Okay, I don't know whether this topic has been covered before. If it has, my sincere apologies. However, there is something I have found on my explorations of all things 'sleeve', that has somewhat resonated with me. And not always in a good way.

If you're a bit like me, you've devoured everything available on the big ol' t'internet about the wondrous vertical sleeve gastrectomy. From doctors, to insurance, location, cost, life impact, health implications, surgery competence, surgery complications, long-term outlook, short-term discomforts, scale victories, non-scale victories, psychological wellbeing, psychological hurdles, physiological impediments, familial responsibilities, the Quest for Protein, the quest for Fluid, Protein Bars, protein shakes; which brand is the best, which brand is the worst.

The areas for consideration in this matter are endless and, if you're like me, you keep stumbling across extra information which every so often makes you say 'oh no, not another thing to consider'..

Getting to the point, I don't think there is a person amongst us that hasn't trawled the endless YouTube videos and the photos on this website of the dramatic transformations people have achieved. It is almost a voyeuristic pleasure which provides instant gratification and codification as to why you're taking this road. You see people and think 'wow, that could be me'.

Whilst clearly, dramatic weight loss will have significantly improved people's health and general wellbeing; reducing or eliminating comorbidities and making their prognosis much better than when they were significantly overweight. There is something that just won't leave me.

Have any of you seen photos and videos (and please don't quote specifics) where you've thought either a) you looked better when you were heavier or your weight loss has gone too far, stop, you're looking ill.

I don't want to be one of those people that everyone silently thinks 'you looked better before'. However, one only ever knows whether this is the case until you get there and or generally, after the event in question.

I guess, fundamentally, I'm questioning whether, in line with some medical publications, some of us are pre-programmed to be portly and we look 'better' portly as a consequence?

I know I shouldn't be concerned about this, because health comes first, right? However, when I see people with thinning hair/ no hair, degraded teeth, grey complexions, sunken cheeks, sunken eyes, I sometimes question whether this is the right thing to do, or are people, behind my back (and knowing some of the people I know), to my face, going to be thinking 'crikey, she looks awful'...

I have seen, particularly with some photos and videos over a lengthy period of time, people achieve a 'sweet spot' for looking 'well'. However and more often than not, they don't appear to stay at this. Is there a middle ground between meaty and malnourished? Can it realistically be reached and maintained?

What are your thoughts, people? Would be good to hear them x

I see many bypass patients that look gaunt and have a really bad pallor in my surgeon's support group. I can't be certain but I think the malabsorption does it to them. This was one of the reasons I went with the sleeve. I also think what I eat makes a difference. I count protein and carbs but not fat. I eat healthy fats like nuts and avocado. My skins glows and I look way better now than when I weighed 250 lbs!

I'll chime in and add (after laughing at the spelling, pretty princess upgrade and ugly troll posts) that the issues you're bringing up all fade in the second year post op.

hair grows back. Skin rebounds and isn't as saggy. Sunken faces fill out. Fat redistributes and flat butts and chests fill in a bit more.

Jacked up teeth are jacked up teeth and nothing but the dentist is going to help that out. In fairness, I see FAR less of this in sleeve patients than bypass ones. If you eat a healthy and balanced diet and don't suck on lemons, you're probably going to be okay here. And it's true, surgeons don't give an upgrade on your appearance post op.

The people that look worn out? They're not eating properly in most cases and are unwilling to supplement with shakes and get their Vitamins in. They don't drink Water and moisturize and their skin starts to show their age. Fat people don't age as quickly, I swear. Round, shiny faces just look young longer. In any case, when people are so focused on eating exactly 22 carbs a day while consuming zero fat, don't drink their Protein or water, don't exercise and don't take vitamins, their looks suffer as a result.

The change in my appearance and energy levels 18+ months post op, and once I had adequate nutritional supplements (B12 and Iron, in particular) was, well...immense. I went from looking and feeling tired and worn out to having people tell me "I don't look like I was ever obese." Whatever that means...

~Cheri

The change in my appearance and energy levels 18+ months post op, and once I had adequate nutritional supplements (B12 and Iron, in particular) was, well...immense. I went from looking and feeling tired and worn out to having people tell me "I don't look like I was ever obese." Whatever that means...

~Cheri

That's really interesting actually, because the people I've met in the flesh, the bypass patients, I hate to say it, looked awful. The VSG 1 year + post op looked better (to varying degrees) And yes, a couple of them did look like they were never meant to be big. They showed me their before photos and it was quite bizarre. They looked like different human beings - literally. I hope I'm blessed to be one of those people. Really...

I'll chime in and add (after laughing at the spelling' date=' pretty princess upgrade and ugly troll posts) that the issues you're bringing up all fade in the second year post op.

hair grows back. Skin rebounds and isn't as saggy. Sunken faces fill out. Fat redistributes and flat butts and chests fill in a bit more.

Jacked up teeth are jacked up teeth and nothing but the dentist is going to help that out. In fairness, I see FAR less of this in sleeve patients than bypass ones. If you eat a healthy and balanced diet and don't suck on lemons, you're probably going to be okay here. And it's true, surgeons don't give an upgrade on your appearance post op.

The people that look worn out? They're not eating properly in most cases and are unwilling to supplement with shakes and get their Vitamins in. They don't drink Water and moisturize and their skin starts to show their age. Fat people don't age as quickly, I swear. Round, shiny faces just look young longer. In any case, when people are so focused on eating exactly 22 carbs a day while consuming zero fat, don't drink their Protein or water, don't exercise and don't take vitamins, their looks suffer as a result.

The change in my appearance and energy levels 18+ months post op, and once I had adequate nutritional supplements (B12 and Iron, in particular) was, well...immense. I went from looking and feeling tired and worn out to having people tell me "I don't look like I was ever obese." Whatever that means...

~Cheri[/quote']

Cher!!!

Perfect, Madam R. Is looking for a buddy. This person must command the English language,

Commit no spelling errors and have a witty sense of humor!

You, my dear, possess these elusive to the VST qualities!

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/89642-anyone-want-to-be-my-friend-2nd-sept-d-day/#entry935144

That's really interesting actually, because the people I've met in the flesh, the bypass patients, I hate to say it, looked awful. The VSG 1 year + post op looked better (to varying degrees) And yes, a couple of them did look like they were never meant to be big. They showed me their before photos and it was quite bizarre. They looked like different human beings - literally. I hope I'm blessed to be one of those people. Really...

Oh, indeed the bypass patients get the worst of it, mostly due to malabsorption and very rapid loss, I'd wager. I know someone in person that dropped a HUGE amount of weight in one year and while I'm glad she's lost weight in truth she looks a bit like she's suffering from a terminal illness. The bypass will make you lose faster but it comes at a price.

Cher!!!

Perfect, Madam R. Is looking for a buddy. This person must command the English language,

Commit no spelling errors and have a witty sense of humor!

You, my dear, possess these elusive to the VST qualities!

http://www.verticals...ay/#entry935144

Laura, I intentionally use the word "journey" just to make you cringe. Nah, I actually use it LESS now because you've made it friend criteria and I want to stay on your good side.

And I'm sorry to say that while I do believe I meet most of Madam R.'s requirements, I am, sad to say, possessed of an inflated sense of superiority and that might be a deal breaker.

However, she did say "disillusioned" sense of superiority. Mine is slightly inflated as I have a high opinion of myself (and naturally, a low opinion of many others) but I'm not disillusioned. I'm merely self-aware.

Missed you, gal, so glad to be back on the boards, and Madam R. is going to fit right in with the cool kids.

~Cheri

Heard on talk radio today that plastic surgery can make you look younger but not necessarily more attractive. In a study they polled people whether photos of plastic surgery patients were more attractive post op. Overwhelmingly they said no. Interesting....

Heard on talk radio today that plastic surgery can make you look younger but not necessarily more attractive. In a study they polled people whether photos of plastic surgery patients were more attractive post op. Overwhelmingly they said no. Interesting....

I agree, to be honest. I'd opt for chopping off the excess skin, re-plumping (modestly) my bust, but as for the face? I'd leave it fairly untouched I think. Save, perhaps, for a bit of filler here and there!