It's been a long time since I have been on here. I had my sleeve on January 9, 2013 and reached my goal of losing 81 lbs in 11 months. I am now 3-4 lbs over that and I have been struggling to lose those few lbs. I am eating about 1,100 to 1,400 calories a day. I know I have to get back on the program of fewer carbs and fewer calories. I got a fitbit a few months ago and that has really helped me get my 10,000 to 18,000 steps in a day. I lost a lot of hair in the first year. It has grown back now but the funny thing is my once straight hair is now curly! Has anyone heard of this happening? I had my vitimins done again at 2 years and I was way over my vitimin B's, so I am not taking any right now. I guess I am getting enough from real food. Everything else was fine.

Last June 6 months after I reached goal I had a tummy tuck. It was done in a hospital in Michigan. The surgery went well and I was back in my room but was growing very weak. They discovered I had interal bleeding. So they rushed me back into surgery and I was bleeding all over interally. They fixed this and I still needed to have 2 blood transfusions before I started feeling better. I spent an extra day in the hospital. They can not figure out why this happened to me. I don't think and no one else thinks it was anything the doctor did. I have had lots of extensive work blood done and everything is normal. I have had my other surgeries with no problems. I wasn't taking any meds at the time. I am only thankful that I chose to have my surgery in a hospital. Since I live almost an hour from the hospital I don't know that I would have made it. I can only recommend that anyone having plastics or any other surgery have it in a hospital. If you are in a surgical center and don't live nearby I would stay in a hotel overnight.

I love my tummy now. The surgeon did a wonderful job. Never in my life have I ever had a flat stomach. My scar is nice and flat and even around. I had a normal recovery after I got home. It was not an easy recovery, not a lot of pain but very uncomforable. I wore a compression garment for a few months and a light panty girdle for a few more. He removed about 4.5 lbs of excess skin and fat. Would I do it again? As much as I love it I'm not sure it was worth almost dying over and scaring my family. Think long a hard if this is something you really want to do afterall it is elective surgery.

I am so happy to have had my sleeve, I am so my happier and healthier now. My husband is a happy man too!

This has been a most fascinating thread....so much so that I have cancelled my TT. I don't have a hanging stomach and I am 61 so I can't get a lot of mileage out of it going forward. A bit disappointed but I just don't have 5 months to waste at my age to recover. I did have a breast reduction done 2 years ago and I simply cannot even imagine having my old, dangling, sagging, mismatched breasts. I love my new breasts and I was up and about 48 hours after surgery. Barely a blip on the radar. But if I did have a large stomach that hung down I would do it. But the scar is so huge....so not going there this time around....but I'll figure out some other body part to remodel!

I , too, was really apprehensive.

I just wanted it And saved. And finally the day came???? SO HAPPY

but it has only been 24 hrs. And the lidocaine pump was a fabulous new trick

Once again. The worry before was worse than the procedure

I'm not naive... We shall see this weekend. Bandage change w/ doc mañana. Dear friends for nurses. And you guys! I'm content

It is definitely a personal decision. One I'm glad I did. I know that they have horrible stories. I thank God I was not one of those

Bayougirlsc, I have always wanted a flat tummy, after working so hard to lose the weight it was my reward. I had also had many surgeries in the past so I really wasn't worried about complications, I guess should have. As you can see I did have a lot of overhanging skin that I have always hated. My husband couldn't figure out why I wanted this so badly, he thought I should have had my arm or breasts done, it anything, he was just so happy that the weight was off. The first time we saw the results I cried, he said, he got it a that moment why I wanted the tummy tuck. Still love the results.

One week out from TT.

It was not an easy week... I'm very thankful I took 2 weeks off work. I'm also thankful for pain killers.

Just for a point of reference.. I've had two 9 lb babies and this was difficult!

Not being able to sleep on my sides has been hard as I do roll onto them and quickly roll back awake mid sleep

Glad I did it and my doc was great, but really research. The pain level for me was high.

Getting better daily

I hope to post in a month or two how you just go on and forget.... But right now.....just know for some it will be a tough couple of weeks❤️????

It does get better with time. I sleep on my back, I had to put a pillow on both sides to keep me from rolling over.

Thank you for sharing, you look wonderful!