How do you cope with new body image issues post-band?

Maybe you don't have them at all. I definitely do! I've gone from a size 18/20 to 12 or 14 so far depending on the brand, but I hate looking at myself in the mirror...moreso than I did when I was fat.

It's like the fat was a layer of protection, a defense. I grew to accept the way I looked and was ok with it. Now I see that increasingly sagging marsupial pouch and various other accoutrements that I'll have to deal with for at least another year until my weight plateaus (only 7 months out) and I feel downright ugly.

So...how do you deal? Shopping in "normal size" stores feels great...but the happiness as a result is fleeting.

Hey yeah!

My consult is with Dr. Schulman at Welcome | Madison Avenue Plastic Surgery

These are the other PS's I checked out for consults:

Dr. Michelle Copeland: Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgeon NYC New York City Manhattan

Manhattan Plastic Surgery New York City NYC Englewood

www.drafridi.com

I found I was most impressed by Schulman's work. My holdback is that his surgical fees seem to be double of what my NYC metropolitan area research has shown (i.e. breast lift in the neighborhood of $10K- not including anaesthesia, hospital fees, etc..)

Who are you seeing?

Congrats on getting so far by the by. That's amazing!

I am seeing some people at NYH because that is where I always go. It seems like you have been doing great too. What is your timeframe for PS?

Thanks. I'm down about 60 lbs, but I hit a plateau; but I'm starting with a personal trainer this week to get over the hump. Hopefully that will do it.

The consensus seems to be that you should wait until you're at a steady weight for 6 mos. before PS. I'd like to be at goal weight by 1 year out (also August) so I'm thinking by December I'd like to have a surgery date...earlier if I/Dr. Schulman think it's going to work out better that way. I want to give my body maximum time for muscular tone and healing.

How about you?

Thanks. I'm down about 60 lbs, but I hit a plateau; but I'm starting with a personal trainer this week to get over the hump. Hopefully that will do it.

The consensus seems to be that you should wait until you're at a steady weight for 6 mos. before PS. I'd like to be at goal weight by 1 year out (also August) so I'm thinking by December I'd like to have a surgery date...earlier if I/Dr. Schulman think it's going to work out better that way. I want to give my body maximum time for muscular tone and healing.

How about you?

See I have the hernia problem so I may decide to do it even before I am at my "goal weight". I have been losing pretty steadily but would like to lose another 30lbs or so total. I probably will opt for the end of the summer or early fall unless my hernia really starts bothering me in which case I may have to do it earlier.

60lbs is a great loss. The exercise has been really helping me lose steadily even when I am not eating as wisely as I could. I also have been really well restricted for over 2 months now.