like to bring their own pillow. I'm not exposing my personal pillow to a hospital! Best wishes - this has been a wonderful choice for me!

This is exactly how I felt on the "last" day. What motivated me is that now, I'm truly on the road to loosing weight and there's no going back from here. Just 2 weeks away from surgery, and it's on! It feels like my life is really going to change from here on out! Good luck, and know you're definitely not the only one! No problem is unfamiliar in this community! :biggrin0:

Don't limit yourself to just walking. As you loose weight, you'll be able to do more and there is little calories burn in just walking. Eventually walk three miles, then interval training to run that 3 miles (5k). Big difference in calorie burn, and when you run it, you'll be able to do it in about 40 minutes give or take. Weight loss is a challenge on your muscles. You'll want some gym visits to maintain tone, or even build muscles. Find some cardio classes. For me, walking is was always just too slow of a calories burn. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using BariatricPal mobile app

Thanks guys you all bring up very valid and good points. I know what's done is done and as much as I'd like to go back before she said anything and keep her from doing it I can't. I'm trying to move past being upset about it as well. My SIL is married to my only brother so cutting her out wouldn't work for me. I'd hate to loose access to my niece and nephew who I love dearly. SO, gotta play nice :C however I love the tips for tiptoeing around talking about the sleeve and still remaining polite. I'm not ready to talk about it yet and am hoping I won't need to deflect either at the party.

I have only told four people, My husband, daughter ,son and sister who had GBPS 7 years ago. They will tell no one else and I have told no one. I just do not need any more people asking me questions like I read about on these pages. Yata, yata, yata!!!!! I read where people ask how much have you lost so far? How much did you loose today? How much do you want to loose? What do you eat? Why can't you just loose weight like everyone else? I want it to be about me and my health. If people want to say wow you look great I am all for that. I just do not want my private life exposed. I am with you on not telling a lot of people it is none of their business. imaluckydog

A few replies mentioned the feeling in your throat that you're full ... I get what feels like a huge ball in my throat when I'm hungry .... it's very uncomfortable ... and when I'm full ... I get a red face and tingly on my skin and I get hot ... it's very strange ... like another replied .... they didn't get full before surgery ... there were times when I didn't either ... but 6 cupcakes and a half gallon of milk usually did it ! SOOOOO glad I'm not that girl anymore

As surgical wounds are healing, there are often some distinct changes that occur to the skin both around and near the wound. A few things that one can expect – and things to watch out for: https://advancedtissue.com/2013/12/3-ways-know-difference-healing-infected-surgical-wounds/ A study was conducted that looked at patient incision care and other discharge concerns. The study found that knowledge of incision care and amount of information received about incision care were rated low. The five most frequently mentioned postdischarge concerns included bowel trouble at home, wound pain at home, looking for wound complications, watching for wound infection, and activity limitations. (This study is 12 years old. Hopefully, knowledge of incision and discharge care has improved drastically.) https://www.o-wm.com/content/bariatric-surgery-patient-incision-care-and-discharge-concerns

I'm starting to feel and see bones. Like, collar bones, and I can feel my spine in the neck area (I seem to be losing from the top down and from extremeties - fingers toes lower legs and arms). My wedding rings no longer stay on my fingers. And my calves, which were already pretty muscular and not fat, have gotten an inch smaller - from 16 inches to 15 inches. It is such a weird sensation, feeling bones and seeing results. I guess the swimming is really working my shoulders/upper body and legs. Don't get me wrong, there is still a lot of flesh around my bones, but the weight loss is getting noticeable. People who don't know I had surgery are asking what I am doing. I tell them I log everything I eat and go to the gym 5x a week for anywhere from an hour to two hours depending on what I am doing that day (this is all true - they do not need to know I had a surgical assist!). I'm creeping up on my lowest adult weight - 239. I was 244 this morning. The smaller clothes I bought are getting too loose. I have a couple of work out tops I got from Old Navy that used to cling to my tummy which now drape gracefully - it won't be long before I need to get an XL instead of an XXL.. Hell, the concept of clothes draping gracefully on me is whole new sensation. When I was 312 or 320 or 335, there was never graceful drape. There was tugging and layering. Looking in the mirror and feeling like crap. Now, there is possibility. I know I've got a long way to go, but I feel like I've come so far already. Tomorrow is my 3 month follow up with my surgeon. I am interested in seeing how is going to assess my progress. I think he will be pleased. I've lost right around 70 lbs from my program start weight. He thinks I can lose 100 due to the surgery. I have every intention of surpassing that number.

I had planned to have as my last meal, Pub Fries from my favorite sports bar and a kiwi-tini... But we just happened to go there a week ago and I noticed they took them off the menu! Now, I actually have a date but don't have a "last meal". I have always been a french-fry-aholic and these pub fries (when they still had them) were big cut with the skin on them, melted cheddar cheese, spring onions and bacon. (my mouth is watering just typing that).

Elcee undoubtedly so, except open surgery has its inherent risks. Wounds heal slower, more risk of infection, incision break down, my own daddy ended up with a ventral hernia post another type of abdominal surgery, strangely my daughter the R.D. did also. RD was able to have hers repaired maybe 10 years later, lost her navel and a lot of broken- down stretched out skin, forbidden to ever gain weight again. Ugly then, not all that gorgeous now, Daddy died with his at 80 unrepaired, ugly, begged him NEVER go shirtless, it upsets your grandsons(and me too) to see IT! Was told in case of any cat accident, roll to floorboards, curl into fetal ball and pray Our GOD allows YOU to live. And although I do have an right paramedian scar from open appendectomy/gall bladder removal nearly 35 years ago (February 1984) , my flabby belly was beautifully laprascopic RNY SEPTEMBER 5th. True recounting, told Dr Needleman at our July 2018 chat I would prefer an Open incision to no surgery. He drew back, said " Do you KNOW how long it takes an Open Incision to heal? Flipped up my T-Shirt, flashed him my belly, and he laughed ruefully " Okay, Point Taken! I'll enter it into My Notes!" And I have the prettiest 7 incisions you ever saw, they're fading into the train wreck of abdominal stretch marks I have, but if YOU look close, HE DID BEAUTIFUL WORK! Sorry about all of you with the rest ' cause I think I got the BEST! And as long as each one of us feels THAT Way about Theirs. The world🌏 will turn smoothly!

I was just banded three weeks ago. I am a little discouraged to read a post below with everyone stating they are tight in the AM and cannot eat at all or only a shake, then totally loose and eat everything and anything at night. Can I hear from some people that have had their bands for a while that have consistent restriction? Or is this true for everyone. I really would love to eat a healthy egg Breakfast. Thanks, Laura

Thanks All! I have never in my adult life been this thin and NEVER have I lost this quickly...and I am FAR from perfect in my eating habits (I allow myself small bites of whatever I want, I enjoy the occassional adult beverage, probably snack to much at night which has always been a problem for me) I guess I am so afraid of doing this wrong, that I am seeing problems rather than success. I got the sleeve so I could control my portions rather than particular foods. The skin and hair thing definitely bug me...but I was expecting them. I just didn't know the extent to which I would have to deal with both. I feel kind of selfish even posting about this...but it has confused, concerned and excited me all at the same time. I will definitely count my blessings and keep my Protein and Water up....I also promise to never bitch about a stall again!

@@Ligaleagle86 how has your weight loss been? I have heard that most revision people loose weight slower than if they would have gone right into bypass. I only lost about 5 pounds a month with the band. I too had horrible reflux. The kind that would wake you up at night gagging. I HATE this band and cannot wait to remove it. At the same time I am scared that the bypass won't work either.

So my DH and I have both been banded and we are loosing weight so quick that the otherday we actually did a 69...:embarassed: .. We were so happy we acomplished this that now we want to do it every night. Did not mean to emabarrass anyone although I am sitting her red faced

Well I had my band filled on 4-12 I have not really seen a big difference. However, everyone at work is trying to loose weight so I am kind of on the band wagon. I worked out yest and today. I actually jogged on the treadmil and in front of people today and it was ok. I am weighing in at 223 so i can not bitch I started out at 310 pounds. 87 pounds in 9 months is something to be proud of. I am trying to stick to 800 calories a day and to exercise as much as possible I want to loose 100 pounds by the middle of June if possible even the firts of June. I just need to keep a positive atittude and my mouth shut! :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :omg: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1:

well today makes it one week down for the 6 month diet....Been off sodas for 1 week, oh man and the cravings, but i never gave in.....I'd enjoy the occational glass of hot chocolate which helped my throat while i was sick, and the occational glass of fresh juiced juice, but no sodas, and no carbonated waters, my mother in law found this flavored water thats not carbonated fruit 2 O and its pretty good, we'll have to get some for our house.....My husband doesn't like the no sodas part....but i really want him to try to loose some weight too, we both really need to, he hates water though, he's been trading his high calorie sodas with high calorie non carbonated sodas....so still sodas, but he didn't think they counted cause they weren't carbonated, he didn't even go for the diet ones......like its not hard for me, man i love my soda, but it never really made me feel good, I'd get stomach aches from drinking it, but yet i still drank it....I'm proud of myself for not cheating and drinking soda this week, yay to me I'm slightly confused with my blue cross blue shield of texas....we were under the assumption that I needed five years of weight history, and a 6 month diet, along with the nutrionist, and psychologist, but the criteria they gave me at the seminar didn't mention the five year weight history and the 6 month diet said 3 monthes, and then i got really confused when i went in for my consult and the surgeon and dietician were saying 6 month diet and then the nurse came in saying 3 month diet, i really wish i had asked, but it didn't really occur to me till i got home and read over the paper work again....well my second appointment is in a couple weeks i'm sure i can ask about it...although even if it is now only 3 monthes, i'd still have to wait the 6 or at least 4-5 to be able to save up the $4200 we need to cover the surgeons fees.

Annabelle I too had a wait for my surgery. I started in Feb of 2012 and was sleeved Dec 5th 2012. I am really happy that I followed my NUT suggestion and stopped caffeine, carbonated soda, and empty calories back in early Feb. I read post of those who only stopped those foods when they reached the preop diet and they are miserable fighting craving while trying to adjust the sleeve. I am only unhappy that I got so caught up in "let's hurry up and make this happen" I failed to look at the risk objectively. The surgeon's office is selling a product so they gloss over everything unpleasant. Those here on the form do not, so read about complications and find out the truth of what could go wrong. I got a pierced bowel because my surgeon made a mistake cutting scar tissue. It made for a week hospital stay but worst my family feared they were loosing me during the hours/days it took to get things under control. Read about leaks. Yes they are all rare but I a proof as are many others on here rare happened to real people. With that being said I am a type 2 diabetic,and have hypertension. All meds were gone days after surgery.