Hi Everyone,

Met with plastic surgeon a couple of days ago. He and I spoke for 1 and a half hours including the time it took to take pics of my stomach and thighs. He recommends a medial thigh lift before a tummy tuck based on medical necessity. Before he will consider doing this, several things have to happen:

1) I must be cigarette free for 6 weeks prior to surgery

I have a prescription for Wellbutrin and will start the weaning process one week from now. i already cut back to 6 cigarettes per day from 12, but I fear if I stop completely, I will go back to binge eating as a substitute!

2) EKG-done that already yesterday

3) Appointment with infectious disease specialist. I have infections on my upper thighs that are active. He thinks that it is a long term staph infection not related to excess skin or fat removal.

He will not attempt to do a TT and medial thigh lift at the same time. From what I understand, the medial thigh lift is the most radical because I have both vertical and horizontal hanging skin to be excised. What this means is that they not only pull up and remove the skin, they also put horizontally. The scar will run from my knee to the groin and all the way to my backside. The end result however will be that I will have long thin scars in the middle of my upper thighs, but cosmetically I wont have any sag both on the inner and outer thighs.

I am still not sure I want to do this. Two-three months in a compression garment and a huge amount of healing. He is filling with my insurance company though based on medical necessity. Nothing will happen anyway until I am smoke free, which I am not at present. I would like to do this in the springtime if I do it at all. He claims I have about 8 pounds collectively on the thighs and 5 pounds on the stomach to remove or more. I am gonna think about this for a while, but I am going to attempt to stop smoking anyway since it is not healthy for me and this would be my first and only try to end it.

Babs in TX

334/184/170

-150

Good Luck Babs

Just keep telling yourself "smoking is killing me" cause it is.

Coffin nails

ditto from me Babs, best of luck quitting the cigarettes - my sister swears by the Allen Carr books for getting her to quit her 20+ a day habit....

Glad you're thinking more about the surgery - sounds like a difficult procedure, requiring a lot of aftercare and rest....

take care xx

I have heard that most bariatric docs reccomend you not having any plastics after weight loss until you are a year out from reaching goal..and even some plastic docs will nto touch you until then ..anyone else ever hear this?

Good Luck in whatever you decide to do. I have heard that this is a very painful surgery, so I know it will be a hard decision for you to make.

I have heard that most bariatric docs reccomend you not having any plastics after weight loss until you are a year out from reaching goal..and even some plastic docs will nto touch you until then ..anyone else ever hear this?

Michelle I have heard the same thing.I guess all Drs are different and they may consider doing it sooner.

Babs I wish you lots of luck with putting those cigs down ... I 'm sure thats a hard habit to break. I wish you lots of luck with whatever you decide on your plastic surgery. You have come so far and I think you having this procedure will help you feel even better about your self. You are already a wonderful success !

Bab, the compression garb is no big deal. I had a skin graft redone about 4 years ago, and have been putting warpping it for support ever since. If I can do this for years, you can do yours for a few months. ON your head no less, with one arm tied behind your back!

Hi Michelle,

My plastic surgeon didnt think that I had much more to lose. A lot of it is excess. Regarding being at goal for a year, I think that applies more to bypassers than lapbanders. My weight has been either stable or going down for about a year. Last April, I weighed 223. Now I weigh 184. I have not seen the scale move significantly since November. I am not losing anymore presently. Like I said, I might wait another year, but I know my insurance will pay now for it, so I am afraid to wait too long and then find that I wont be able to have it next year due to unforseen circumstances.

Babs in TX

Alas, I too am a smoker and must quit a minimum of 2 weeks prior to my surgery (which is March 24th). I have bought sugarless candies to curb the munchies and invested in the Nicotrol patch on my last trip to Mexico. I picked the date of March 5th (my grandmother who died of lung cancer from smoking, her birthday) to quit and by golly this is IT! I am sooooo done. I am so tired of being the outsider smoker. I have always wanted to quit but feared getting larger. I quit for 10 months but gained 50 lbs! So I had restarted 6 years ago. BUT THIS TIME IS IT!!!

I think of all the things I WILL get from not smoking.

I will not have the noses wrinkled when I come back from a smoking break.

I will not have to leave conversations at a dinner party to go smoke only to come back and have missed something.

I will no longer have to have a car that no one wants to car pool in.

I will no longer have headaches from cravings when I can't smoke.

I will no longer have to have my fake nails shorter on 2 fingers because I end up burning them if I don't.

I will no longer have to worry about dying the way my grandmother did (or at least lessen my chances).

I will no longer have to battle harder during a cold/flu because I can't kick the habit even if I am coughing up a lung for the flu.

I will no longer have to freeze my butt off by going outside in the snow to smoke.

I will no longer have to pick up cigarette butts that the wind has whipped from my outdoor ashtray to the yard.

I will no longer have to buy so many mints to cover up my smokers breath.

I will no longer have to buy the crest white strips to cover up the nicotine stains starting on my teeth.

I will no longer have to rub a piece of fabric softener on my clothes before I go to work so my boss doesn't get grossed out.

I will no longer have to bite my nails to curb a smoke fit.

I will no longer be able to blame a smoke craving for being a b*t*h.

I will no longer have to hold my hand up in the air when little kids approach me because I am afraid they will get burned.

I will no longer have to go to bed with a god awful taste in my mouth.

I will no longer........... the list goes on.

Come on girlie! We can do this together!!!!! Let's be non smoking buddies!

Jenna

Not banded yet: Date is March 24, 2005

32/F/AZ

225/225/135

Dr. Ariel Ortiz- TJ, Mexico

Hey I am having a tummy tuck and breast aug the end of march. I am having my tummy tuck with Dr. Locnikar in phoenix, and I am having my breast aug with a surgeon in monterey.

I need qiute a lot of plastic surgery as after losing so much weight my breasts look like oranges in socks, and my tummy looks like ground beef. Its really lovely. Thank goodness for modern medicine. Although you know even if I was not able to have everything niped and tucked, I still would be happy with my body this way, as I have come so far thanks to the band, and my support system.

I also want to thank everyone here, as I appreciate the support this site offers.

Thanks

Kristie

banded 7/15/03

Dr Hilario Jaurez

Phoenix AZ

beginning weight 337

Current weight 160

The things we do to be buetiful! lol

Babs,

Put the cigs down girl! You've worked so hard to get to a healthy weight, come on, you can do it!!!!!!! I'm sure the PS is going to be a tough decision, one that only you can make. But we're all here for the support, and not matter what you decide, you've achieved great success and look great!