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If you have documented medical problems from the excess skin, you may be able to get insurance to help. Hernias can be fixed at the same time, but have no relation to excess skin and the insurance companies go to great lengths to provide the research that shows this on their websites: Abdominoplasty, Suction Lipectomy, and Ventral Hernia Repair AETNA and most of the other companies adgere to these guidleines. "Aetna considers panniculectomy experimental and investigational for minimizing the risk of hernia formation or recurrence. There is no adequate evidence that pannus contributes to hernia formation. The primary cause of hernia formation is an abdominal wall defect or weakness, not a pulling effect from a large or redundant pannus." Because I am double board-certified (in general surgery and lpastic surgery) I will repair the hernia while I do the tummy tuck. The hospital will agree to seriously discount the fees they charge my patients for the tummy tuck, and the overnight stays are also covered. In this manner, a hernia may "help" you receive a tummy tuck at a discounted price. Realize that a "panniculectomy" is NOT an abdominoplasty and does not provide a result that I consider favorable...so beware of a physician who will do a "panni" and call it a "tummy tuck." "Panni" photos are at PictureTrail John LoMonaco, F.A.C.S. Plastic Surgery Houston, Texas www.Bodylifthouston.com John LoMonaco M.D., P.A.

You have worked so hard for a long time to get to this point and adjust to after surgery I have to say your health and mobility must come before whatever he feels if you become so big that u need assistance bathing or dressing is he willing to do that if u become ill or bedridden or can't work is he going to do everything? I hope he really is being supportive for your sake will there be changes in how you look yes there will I won't sugar coat it a lot will change and it will all be for the better u can't be very heavy and loose weight and expect not to have extra skin re ppl looking old guess what we are all getting old it's happening accept it there's is no choice eventually this will include drooping skin wrinkles etc no one escapes u can delay... Plastic surgery etc the highest form of selfishness is worrying about if someone gets healthier how it will affect him words like that are about control good luck to you

As long as you are not experiencing heart burn or reflux at night I doubt it has slipped. it is possible you are just in need of a new fill and that the dry heaving may have settled the band a bit. As you loose weight the fat buildup around your stomach shrinks and that is what causes you to need additional fills. Good luck!

Hey everyone, my name is BrendaLee I am from Houston, Texas. I was banded October 22, 2007 so this is a very special day that I will celebrate from now on and I have named my band "Bella" eventually I will feel very bella because of Bella's help. I have been so depressed these days because I feel like I am not loosing any pounds. I need some help with food! I don't want to eat breads, pasta or tortillas! The cream soups are great but fatting! One soup Creamy Chicken is 130 calories, I don't know how many calories I should consume a day, I guess that means I should go see a dietician. Anyways this is going to be so hard for me but I am determined and I know writing in this journal will help me so much. :ranger:

Hi Erin, I'm the resident pro on port infections, and I'm a little worried. Please don't get scared because you might be fine, but you should get a 2nd opinion pronto before getting a fill. I went through exactly what you are going through. My port incision never healed - it just leaked and leaked and never closed. About a month after surgery, I was told the port had to be removed. I was afraid to trust him, so I started calling other surgeons. A total of 5 surgeons agreed that an infected port MUST be removed. But an infected port can lead to erosion, which is why my doctors wanted me to wait several months to be sure I was clean-clean-clean before getting a new port. The doc that removed the port was in Mexico, and he gave me a fill before removing the port to hold me over. However, my current US surgeon said it's horrible medical practice to give someone a fill before removal. My US surgeon had to save a guy that just got filled before port removal. By the time he got home from the hospital, he couldn't swallow liquid because the fill took awhile to kick in. Then he had to rush back to the hospital for another surgery where they opened him, put a port in, unfilled him, then took the port out. ALL AT HIS EXPENSE AND PAIN. Please, you waited long enough for the band, so be patient and let them take out the port. I don't have a port, and I'm still maintaining a 60 pound weight loss. Please read this part very carefully: Ask your doctor where he plans to "stash" the extra tube when he removes the port. I learned that the tube needs to be stashed in the abdominal wall. When they removed my first port, they just left the tube floating around, and it tried to make its way out of my body. At one point, the tube actually found it's way out of the incision, so I walked around with tube sticking out of the infected port incision. The reason was because tube too near the surface of the skin will prevent the wound from closing. My advise: Have your port removed immediately. Allow yourself a solid 3 months (at least) to heal. Then get an endoscopy and a laproscopy. The endo is a camera that goes down your throat and looks at the inside of your belly. The lapro is a small incision (like in the belly button) where a camera sees the outside of the band. Make sure you have NO signs of erosion before getting a new port. AN INFECTED PORT CAN LEAD TO EROSION. Don't put yourself through any extra heart ache. I'll PM you my number. It breaks my heart that anyone else has to go through with this, so I'll make you a deal, right here, right now. If you take my advice and heed my warnings, I will be your personal diet buddy. I will commit to losing as much weight as you say. We can call each other every night, write, hell, fly halfway around the moon for a lunch walk if we gotta. See you in PM.

Damn I'm jealous guys loose weight soo much faster. Good luck.

Thanks guys! Coops it looks like you didn't have as much to loose so I'm sure that has something to do with the difference. Keep at it and it will come off eventually.

I lost 165 lbs and just had a TT 2 weeks ago. It's amazing and wonderful to see you stomach so flat!! You will love it! Day 2 was the worst, but take the pain meds and you will be fine. I look better that I had hoped at only 2 weeks PO! Surgeon took 5 lbs of skin and I have lost 11 lbs total since day of surgery.

Surgical drains are common. Their purpose is to remove fluid/drainage that may accumulate under the skin or in the intra-abdominal cavity. They keep swelling and bruising down and can reduce your chance of infection. The most common type is bulb-type drain called a Jackson-Pratt (JP for short). Here's some reliable information about them https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000039.htm

The 19th makes a month for me and I have lost 10 lbs.post op. I dont do carbs every day...I am trying to get all my protein in and water! I have had some carbs and very little sugar. They do matter probably..either way though I AM A LITTLE BUMMED ABOUT LOOSING SO SLOW!

awww, I never ate one but it will be all worth, keep up the great work, I was required to loose wieght but not go on a liquid diet to after surgery, isn't that odd, but ur surgery is right around the corner, I'm happy for u, I'm so anxious to get approved and get date

I do agree with "readyformyjourneytobe" though. Since I stopped weighing every day, I started noticing how my clothes fit, how my energy level is, even how my shoes are starting to feel loose on my feet.

I would think it's more likely that you need a fill again. I have never had restriction in the mornings, but I don't think I have hit my green zone yet. I am losing weight - total of 34 since June 22nd, so I am still happy with it. My doctor did say that as I loose weight I lose weight inside around my stomach so the "belt" has to be tightened. I would call and go in, if they do you fills with floro then they will know for sure.

Vegas, If you go to Starbucks.com it has the nutritional info. It is with 2% instead of skin, though. But that should be fairly simple to adjust.

Hey guys I am new to the site. Just started the journey of paperwork for a surgeon in Scottsdale Arizona. I am however a diabetic of 24 yrs. I am currently on byetta which has decreased my appetite and has helped me loose 14 pounds in the last month in a half. I am excited to venture on this journey of lapband. I attended a seminar on it. I am also glad I found this site.

Ok this is a moan, but I am sick of having the same conversation with my surgeons dietician. When I went for the op I had done what I thought was fairly extensive research, I looked at the bypass and the band, and I had decided that apart from the fact that the bypass scared the living crap out of me, the band was better suited to my eating habits. Although I do like treats my problem was always portion control and the lack thereof. I had a long discussion with the dieticians explained that with such a large family I cook loads of one pot meals ( think coq au vin, spag bol, pot roast etc) I just eat too much and get hungry 1 hour afterwards. During this discussion she mentioned trying crackers/raw veg etc if that happens as it will stay in the band longer. Since I had the band I have cut out nearly all the Snacks, I allow myself one low cal bag of chips a day and that is it, BUT I dont eat my food dry. I follow all the rules, take 20 minutes to eat, dont drink with meals or for an hour after, and I exercise. My weight has stayed pretty static in the last 4/6 weeks even with the fill, and I eat way more than I should be able to. My clinic are telling me that is because of the pot roasts and tomato sauces (apparently it just slides through the band???) and that if I want it to work I have to eat grilled/steamed meats and plain veg. WTF??????? If I ate that without the band I would lose weight!!!! The whole point of the band for me was the fact that I could still cook the things that I enjoy cooking, and the vast majority of what I cook is healthy, and have portion control. She is right, when I do eat the dry food I do get full much quicker,but from what I have read on here I should get full on spag bol just as easily. What gives???? I ended up asking her what I had spent £8,000 on becuase I have already made the healthy choices, started excersing etc, if I have to change the healthy stuff that I eat so radically then to me I just feel like I am on a diet, not that I have changed my attitude to food. She mentioned me getting another fill, but again I am worried, in surgery he had to put in 4cc as the band was so loose, my first fill did nothing and in order to get any restriction on the 2nd fill I had to go to 9cc in a 10cc band, there is only 1cc left FGS!!! That worked for a couple of weeks but now it seems to have loosened off, I can eat pretty much anything (but not white bread), and if there is any sauce on it I can eat loads! Can the band loosen off if you dont lose weight? If I cant eat white bread then surely I have restriction, so why am I condemmed to dry foods only in order for it to work? I feel like I have met the band half way, I have made huge changes and embraced them and it still isnt enough :wink: At the moment the way I am looking at it it is 70% me, 30% the band :tongue: I just feel like I was missold. Friends keep saying to me that my diet is no different to their weight watchers only I am not allowed the sauces and that they cant see why I spent all that money, %&)&^(&^%&$!!!!!! I am sooo hacked off..... Nina x

Wow honestly you look like you were always meant to. You suit your skin so to speak lol. I'm just 1 week post op and struggling through the pureed stage. I was convinced everyone has to deal with loads of excess skim until I came across your post. Such an inspiration thankyou. When did you feel like you could start gentle exercising like swimming for example . Xx Sent from my SM-G925F using the BariatricPal App

So far 90 in 10 months... Stalling is normal, i am stalling now for the past 3 weeks its normal... I been thru plenty of times... But then u loose them fast... Dont worry, i know is hard... But its normal

Curvy cakes you are so right he was being an ass, perhaps he is jealousy that once she loose the weight she will loose him and find a hero and drop the zero.

For those that did the 1 week liquid diet prior to surgery, how much weight did you loose during that week? I'm concerned about my BMI getting too low, so I'm curious! ????. Thanks!

I have stalled.... This week I only lost [.2 ] lbs. I even started a new workout regiment....I think its bc Im not getting enough calories. I re-started an online food journal (fitness pal) and according to it, in the last week i haven't gone above 400 calories this past week. Im trying....but the point of getting sleeved is to CUT food consumption.....right? My mind is trying to wrap itself around how im supposed to eat MORE to LOOSE weight... pureed food looks like puke. Protein shakes taste like ass & they make me wanna puke. Imma greek yogurt-it more this week &see what happens. I will be glad when I can eat food ya chew. I'll KNOW what to eat then! Veggies & whole foods that DON'T taste like ass & look like puke! Ha! #thisSOMEstr8BSyo

So I have a few questions for those of you that have already had the surgery or have the knowledge. These are just questions which are zipping through my mind constantly. 1. Scarring. What kinds of scars to expect and the location of the scars. 2.How long does it take for the incisions to heal? How many incisions are there normally? 3. Excess skin. Is there a lot of excess skin after weight loss? Is there a way to avoid it? 4. Exercise. What kinds of exercise besides walking is good for post-op 5. When they say liquid diet pre-op, is it all liquids or only clear liquids?

MY surgery is this Wednesday and I feel like everything I'm doing will be the last time I'm doping it. Even writing MSG's to folks I'm extra nice cause I don't the last thing I say to be mediocre...lol, kinda silly isn't it. But I've been dreaming about death and found a dead mouse in the back lane and dead bird in my front yard...I'm scared I'll be lost in the OR, loose my life to blood loss or complications...sigh'

Phew. I'm glad I'm not the only one on this stuff. LOL I have restless legs. The seat I am sitting in in the car MUST be all the way back ALWAYS so that I can stretch my legs out and move them around. I pick my skin. If there's something on my lip, I have to bite it. This one caused me some grief awhile back because I had some kind of cold sore or something (never get those) on my lip and I kept biting it without thinking about it and I'd be bleeding really bad like I got into a fight. Not the prettiest sight when you're a security officer. LOL I don't like to step on cracks anywhere. I'm not obsessive about it, but if I happen to be looking at the ground, I'll lengthen or shorten my step to not hit a crack. I give up, though, when I hit an area that has bricks or something with a lot of cracks and just step on them. I hate it, but I figure I have to control it. This one is kind of hard to explain. I do kind of do the counting thing that OCD'ers do. I was standing with a circle of people and I had my hand on the girl's shoulder next to me and I was counting with my fingers on that hand and in my head, "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5." I wasn't even aware of it until the girl said something. I will also grind my teeth to the beat of music sometimes. I think I'm better at this one - haven't done it in awhile. And of course, I have used eating compulsively. And I am a compulsive shopper. I used to really bite at my cuticles. I got that one under control, too. I'll see some loose skin on my cuticles and pick that off, but make myself stop before it gets any deeper. I used to bite at the perfectly healthy ones, but I make myself not do that. A lot of this is work-in-progress and I still struggle sometimes. Looking at all this, it's encouraging to me. Because if I can control certain things that were compulsive behavior like biting my cuticles or stepping on lines, maybe I can keep my eating under control. I can hope, right?