I've read mostly positive posts about Dr. Ortiz and OCC on this and other forums. A few people don't seem to like his "celebrity" status and I did find some older complaints about their bands. Anyone out there with bad experiences or complications with their sleeves from him?

I posted these pics in one of the before and after threads, but wanted to share with "my people" a couple of my 3 month postop comparison pics

Yay!!

All of the pictures are beautiful, but wow what a difference! You look GREAT!

You're looking gorgeous, b2b!!! Thanks for sharing!

I also had a great experience with dr. Ortiz. I am in the hotel on the first of two nights and am feeling great with only a tiny bit of numbness in my butt. Apparently this is normal, his team and the nurses at the hospital are awesome! Some advice though is to bring with you some thick tape for gauze. When they give you tape for your gauze when you leave, it is super thin and you have to use a ton of it to secure your bandages when you change them yourself at the hotel. They use thicker stuff at the hospital and it seems to work way better.

Abraham and Eduardo are awesome and super helpful, if you guys have any more questions let me know. Good luck everyone!!

Wow!!! Doing great...love your transformation!

Thank you so much ladies!

I can't wait to see what the next 3 months bring. When I first created my weight ticker it looked like such a far off goal. I was sad thinking how long it would be before I got there or if this surgery would even work or if I ever would get there. It's crazy how fast everything changes postop. It's truly truly amazing and I am so lucky and will not forget that. Thank God for this sleeve!!!!

Wow!!! Doing great...love your transformation!

OMG I saw your pics on another thread!!! You look GORGEOUS!!! You have to post them here so everyone can see!! I have such a great role model

You look amazing b2b!! I'm having my surgery done by Dr. Ariel Ortiz as well. Surgery date is January 27. I'm hoping I have as much success as you all are having

I'm here in TJ. Surgery in the morning.

Praying for you!!!

Praying for you!!!

Thanks. Just took my shower about to head out to the hospital.

OK - here are the pics....I am TWO STINKING POUNDS from my personal goal weight of 145....blew past surgeons goal a few months ago.  The last pounds are definitely the most difficult to lose!

 

Started at 237.6 lbs, size 18W (tight) pants, 2XL shirts.  Today, 147.1 lbs, size 6 jeans, size medium shirts.  Dr. Ortiz and OCC staff gave me the small tummy, but I made the diet and exercise choices to get me where I am today.   As the pics show, I LITERALLY lost my a$$ in 2013...lol!  It's very exciting for me to follow those who have had surgery to see the changes. 

 

OK - here are the pics....I am TWO STINKING POUNDS from my personal goal weight of 145....blew past surgeons goal a few months ago. The last pounds are definitely the most difficult to lose! Started at 237.6 lbs, size 18W (tight) pants, 2XL shirts. Today, 147.1 lbs, size 6 jeans, size medium shirts. Dr. Ortiz and OCC staff gave me the small tummy, but I made the diet and exercise choices to get me where I am today. As the pics show, I LITERALLY lost my a$$ in 2013...lol! It's very exciting for me to follow those who have had surgery to see the changes.

Very inspirational! Congratulations! I want to be you and I will!!! I am 3 months post op. I WILL get there!!!

Thank you so much Jaxtan . Wishing you nothing but the best with your journey.

 

HooiserGirl, you are giving me everything I need right now! How are you doing mentally if you don't mind me asking? You kind of touched on it in your blog, but is it real to you yet? I see the shrinking girl in the mirror and the clothes and bras don't fit anymore, but it just doesn't seem real. I know I'm still early in the process, and I read so much here before surgery about how fast things change, but it's still strange. I didn't really "see" it until I put those pictures together. I don't know if that makes sense.

B2B - the whole body image problem is something that will be with me for awhile. When I was 237, I never "felt" fat. It was always shocking when clothes didn't fit or I saw myself in pictures. So now that I weigh 147, I don't "feel" thin. And I am shocked I am a size 6 and shocked I look so little in photos.

Since this is such a mental thing for me, I don't know if I need counseling or just time to wrap my head around the changes. As an example, my son will be 9 next Saturday and asked for a pool party. So I was dreading the thought of having to put on a bathing suit to help our 5 year old swim in the pool....but then I remembered, "I am not fat anymore!" Just stuff like that all the time. Hard to re-program the self-talk I guess.

All I will say is that I like the current shock of being smaller a lot more than being fat!

KJUNEAU - thanks! You will get to goal. I am sure you are already seeing big changes. Do you have any pics? They are so motivating to see!

I love the support from this site!  You ladies ROCK!  I am not sure I have ever had "online besties" before?!

Edited January 6, 201412 yr by HoosierGirl