Well, its time to start this new aspect to my WLS journey. I had Lap-Band in May 2006. I lost approx 150 pounds in 9 1/2 months and have been maintaining my weight since February of this year. Its been a good ride so for. I thought when I began this WLS journey, that I wouldn't want PS. My goal was to be healthy and not care what I looked like. I have a good life, a supportive wife and family and wanted to loose the weight to spend more time with them. Well here I am a year and a half later and just got put on the books for abdominaplasty on February 11th 2008. It seems so far away, but my job and my wife's job keeps us busy during the end of the year and as a corporate accountant, my wife is busy finishing up the books in January. She wants to take a week off when I have the surgery to help me out, so I don't mind waiting for that. This will probably be the only thing I have worked on. My arms are fine and no real man boobs to speak of. My thighs are bad, but don't effect the way my clothes fit. But, the stomach has to go. Clothes don't look good even when they fit and I am tired of lifting my flap to wash under it. Sounds gross, but I am sure many of you can relate I am nervous and excited at the same time.

I have been to 2 consults and have decided on a Dr. She is very good and comes recommended by my Band Dr. That gives me comfort since he was great and I value his opinion. I have financing lined up but am still hopefull that insurance will help out. The first Dr I went to said it would be a waste of time to submit to insurance because I don't get rashes or anything. But the Dr I am going to use said there was significant separation between the stomach muscle ( It hink she said 5 cm, she put 3 fingers between the two muscles). Significant enough that insurance might pay. Not holding my breath, but like the fact that she will try to fight to get insurance on board. And with financing secured, if insurance denies, it won't be a big blow for me.

I don't post here as often as I used to when I first started out, but wanted to update those who remember me

I agree with Boo Boo Kitty!

Neal: You're looking good. The belly button looks to be healing well. Isn't it great to feel normal!? As far as exercise, I feel the same way as you. I'm probably back about 90%. Still have lots of little tweaks in the muscle repair. Patience! So hard! Anyway, you're looking great. KUDOS!

Thanks Karey. It does feel great to be normal :biggrin:

Ya know Neal, it really is sad that it is socially unacceptable for guys to have a belly button ring, cause you belly button deserves some Bling!

Thanks BBK! It it was acceptable, I would. In my past life, I've had my nipples, tongue, and ears pierced, so I am not opposed to peircings. :smile:

Have any of you seen the old movies "Summer Rental"? It has John Candy in it. Anyways, there is a female character who got a boob job and goes around showing them off and asking everyone what they think of her new boobs. I have turned into that character with my belly button and tummy. I am always pulling up my shirt and showing people. I have become a freak. lol

"Have any of you seen the old movies "Summer Rental"? It has John Candy in it. Anyways, there is a female character who got a boob job and goes around showing them off and asking everyone what they think of her new boobs. I have turned into that character with my belly button and tummy. I am always pulling up my shirt and showing people. I have become a freak.":laugh:

TOO FUNNY! That'll be me - I already pull my shirt up and say look at this flab - and I show my band scar. OK not to everyone just family and very close friends.

Thanks Karey. It does feel great to be normal :thumbs_down:

Thanks BBK! It it was acceptable, I would. In my past life, I've had my nipples, tongue, and ears pierced, so I am not opposed to peircings. :cursing:

Have any of you seen the old movies "Summer Rental"? It has John Candy in it. Anyways, there is a female character who got a boob job and goes around showing them off and asking everyone what they think of her new boobs. I have turned into that character with my belly button and tummy. I am always pulling up my shirt and showing people. I have become a freak. lol

OMG that movie is so freaking funny! I am going to do that with my new boobs and new belly! My DH bought me a TON of belly shirts, tank tops ect this week as a surpise. I know he is excited about the new tummy comming! lol...

I like piercings too Neal, in fact I just got the Monroe done a few weeks ago (NOT WHAT YOU ALL ARE THINKING!!!)

It is a TINY diamond on my cheek above my lip below the nose, where Marilyn's beauty mark was!

It is a TINY diamond on my cheek above my lip below the nose, where Marilyn's beauty mark was!

pics plz...

Ok, here is a crappy bathroom pic for you loosing....lol....

It is hard to tell, but that diamond is it!

beeeeeeeeeauuuuuuuuttttteeeeefulllllllll BBK!

Well, haven't posted in quite a while, but I went in for a revision on my TT today. It went well. She did a lot more than I thought she would. It took her about 2 1/2 hours. She fixed the dog ear first. It wasn't too bad. Then she started on the front. She cut about 10 to 12 inches across and took about 4 to 5 inches more of extra skin. She pulled mainly up, and not down, so I don't know how much of a difference it it make with clothes on. It was very surreal. I was awake the whole time, no drugs, just a local. My wife was in the room during the procedure and watched the whole thing. While it was painless (except fot the dozen or so shots of local in the upper pubic area! ouch!!!), is was weird to feel the pressure of her pulling and cutting. Then seeing the smoke rise up from my groin area when she carturized it several times. Good thing I am not squeemish. I am at work now. I might leave early when the pain kicks in when the local wheres off, but for now, I am feeling pretty good. And she didn't charge me a dime for anything.

I am still not really happy with my weight. I am not gaining any more and have been going to the gym regularly again, but my Dr said no gym for 4 weeks until I am healed again. I had a great moment last weekend. We went to a waterpark and I went shirtless in public for the first time since I was a little kid - 30 something years ago. I struggled with my confidence, but survived. lol Hope everyone else is doing well.

Neal!

i was just thinking about you yesterday!

so glad the revision went well. hope you arent in too much pain when everything wears off.

keep us posted!

Neal!

i was just thinking about you yesterday!

so glad the revision went well. hope you arent in too much pain when everything wears off.

keep us posted!

Thanks Christine.

Good to hear from you Neal. I was thinking just the other day that everyone in the Feb/March plastics group should check in with each other. I hope you'll post some pictures soon. Glad it wasn't too painful. I'm sure you'll be happy with the results! Congratulations on your public viewing. It is a moment of truth!

Thanks Karey. hope all is well with you too. The Feb/March group was great. I was really nice to be able to go through this with you guys and hep each other and get encouragement.

Neal

Glad to hear your revision went well. I was told as well that TT revisions were done in office, I had no idea how! I hope you heal well and look great! You already do!

Here are some pics, though not great ones. They are self pics with my phone. Keep in mind that i still have some love handles because I opted for no lipo and didn't do the lower body lift, just the tummy (because of costs).

These were taken several days poost op. They have steri-strip where she cut me. The strips are off now and I will try to take more pics later. Hope I cropped the pics enough not to show too much The middle may not look much different, but it really tightened the upper pubic area, more for me than what can be seen with clothes on.

before of dog ear - not a great angle

After - much smoother (in reverse - taken in the mirror, right side is the back)

Area of front revision. The scar line is in the middle of my pinch:

After. She cut the whole middle section.

Ouch! The dog ear looks much better and I can tell a big difference down under. Congratulations! Is the recovery a lot easier than the first time around? How long before you can exercise, etc?