At our WLS support group meeting last Thursday they had a plastic surgeon come in and tell us all about the wonders of plastic surgery. He made it sound as if it is inevitable result of WLS.

I don't expect to have that problem because of how my weight sits on me. I don't care about tight abs (yet). My question is, I've heard many people say that lap banders may not have as much problem because of the slowness of our weight loss. Is that true or will we have as much skin as RNYers?

Does exercise make a difference?

Does anything?

I have never had big arms until I started losing weight. So, Ok, I didn't realize they had gotten so big until they started going batty. I am totally freaked out by this and the boobalah's hanging. Has anyone had these procedures that can weigh the good with the bad. The scars vs. the sagging skin. It is the arms I am worried about most. Do I want to snip em up just to keep em covered up due to scars?? Also has anyone ever had the procedures and had a major keloid scar, like across the pani? These are the things I am worried about, because I know I will need these things now. At this rate I will never get down low enough to worry about it, but just in case my butt gets in gear???

Vanessa,

If you went to the Butterfly meeting, most of them are RNYer's and I don't think that Dr. Martin has had any Bandsters. Lap Banding has only gained popularity in Cinci in the last year. I've already decided that when I get to that point that I'm choosing a doc that Dr. Curry works with. I want him there to place my port. I don't trust any of the Cinci plastic surgeons to do it.

...Razzi

235/172/140

6/25/05

Dr. Curry

I believe that anywhere you have stretch marks the skin will never quite return to normal. Which sucks because I have lots - they are all old and faded to white but I don't think that will make a difference. I know I will need a TT because I carry almost all of my weight around the tummy. And I would like de-winging because I have had stretch marks under my arms since I was 15 and have never worn sleeveless outfits (and remember I live in a very hot are of Australia!!) - the prospect of scars doesn't worry me too much, I would rather have one neat line than several hundred (stretched-out) sqiggley ones!! And I figure that if I get a good surgeon and I really take care of my scars they should look fine - when they are healed I can always put a little make-up on them until they fade.

I'm already planning and saving for my TT and arm lift. I saw a cosmetic surgeon BEFORE my WLS (cyst removed, no big deal) and he said with the apron of skin I already have around my tummy it will never shrink back AND it will cause me lower back pain. It's really bad, I can stick my hand under it and you can't see my hand! Like Jacqui said, short apples having babies: that's me! As far as the arms, they hang halfway to my waist already, I'm not counting on them firming up. One of my major weight loss related goals is sleeveless shirts. It's so hot here...it was 70 yesterday and it's January! I don't know about having anything else done, I'm not trying to get the perfect body, I will settle for not frightening!

Nana, when I researched and had a consult about a year ago with a plastic surgeon here NC it was going to cost $5900. for a tummy tuck. I don't know what breast lift or arm tuck would cost.

Kryssa, I have the apron already too...I often refer to it as the second butt, because I swear it sticks out as much. I hate it. I gained alot of weight in the last two months of both of my pregnancies. So tons of strech marks. My lapband doc and nutritionist are recording any rashes , disomfort or promblems I'm having with this panni now. I do get a rash a few times a year now...I can only imagine as I loose weight that this might get worse. They told me to take pictures of the rash. She said, the nutritionist that the office would help me try to convience the insurance company that's medically neccesary. I really hope they can do this. I'm also going to start visiting my pcp everytime I get one of these rashes so that they to can document it. It's worth a try.

I really really hate my arms....I tried on a really cute top today, but my arms sticking out of it really ruined the effect. I think I'd rather have arms done than boobs...boobs I can fix with the right bra and inserts if I have to...they can wait. LOL Though I think I maybe rolling them up into said bra by the time I'm near goal.

Melissa

I was there at the Butterfly meeting. I got there late. I hadn't even thought about port placement. Of course, he didn't mention it either. I didn't even think about that being yet another thing to consider.

I had never even thought about these things before WLS. I suppose, one surgical intervention leads to another. Such is the world of modern medicine.

While I think I have pretty good skin (for a smoker), I carried alot of extra weight in my stomach. I've got a scar right above my bikini line from kidney surgery when I was younger and my tummy has always overlapped that. Now that I'm losing a good deal of weight, its got those horrible wrinkles, especially in my few stretchmarks. Looks pretty nasty lol. My boobs have headed south too, but I'm a G cup, so I well and truly expected that.

So this year, when/if I hit goal, I plan on having both a tummy tuck and a breast reduction. At parties, my breasts are currently the most photographed feature LOL, so I'm looking forward to when they're smaller and people take pics of my face *g*