Hi all, I've lost 213 pounds so far on the lap band. Started at 433 in Sept of 2008, lost most of this weight in the first 2 years. After a long plateau and a port replacement due to a leak, I'm back on track and losing again. I'm determined to get from my current weight of 220 to my goal of 180 (I'm 5' 9"). My reward to myself will be a lower body left with anchor incision.

I had a panniculectomy after losing 80 pounds because my pannus was so bad. That was great but I definitely need the lower body lift. All my loose skin has pooled around my hips and I have folds vertically as well as horizontally (hence the anchor incision). I'm two sizes larger on bottom than on top!

I'm looking for any advice and encouragement I can get as I push the last mile on my weight loss and decide where to get the surgery done. My insurance covered the panni but definitely won't cover this. I've consulted with the surgeon who did my panni but it would cost me approx $16k here in the San Francisco bay area. I'm considering going out of the country to get this done but wary because I know it is a complex surgery. Not your average tummy tuck.

Any insight or advice would be appreciated!

Kathy

Wow skinny Jill that's a lot. I ate really healthy before and took lots of Vitamin c. I think it's different for everyone. I did a lot of research and so I expected a lot of pain. Oh, wear the compression garment all of the time.

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WOW....Your tummy looks great!! I am super excited about LBL...I have 15 more days until I fly to Mexico!! What all is Dr Quiroz doing to you?? Gosh...I still can't get over you tummy...it just looks amazing!!

Please let me know how it goes for you. I flew out there and met him and checked out the place. He has great reviews and I was very impressed when I was there. Met post op patients and they were all happy.

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Please do keep updated on this! Hope all goes well. Great info!

Please let us know how it goes! Good luck!

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Please let me know how it goes for you. I flew out there and met him and checked out the place. He has great reviews and I was very impressed when I was there. Met post op patients and they were all happy.

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I have quite a few friends I met on facebook that have used Dr Q...I have not met him yet, but I have talked to him on the phone. I will be having lower body lift, liposuction on thighs and lower back and inner thigh lift all at once! I will for sure keep you all posted...I hope my tummy looks as good as yours

Karen...how much skin in pounds did your surgeon take off??

Karen,

Who was your surgeon in Houston? I am in Houston and Dr. Patronella is my surgeon.

Karen, Your TT is fantastic, I'm having a facelift in Cancun August 7th. My face seems to have dropped terribly I guess a combination between weight loss and age. I don't seem to see many people on here that have had to have facelifts. I guess it effects everyone differently. I've drifted a little off subject. I just wanted to tell you how great you look.

Danielle, I never found out how much weight she took off but I know it was a good chunk. I had been maintaining my weight for several months at 153 and then 3 weeks before my tt, I had a complete unfill. Due to nervousness about the upcoming surgery and finally being able to eat, I gained up to 165 on the day of my surgery. When I went home from surgery I was the exact same 165. So I don't know if it was swelling equal to the fat she took off or what. It's 2 1/2 weeks later and I'm down 5 lbs. Somthe answer is I don't know. She didn't tell me and I've never asked.

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Skinny Jill, my Surgeons name is Camille Cash. She's just great!

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Kimaly, I am having a neck lift and breast lift with augmentation in August by Dr Quiroz in Tijuana. The total cost is $7900 with anesthesia and facility charges. It will be extra for the recovery boutique. I have a lot of hanging skin on my neck and my poor breasts are flat as pancakes.

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LOL, I had a Breast reduction before I had WLS and by 1 year out I had no breast left so I went back for implants. Now I love my girls. I'm going to Cancun for facelift, necklift, upper and lower eyes and a little fat transfere to the nasal folds my total cost except for flight is $ 5000. I'm ready, I've worked really hard to lose that weight and am not ashamed of what I want. I get a lot of crap from people saying you should just be happy with the loss (I'm over the sky with the loss) But also so feel I should be able to reward myself if I want. Never been much of one to care what others thought of me. More like the love me, like me or leave me kinda gal

Limply, good for you. I'm having a breast lift with implants and a neck lift in August and people give me a hard time about the neck lift but I have to see it all of the time and I'm paying for it, so I really don't worry about what others think.

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Limply? How did that happen Kimaly! Darn spellchecker!

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I'm using Dr Quiroz for the rest of my reconstructive surgery. He is great. I had my tt done here in Houston 2 weeks ago.

It looks perfect!!