Who here has had their "apron" removed before you lost all of your weight? I am kicking around the idea of having this done when i go down to Mexico to have my lap band put in. My lapband doc works with a plastic surgeon closely and I could have it done the next day. It would make life so much easier to not have it there when working out and moving around! LOL

If anyone has please respond, or pm me directly. I have lots of questions.

Hi Funny,

I had mine removed at 225 pounds. It was the greatest thing I have ever done, except for the band. I ca see things I didn't know I owned.... I feel and look better. Just do it. By the way, it is very painful, but well worth it. I also had my thighs done in April 06, and was alot worse than the tummy tuck!!!!

well i can't just do it. They will not do the surgery on me. And the surgeons who don't care about my wellbeing here in the states want close to 20k to have it done.

I will have it removed. But now I will more than likely wait till goal, and have a total body lift done.

oh funny i'm so sorry know how much you were looking forward to it. I was looking forward for you because i know how much i hate mine. Sorry again. Judy

It will be worth the weight!! It was a great goal for me. You will love your new lap band, and will go great with your new tummy later!!! I did have to be transfused when I had mine done, so they are probably right with their decision. Besides, we want you alive to brag about it later!!!:clap2:

Sorry to hear about this Amy. I know your health is of primary importance. Just hang in there, use the band and get it all done at once.

I'm sorry to hear about your surgery Amy, but hopefully you can have it done once you reach goal, which I know you will!!!!!! My surgery is a day after yours, so I'll keep you in my thoughts for a speedy and uneventful recovery.

Hey Duddies - sorry to hear the bad news. Since it's a matter of comfort (among other things) - have you tried using deodorant under your apron? I had some troubles last summer, kept getting a really uncomfortable rash where the skin rubbed, and someone from a weightloss board I was on suggested using deodorant. I figured... ok, anything has got to be better than this, and it did wonders! I just wiped it on, like putting lipstick on a big old smiley face. I don't have the same issues with my apron now that I've lost a chunk of weight, but I still do the deodorant daily - preventatively, and just for general hygiene (it sweats as much as anywhere else!) Granted - it's not surgery :eek: but it might help you stay comfortable during the muggy days ahead.

Sorry to hear that, Amy - I know you were looking forward to it. At least you know you chose good doctors when the time finally comes. Bright side, you get your band that much sooner! I'll be looking forward to seeing how much progress you make before my date! Good luck, I know you'll do great.

I'm so sorry to hear about your delay. But, remember that word, it's just a delay. I agree 100 percent about some of the doctor's here in the states. It's kind of like don't say a word until you've walked a mile in my shoes. When I get time today I want to post of my explosion pics of my 3rd degree burned legs and dismissed 3 hours after arriving at the local hospital because I had no insurance. At one point they wanted to put me on life support so I wouldn't have to suffer and 30 min. later the surgeon came in and said we're going to have to release you and you'll have to come here everyday for debreiding for 3 weeks because you have no insurance.

I've had it up to you know where with some of they're attitudes. Then, it forces up to go to Mexico and self pay and I pay 700.00 month to Anthem BC/BS insurance.

Well, at least now you'll have your band to help loose all you want to loose and I think we're having surgery close to the same time. Your in my thoughts and prayers and you WILL prevail.

Sherri

Sherri, you will be my band mate. It will be awesome being banded the same day together. We are in for a great experience, I can feel it!

Thank you all for the well wishes and the support. It was a hard night, but I know this is the best outcome. I would be lost without the support I get here.

Wheets, I am gonna try that. It sounds liek a good idea. I had been using baby diaper rash ointment, but it is sticky and greasy and really nasty. I hate the stuff, and would shoose anything to get aways from it. I wonder if that would work for my thighs too.

One thing that is really cool is that we are flying into Mexico on the evening of the 6th. We are staying at the sheraton till Monday the 10th, and we have all that time to sight see and look around the town. We have heard wonderful things about Monterrey, and can't wait to explore. !!!

Amy, you can also purchse BodyGlide at sporting goods stores. It's formulated for runners to keep from chafing. It comes in a stick like deodorant, but it doesn't have any scent or the aluminum salts - it's just this smooth stick that stays smooth as your thighs, boobs, arms, butt, belly, whatever rub together as you run, bike or walk. It really does work. I have trouble with my thighs if I don't wear shorts that don't completely cover my thighs. It is also nice to sometime wear a sundress without some kind of bike shorts or Spanx under to keep from getting a rash. If you use deodorant, you might try the Dove aloe - it's smooth, kind of like the BodyGlide, but it smells nice and will keep you from sweating, too. I live in sweaty Houston and often put deodorant under my "ample bosoms" because I feel like I have a hothouse in my bra!

Another thing I discovered is called "Lipo in a Box" control garments which are WAY more comfortable than Spanx - great control and really, really soft and comfortable. They don't make that nylon "swish, swish" sound when you walk, either. They have all kinds of styles and sizes from capri length to bike short to full underwire bra with bike shorts, no underwire, etc. They stretch a lot, too, so you don't have to keep buying them in various sizes so frequently as you lose. Some say that if you wear some kind of compression garment regularly during weight loss that you can help support your skin and it will shrink back more evenly - just like they give you a compression garment after plastic surgery. I found them on the internet at www.lipoinabox.com. They are pricey, but very good quality. It might help to get a full body one to use under your workout clothing - it might help "keep things in place" a bit - it's not surgery, but it might help in the meantime. When I wear mine I feel a lot more "pulled together" without feeling all "gridle-y".

Hey, Folks,

I'm came across this article while researching WLS and the Panniculetomy procedure and thought I'd add it FYI:

http://onhealth.webmd.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=56448

Momo I love the lipo in a box stuff!! It looks great! I HATE Spanx and would love something that does not make that nasty sound when I walk around LOL I will def be buying some of that stuff

Randi - Its funny you would post that. I have a plastic surgeon friend that I have spoken with a lot about this. He felt it was fine for me personally to have the apron surgery before losing the weight. BUT!! (there is always a big butt around ehre isn't there? LOL) He said that the surgeries that I plan on having after I reach goal should only be had after a year of being at goal. For a couple of reasons.

1. Those who have WLS (but not the band mind you) often have malnutrition issues due to the way they digest their foods. Their complications just skyrocket in the percentage bracket because of this malnutrition and the body's inability to perform at peak levels. But he said that was not an issue with most bandsters because we do not deal with the same malnutrition issues.

2. The skin is in shock after losing massive amounts of weight quickly. After a year of dealing with the skin in its baggy state it begins to shrink some. Not all in most previously severely overweight patients, but it can result in up to a 50% shrinkage, plus be more elastic so that the final outcome is smoother and more appealing.

My original plan was to have the apron surgery, then have the band, get to goal, wait a year, then have the total body lift done. My plan now just starts from the band point, and deal with the apron during the weight loss. I would rather not had to deal with this, but I do believe in devine intervention and am happy to go with the flow. I will be waiting that year, though, to see if I can get the skin to respond to my new body and do some self correcting before going under the knife. Then I am being what my husband refers to as "Barbi-ized". LOL

Randi, did I read that right - the study says 14% of the patients who had the surgery earlier than a year after weight loss DIED???

Devana I have heard statistics like that as well before, but were assured it was due to complications of being weak from mal nutrition. Keep in mind, most studies involving weight loss surgery do not include many bandsters, and all the other weight loss surgeries cause mal nutrition as the catalyst for weight loss. When your body is mal nourished it can develop infections very easy, you can have severe heart issues, poor blood circulation, etc. Scary huh? I am so glad I am getting the band! LOL