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Day one post op!! Revision RNY Surgery went great yesterday. I am in zero pain. I’ve only taken IV Tylenol. Team is a little freaked with my low BP and low HR but typically this is my baseline. Discharge today after upper GI and advancement of food.

That is a tough question because it depends on what your body was like before the TT, the specific technique the surgeon used, how "tight" he/she made the muscle, and the amount of lipo that he/she did. Even though you think you are no longer swollen...you still are, just not like you were right after. . Most people are swollen for at least 6 months. I tell my patients that they will continue to get better contour for up to a year after the surgery. That is why you should wait to have lipo revision. It is not advisable to do significant liposuction at the same time as TT because it increases your changes for complications.

Excess skin pulling on the port is a very common source of pain. In rare instances, it may cause slippage of the band or malfunction of the port. This issue should certainly be addressed. You basically have 2 options: 1) revision of the port. The port can be moced to a higher position so that there is no more pulling. This is the simplest approach and can be done by your bariatric surgeon. 2) panniculectomy. This would remove the excess skin, and should be covered by your insurance. Even if you have a panniculectomy, you will almost certainly need the port moved, or the "pulling" can get even worse. A tummy tuck can be done, but this is a larger procedure with more pain and more recovery. Also, insurance will not cover the added cost of a TT because it is always cosmetic (as compared to a reconstructive panniculectomy). Also, you should wait until your weight loss is stabilized before going throug a TT. Keep us posted about what your PS says.

I'm 12 wks out and eat EVERYTHING including bread. I can eat maybe 4 bites of a burger. I got wls so I would never have to diet again. I'm still losing. Some of us r carb watchers, some watch calories. Some listen to their bodies and don't count anything. I hate counting carbs (was on ATKINS Induction last Feb and would've killed my mom for a cookie). I'm still losing. Slowly (started after my revision at 174 so I knew Id lose it slower) but losing nonetheless. Id rather be happy and losing slower than miserable watching everything I put in my mought and losing faster. I don't think I eat enuf of anything (maybe 4 bites from a burger or sandwich, 4 bites of mashed potatoes, 6 fries, maybe 5 bites of pizza, etc) to go overboard on the unhealthy food. I eat Protein. I eat veggies. And I'm not afraid to eat bread, rice, potatoes, and Pasta. This is for the rest of my life and I would be very sad if I couldn't ever have those things again. Even if it was my choice. For those of u who say that wls was a "lifestyle cnoice" and that we should eat nothing but meat and veggies with our food enjoyment coming from an occasional pc of fruit - I say boo. While food is fuel, its also enjoyment, no matter what u tell urself now. I wouldn't enjoy myself if I never ate the foods I actually enjoy. The surgery didn't change my food tastes, still luv pizza, tacos, and fries. The surgery changed my pprtion sizes and that's why I went for the sleeve (and before it, the band) over the RNY. Whatever way u eat that will take u to goal is the way u should do it. I choose to not obsess over every bite of food I put into my mouth. Thank God my sleeve only allows me to eat very small portions!!!

Man - I wish I had the restriction that you guys talk about. it seems I keep trying and trying and I get it for a little bit, and then it disappears. I've never really had to take small bites of food, I've been able to eat anything - without getting stuck. I'm at 3.0 cc's, and I get my fill on Friday. I did experience being too tight once, and I was really completely closed, so I know what it feels like to be too tight. I'm just ready to get the rest of the weight off. I've been stuck for 5 months, no weightloss really, just keep losing the same 5 lbs, over and over. I'm not really going to focus on the scales, and I've been pretty good at staying off of them. I'm trying to change my mind - trying to eat like a normal person, instead of obsessing over my weight, my food etc. I'm very happy I have the band, I'm a little disappointed in myself that I have let myself make bad/poor food choices over the past months. I am ready for the fill on Friday and I think that will give me a jump start in getting my mind right again. I've been exercising, I still feel like I am not giving it my all on the exercise, I guess because I'm so limited in the amount of cardio because of my knee. Anyhow, I know when I first started exercising, I hated it and I forced myself to go to the gym, I barely gave any effort to it, but by the 3 or 4th week, something inside my clicked and I went crazy. I am hoping that happens to me again, so I continue to force myself to the gym. I have my Lasik on Thursday, so I will be off the computer beginning Thursday and for the rest of the week until next Monday. Debbie - you have done great! Lisa, so have you, 90lbs in a year, wow! I do think Exercise is the key to get the weightloss going again. Angyl - wow, did you say 7 lbs from goal? That is awesome! I know what you mean about ordering food at a restraunt, I do the same thing. I've tried to start sharing with my DH now, this helps me in not overeating. Juno - glad you like your new fill doc! The slight unfill might help with the weightloss too, I read on a website that being too tight can cause weightloss stalls. Oh, but your pregnant, so weightloss should not even be a concern. How are you feeling - any morning sickness? I just remember being pregnant and how tired I was the first 3 months. I would go out to my car everyday and have to take a nap. Sula - you aked the million dollar question for me "How do you know when the restriciton is enough"? I keep trying to find this out. It seems that I want to have take small bites of food like everyone else, and I can't seem to get to that point. I'm not sure why. I'm either too lose, too tight. Its frustrating getting to the sweet spot. My doctor said that you should have to work at eating meat, you should not be hungry for 4 hours, and should eat about the size of a lean cuisene tv dinner. Which is about 3 to 4 oz of food he said. Anyhow, I'm praying that my 8th fill will finally do the trick. Mary - you will fit into the smaller scrubs soon, I'm sure of it! Cindi - you keep inspiring me to get to the gym! You have done so great! and you look so good. Jen - Hows things going with you now that you had the revision? Does everything seems to be working correctly now? Baby - thanks for the email, I told my cousin, she is pumped! She had RNY in November last year, she quit losing weight by the 5th month and hasn't lost a pound since. She is hoping that something will help boost her matabolism. I will check in with everyone on Monday, not sure if I will be back online until then due to the amount of work I'm loaded down with at work. Talk to everyone later.

Actually, my surgeon says he'll do an extended tummy tuck for me. But he says that I'll need a revision after I get to goal. I am okay with that. In my mind, it's just to get the lower stomach removed. I'm also having my arms done. My arms are over 30 inches around. The more I lose, the bigger they get from the hanging skin. My insurance absolutely will not cover anything plastic surgery related, regardless if I have horrible rashes and severe backaches. I have tried, but there is no way. I found a surgeon who will do both my extended TT and my brachioplasty for less than $9K. I have several friends who have had plastics in the last couple of months and what you describe is what they are dealing with too. Severe swelling is very normal up to months and months post-op. I bet you will be much happier with your results after all your swelling is gone. Here is my email address: Sljjsd@yahoo.com. I am willing to send you my before pics when I take them. Thanks Kathy!!! take care, dee~

Dr. Schulman, thank you for providing this wonderful service. I have definitely learned alot in the last few hours surfing some of the previous posts. I do, however, have a few questions of my own. I'm probably about 50 lbs. from my "goal" - a number that I'm sure I will revise considerably in the months to come. I will need an arm lift, breast lift, and TT sometime in the future. My biggest interest right now is the removal of my pannis. It has reduced slightly with my 70lb. weight loss but it is still considerable. Although I have never gone to a doctor for rashes, I could have if I had realized this was an option. (I figured he would just tell me to use some powder and diaper rash ointment!) You have commented that a PS who works with obese patients is best. Do you need that type of surgeon for this type of surgery as it does not seem cosmetic in nature? Also could you give me an estimate of the costs for this type of surgery? Thanks for your time and expertise.

Hi Dr. Shulman, I had a tummy tuck on 4/21. The surgeon did lippo too. I still have quite a bit of upper abdomenal fat. Is this common after a tummy tuck? I can't have lippo revision for 6 months. The swelling has gone down all that it will so its not swelling. Julie

I googled your Dr.'s name only because I have been looking for an experienced and reputable revision surgeon, and was surprised when this article came up among the first 3 listings in the search. http://tyler.injuryboard.com/miscellaneous/death-in-gastric-bypass-surgery-results-in-wrongful-death-medical-malpractice-lawsuit.aspx?googleid=214112 Just kind of surprised me I guess.... Sounds like you had a good experience, but he has a few skeletons in his closet.

Audree - Another question about your brachioplasty. A woman on my thread about the brachioplasty told me that she really regretted having it done. She had it done in 2004 and her scars are so bad she feels like Frankenstein's monster. She even had a scar revision. Are you unhappy with your scars? Do you think the scars are worth it? Do you have any photos you can share with us?

1. A LBL always includes a TT, buttock lift, and outer thigh lift. If you only need the back done, it is possible to just get a buttock lift and outer thigh lift, without the TT. This would technically not be a LBL, but rather a buttock/thigh lift. Basically, it would be the back part of a LBL incision. This does not prevent you from getting a TT in the future. WHile it is unusual for someone to only need the back done, and not the front, it does happen occassionally. 2. I think that if kids are in the plans within the next few years, than waiting for the TT is reasonable. You are right that the belly will stretch out a bit, and many people have a small revision after the kids. 3. Scars can be "stuck" from adhesions to deep tissue. This is very common and can be seen in any scars. There are ways to fix this without a TT. You can have a scar revision in which the adhesions are cut and it will no longer appear "stuck". Sometimes, fat or other things can be placed underneath to correct a divot. 4.see#3. No 5.Many procedures can be combined. I routinely combine TT with breast lift/augmentations - in fact, I just got out of the operating room for this very procedure. Combining procedures depends on your health, motivation, and skill of the surgeon. I prefer to not combine another procedure with a LBL because it is a big operation itself and requires a lot of recovery. It would be dangerous to add to this procedure.

The scar from the gyn surgery is not an issue at all. In fact, the majority of my patients have a pre-existing scar in that area (s-secction, etc.). This is removed with the PS - eith an panni, abdominoplasty, or LBL. The Scar from the kidney surgery is a little more of an issue. Because of blood supply issues, it may interfere a bit with PS - it may limit the amount of tissue removed in that area, but this really depends on exactly where the scar is (your PS will evaluate it when the time comes). Either way, this kidney scar can be revised - it can be redone by your PS and made to look nicer. Hope this helps. Good luck with the weight loss

Dr Schulman I am having a revision on my TT and breast reduction from May. I am very unhappy and the Dr has told me that it will "all be on him" as far as cost for the revision. Is it appropriate to tell him while he is fixing the breasts that I want small implants to fill them out? How do I ask? Thanks!

re: placement of the band. was his discovered during the revision to by-pass. could they have seen this on x-rays? Did the complications start right away,after you had lost some weight or when you started to re-gain. thanks

CristiOT - Glad you're feeling better. I saw my dr. He still didn't do an xray as someone had suggested to me. He said that wouldn't do any good. But he said he guesses he could do a revision and move my port, but there is a real risk for infection if he opens the incision. Or we could try pain pills for awhile and see if as the weight comes off if it will stop hurting. I'm opting for the pills for now. I don't want another surgery if at all possible, no matter how small.

Yay Deb! Seeing family is always good. Glad you are losing. Take it slow and easy as you get used to your band's new rules! Melody, my 2 cents. Without any form of WLS, you know what will happen. You do. I do. We all do. Else we would not be here working our bands. I'd not hesitate to revise to another procedure now that I've "been to "Paris" as it were. I don't want to go back to the land of high blood pressure, the road to diabetes, heart disease, and not liking my body. Talk, talk, talk to your surgeon. If he has to remove the band, and he can revise during the same operation, why not? Why risk two surgeries? But, if you revise and leave us here at LBT, as Jim Carrey would say in the Grinch, "I'll hunt you down and gut you like a fish!"

Just had mine on December 14th Lapband revision to gastric bypass on 12-14-2016 Weight day of surgery: 308.2 lbs Current weight: 300.8 Total weight loss: 7.4 lbs

I'm having revision from Lapband to RNY on December 15 Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

Yep. And furthermore, it isn't our place to tell ANYONE that we "think you'll be fine." Unless you're willing to step up and volunteer to pay for their follow-up care and any possible future revision surgeries or replacement bands if a slip should happen because they followed your advice over their doctor's, anyway. In that case, be my guest!

Welcome Deb, 2beskinny, counselor, and all other new bandsters to the thread. Went for pre-op--small, funny shock happened. For years I have been thinking I was 5'5--lo and behold I am 5'3." My ticker, BMI, has been all wrong--no wonder my 6'5" husband always felt so much taller--I just thought he was taller than he thought Leigha--good job on losing weight. Thanks. I have got to search to see if after port revision you do liquids--I would assume so, but how long. I meant to ask the surgeon. Melody--hang in there. I just cannot figure out what to do--I am getting 1200-1600 calories in before exercise and scale remains unmoved this week. I was doing 60 grams of carbs--going down to 30lbs--I know 60lbs was too dang many.

Hey Karen--good to see you on LBT Welcome Misty to the thread and restriction. Just stopping in briefly. Port revision surgery tomorrow! Will check back in tomorrow if I am not too out of it.

Highly recommend Dr Ponce De Leon in TJ, MX his price is $4500 ($5000 revision) There are a lot of excellent drs in TJ. PM if you want more info. Good luck on your search

I was Sleeved the 20th a revision from Lapband, so far everything is great except Iv had a few breakdowns over not being able to eat. I still have 2 more weeks before mushy I feel great and went back to work after 3 days off. I'm only required 40 g of protein and for the first time ever I'm actually taking all my vitamins. Iv lost 14 lbs so I'm 15 lbs from goal but I know the less to lose the harder so I'm in no hurry. I love hearing how others sleeved the same month are doing so please keep the stories coming !!

Even though I didn't have a revision or anything I was denied because I hadn't taken prescribed meds for weight loss. I appealed then I was approved within four days. I think it all comes down to the people at the office if they really push for you they will jump through to make it happen

I do believe the pouch can be stretched. If anyone watched that recent episode of this new season of My 600 Lb. Life, there was one woman that had the sleeve, only made it to 300 lbs and was on the show again to get a revision, because she ate her way back up to 600 plus pounds. When he did the revision, he said the first sleeve procedure she had was completely undone. And her revision was hard because she had tons of scar tissue. We totally can undo what we've done. That fact always frightens me and makes me remember to measure my portions, whenever possible.