I was banded in September 2008 and have lost about 240 pounds since then, from 433 to 190. I'm finally serious about getting cosmetic surgery. I met with my plastic surgeon yesterday, and I am scheduled for my first of two surgeries on July 24! I am going to have a tummy tuck with anchor (vertical) incision, breast lift with augmentation, arm lift, and lipo on the thighs. The second surgery (date TBD) will include the backside to make it a full lower body lift and a medial thigh lift. I am so excited! I know it's a lot of surgical procedures all at once, so I'm sure the recovery will be tough. But I want to get this done and out of the way!

To give you an idea of what my surgeon is dealing with, I've attached my "before" picture. That is, before plastic surgery but after 240+ pounds gone.

I will keep you all posted here with progress updates and pictures too. Any pre-surgery advice from those of you who have been down this road before?

Kathy

I have a question' date=', r u a smoker? Is that why your breast DIDNT heal right??? I'm having a lift and implants at end of July and my ps told me I had to quit smoking 4 weeks before surg. Now I'm worried I won't heal right.[/quote']

Nope... Never smoked a day in my life. The first thing out of my surgeons mouth was " did you lie to me? Are you a smoker?" I reassured him I have never smoked. And im not around any smokers. The best we can figure is that some how the blood flow was restricted at a crucial time in those few hours after surgery. I may have slept with my arm pushed up against the incision or maybe the ace wrap bunched around the wound. He said it was rare to have tissue loss in such a healthy person but sometimes it just happens.

Congrats on your WL and upcoming surgeries, you are going to look amazing. I too am getting cosm. surgery in August timeframe. It's like the last goal and the biggest reward. Your in my thoughts!

Nope... Never smoked a day in my life. The first thing out of my surgeons mouth was " did you lie to me? Are you a smoker?" I reassured him I have never smoked. And im not around any smokers. The best we can figure is that some how the blood flow was restricted at a crucial time in those few hours after surgery. I may have slept with my arm pushed up against the incision or maybe the ace wrap bunched around the wound. He said it was rare to have tissue loss in such a healthy person but sometimes it just happens.

Ok thanks,,, I have read a lot on ps gone wrong. I'm a little scared. So glad your doing well,,keep up the good work,,, and I'm glad your not a smoker,,it's bad for ya???³

Is yr insurance paying for the surgery after lapband.

Is yr insurance paying for the surgery after lapband.

They didnt pay for mine. That would have been nice.

I have a question,, r u a smoker? Is that why your breast DIDNT heal right??? I'm having a lift and implants at end of July and my ps told me I had to quit smoking 4 weeks before surg. Now I'm worried I won't heal right.

Suz... your doctor is right about the concern. I never being a smoker could never understand the addiction of that... but most of my family are smokers and my dad just had a stroke Thursday. I worry all the time. My husband is a smoker too. And so is my youngest... i see all the damage is causes.... But then you have someone like my grand ma that is 88 and started smoking at 18 and has never quit or tried too.... and tells me all the time to f**k off... (she really does). It's where i get it from.... lol she is healthy and still gets around... i go play bingo with her most every Saturday.

any who... it is a fact that smoking hinders the healing process.... This is the way i look at it for you... You have worked hard to finally get a body that you feel good about... Why cut it short by smoking... Enjoy your new self and embrace it all... be good too you, cause no one else will....

Good luck

waiting.... you story is partly why i don't have a reduction. I know what i have to deal with now, but i'm afraid of the unknown when it comes too the boobs.

My friend had her's done and a tt at the same time... two weeks ago she had to go back in because the left boob was not falling due to some scaring issues...

waiting.... you story is partly why i don't have a reduction. I know what i have to deal with now' date=' but i'm afraid of the unknown when it comes too the boobs.

My friend had her's done and a tt at the same time... two weeks ago she had to go back in because the left boob was not falling due to some scaring issues...[/quote']

It is definitely not a decision that should be taken lightly. I did it to help with my back pain. It did accomplish that. The very first thing I noticed after surgery was that my back wasn't hurting! The first time in years!!! This is a huge struggle for me right now. My open wound is about 1inch wide and about 5 inches long and will probably get bigger as the necrosis is removed. I am having a wound vac implanted at the end of the week and will have to have it for 6-8 weeks. Then will have to have more surgery to fix the damage. It's a hard pill to swallow. BUT...that all being said, I don't regret having it done. I know that this is just a bump in the road. In not going to die from this and eventually I will get to reap the benefits of "cute,perky breasts" but I know how much better my back already feels..... So I just keep focusing on the positive. God will get me through this.

Well, to keep you all updated, I had to change my surgery date from July 24 to August 1 due to a personal schedule conflict, but other than that, everything is still on track! I'm getting excited!

I went on vacation to Cabo San Lucas with my hubby and kids last week at one of those all-inclusive resorts... Ugh, not good for the diet! Too many sweet drinks and desserts which go down past the band juuuust fine. So I am up a few pounds, trying to get serious about losing it before surgery, but I want to make sure to maintain excellent nutritional status too. Protein, veggies, some fruit. Bacon-wrapped scallops for dinner, plus vegetable juice! Yum!

Thank you for the update.

I had my pre-op appointment today, and everything looks on track! Doctor took a bunch of pictures, and we decided on 450 cc implants. Doc estimates that I only have about 150 cc of actual breast tissue left (most of what is filling my bra at the moment is skin!) so that plus a 450 cc implants will give me a full D cup, which is what I want.

I also added a mons lift to the surgery. For some reason, my mons has remained pouffy even with all the weight I have lost. It's kind of unfair, I lost all the weight off the girls and seemingly little down there LOL! I didn't want to end up like some pictures I've seen where the tummy is flat but the mons area poufs out.

Just a little less than a month left to go!

Just read your story! Congratulations. You have done fantastic work and your weight loss shows how disciplined day in and day out you were! Well done. Good luck with the upcoming surgeries; may you enjoy this new body for years to come.

Just a quick update... I can't believe my surgery is less than a week away! Due to stress eating and a loose band, my weight is up by about 15 pounds from my lowest... Not where I wanted to be but right now it is what it is. After surgery and recovery I will have my band re-tightened and get back seriously into diet and exercise.

I hope your surgery went well!! I was a little shocked by the look of the girls! I have not seem them sagging in yearsssss, so many I don't remember what they looked like perky. They are misshaped and brusied but already look good!

Kirsten, my surgery is day after tomorrow. I had to push it out a week because there was an event this past weekend that I needed to be at. So I am in the final countdown now! I've rented a 3-position recliner/lift chair and borrowed a walker, toilet seat riser, shower chair, and portable hospital-type table. I'm setting up a little recovery cave in the living room for me with my chair, pillows, laptop, phone, etc. I'm doing all the final runaround and getting all the laundry done and everything else that I can do now to make the stress of managing the family less on my husband in the weeks following my surgery when I am recovering.