Let me start by wishing everyone the best in achieving their weight loss goals.

I am literally at the very first stage, at step one. I am both excited and full of concerns. I'm sure this is normal.

I think one of my main concerns at the moment relates to scarring, and I was wondering how many incisions and what the after is esthetically speaking. :thumbup:

I have 5 incisions - 4 are TINY, like less than 1/2 inch. I just had surgery in Feb and I can already tell that they won't be much, by the time they're fully healed. Then, the bigger one (where my port is) is maybe 1 1/2 inch...that one might show later but it doesn't matter to me.

1. I'm never getting in a bikini again (no matter how thin I get!)

2. My husband doesn't care about a simple scar (nor do I)

3. Having a couple blemishes is a very small payment for a lifetime of healthiness and thinness.

I am on month 3 of the 6 month required medically supervised diet program. I'm praying for a July/August surgery. My doctor, Dr. Daniel Scott, specialises in the single incision lap band surgery. The incision is an "S" shaped incision through the belly button. He is located in Dallas, TX I've heard other doctors also perform the single incision, which leaves NO SCARS. Good luck. Trying doing a google search. Good luck

I'd rather have 5 scars than all of this excess weight. Honestly, I wouldn't mind losing a finger if that meant I would lose 160 pounds. :thumbup:

I had my gallbladder taken out 8 years ago and the scars are bad. I am hoping they can go in through those scars and maybe fix them. If not no big deal. My stomach is so full of stretch marks that it looks like a road map of Texas.:thumbup: I hear vitamin E oil works wonders.

The scars are tiny---really, quite miniscule. Really, they pale in comparison to the deformity caused by obesity and stretch marks.

I figure that most of the aftereffects of obesity and banding can be removed by a skillful plastic surgeon if they really, really bother me when I reach goal.

But truly,the surgical scars aren't even on my radar-they're there, but they just don't register when I look at myself.

The positives of the band really, really outweigh this little drawback.

Good luck with your decision!

I agree with everyone above! I'd rather a couple of tiny scars versus fat rolls!

Whoo...I agree with MrsCabes!

I am almost 4 weeks out and the 5 incisions are healing nicely. Four of them are small (0.5-inch) and the port incision is about 1/5-inches in length.

The incisions are really thin and are pink/red. I have had a breast reduction surgery and two c-sections. I know from experience (on me at least) that they will fade to skin tone within about 6 months. I also dream of a tummy tuck after I lose the weight.....I welcome would welcome that scar to get rid of my hanging belly!!!!

Again, the scars don't bother me one bit. With time they will fade and I really wouldn't care if they didn't. I would trade 20 small scars on my tummy to get rid of the fat!

I would be more worried about adhesions than scars! The scars will be tee-niny!

I can understand this, I remember standing in the mirror looking at my stomach the night before surgery and feeling so sad that it was going to be all cut up. I really had quite a nice stomach for a fat person - it wasnt where I stored weight, and it was unblemished and stretch mark free.

As it is, there's barely a mark on my stomach now. I dont even think twice about wearing a bikini. The port scar is very faint and colourless now and the other four are invisible, I cant find them anymore.

But although I got out of weight loss very lightly skin wise, I could have an absolutely AWESOME stomach with a tummy tuck as its very flat, the skin is just a bit loose. But the scarring really puts me off, same, I cant see the point of the huge ugly scar. Just like you're doing, I am no doubt way underestimating how much the scar would disappear.

I understand that you fear the scarring. I will have my surgery on May 3rd and I have also had a breast reduction and the scarring from that isn't all that bad now that I was about 2 years out from it. Like pretty much everyone else has said I would rather have the scars than all the fat rolls on my stomach! lol

I will try to do whatever I can to make them not so visible with creams etc. Good luck on your decision!

I had my surgery in July 09. My scars are almost nonexistant. The largest one is only about 1 inch and it looks like a little scratch. When I run my finger over it I can't even feel a change in the skin.