Plastic Surgery

[Guest guest]

Hi V al;

plastic surgery was an electiv e option that is not covered b y insurance. I

had a terrible postop, developed a stapf infection and stayed in the hospital

for 31 days. At home using a vac machine attached to my open wound to ease

and hasten recovery. Good Luck with your surgery.

[Guest guest]

Patty2195 says:

< >

My abdominoplasty was covered by insurance but not without a battle. I was

having a hernia repair at the same time, as well as a breast lift (mastopexy).

They eventually covered the hernia repair and abdominoplasty, but did not cover

the mastopexy.

Kate

[Guest guest]

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery! I also struggled with the concepts

behind reconstructive surgery, and made the same decision you did (although I

had the abdominoplasty and breast lift).

I cannot tell you how happy and thrilled I am with the results and the fact

that I did this. Coming up on a year post-op, I am still astounded everyday

that my large stomach (what we affectionately called the wall of flab) is

gone! It is truly amazing to me. I still don't look like a 20-year old

(still have the saggy thighs and butt), but this surgery made a phenomenal

difference in the way I feel about my body.

Kate

[Guest guest]

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery! I also struggled with the concepts

behind reconstructive surgery, and made the same decision you did (although I

had the abdominoplasty and breast lift).

I cannot tell you how happy and thrilled I am with the results and the fact

that I did this. Coming up on a year post-op, I am still astounded everyday

that my large stomach (what we affectionately called the wall of flab) is

gone! It is truly amazing to me. I still don't look like a 20-year old

(still have the saggy thighs and butt), but this surgery made a phenomenal

difference in the way I feel about my body.

Kate

[Guest guest]

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery! I also struggled with the concepts

behind reconstructive surgery, and made the same decision you did (although I

had the abdominoplasty and breast lift).

I cannot tell you how happy and thrilled I am with the results and the fact

that I did this. Coming up on a year post-op, I am still astounded everyday

that my large stomach (what we affectionately called the wall of flab) is

gone! It is truly amazing to me. I still don't look like a 20-year old

(still have the saggy thighs and butt), but this surgery made a phenomenal

difference in the way I feel about my body.

Kate

[Guest guest]

se:

The amazing or surprising thing about abdominal reconstructive surgery is

how it makes you feel as much as how it makes you look. My stomach was a

wrinkled mess (see pictures in the files area.) I just got tired of looking

at it. But, the enjoyment I get from that surgery is the way I feel in

pants. Like they're not choking me anymore! They repair muscles and you

can feel your stomach muscles working when you walk and move around. In

other words, you can lost a lot of weight, but this surgery helps you

actually " feel " trim. It's not all vanity in the end, it's sometimes better

mobility.

All the very best,

in Austin

RNY April 1998

Plastic Surgery

> I've been pretty forthcoming on these lists with my journey, but have,

> lately, kinda clammed up while I tried to decide whether to have plastic

> surgery or not. I think I had a lot of issues with the whole plastic

surgery

> thing. Part of me felt I should be grateful for where I got to and not

> expect more. I also believed that it was one thing to risk life and limb

for

> health, another for vanity. In addition, there was this whole notion that

my

> body was incredible as compared to where it once was and people who saw

> otherwise were just completely taken in by society's love for everything

> thin!

>

> In the end, after all the internal debates, I decided that I wanted to

look

> better than I do now. I decided that the way I look in clothes is okay,

but

> without clothes I felt I did not look " normal, " but rather due to excess

skin

> looked somewhat deformed in certain places. Deformed to me is something

> totally different from simply not slender. For example, my arms are big

but

> they don't look odd, just bigger than most. Same with my calves or face.

> The part that looks, in my mind, deformed, is the area of my inner thighs,

> butt, back, and tummy. There are puckers and sags, and hanging skin, and

> folds, and indentations. You look at it from every which angle and you

> realize something ain't quite right. Covered with clothes it just looks

like

> I could lost some more weight; but with little clothes (at the gym, the

> beach), it looks like a problem beyond cutting back on the carbs.

>

> The surgery is set for 9/23. It will be done at Bayview by Dr.

> Shermack. I have taken 2 weeks off and plan to spend the next 2 weeks

after

> that doing light work in the office. It involves a tummy tuck, lower back

> lift, butt lift, and thigh lift. My insurance company (Aetna HMO) is

paying

> for the thigh lift and I am kicking in $5,000. If I am satisfied with the

> results, I will, most likely, do a breast lift procedure in 6 months.

>

> I just found out that when they do this surgery the result will be no more

> tummy. I thought they made you smaller all around (that your waist got

> smaller). I did not understand that your actual tummy went away. I am

> stunned by this discovery as I could never have imagined being on the cusp

of

> something that would take this big mound away. It's never been away.

It's

> always been a sort of hill.

>

>

>

> se

> Baltimore, MD

> Open RNY 11/22/99, Dr. Sweet, Reading, PA

> http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=L951569336ttp://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=L951569336

>

>

> 11/22/99 324, BMI 51

> 12/6/99 301, BMI 47

> 1/27/00 280, BMI 44

> 2/22/00 270, BMI 42

> 3/16/00 262, BMI 41

> 5/31/00 244, BMI 38 (no longer extremely obese... just plain obese)

> 7/22/00 224, BMI 35

> 9/23/00 220, BMI 34 (and still obese)

> 10/16/00 216, BMI 34

> 11/7/00 210, BMI 33 (65 pounds from goal!!!)

> 5/8/01 196, BMI 31 (new goal 157; I am 5'7 " that would give me a

BMI

> of 24.6; 39 pounds to go)

> 9/13/01 196, BMI 31 (Stuck!)

> 1/24/02 190, BMI 29.7 (slightly overweight!! have lost 80.2% of my

> excess weight)

> 4/2/02 200, ARGH! Very frightening moment. Hopefully I can lose

back

> down to 190 quickly!

> 4/28/02 201 (started a starch-free, 4 hours a week of exercise

> program...weighed in at the gym)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

se:

The amazing or surprising thing about abdominal reconstructive surgery is

how it makes you feel as much as how it makes you look. My stomach was a

wrinkled mess (see pictures in the files area.) I just got tired of looking

at it. But, the enjoyment I get from that surgery is the way I feel in

pants. Like they're not choking me anymore! They repair muscles and you

can feel your stomach muscles working when you walk and move around. In

other words, you can lost a lot of weight, but this surgery helps you

actually " feel " trim. It's not all vanity in the end, it's sometimes better

mobility.

All the very best,

in Austin

RNY April 1998

Plastic Surgery

> I've been pretty forthcoming on these lists with my journey, but have,

> lately, kinda clammed up while I tried to decide whether to have plastic

> surgery or not. I think I had a lot of issues with the whole plastic

surgery

> thing. Part of me felt I should be grateful for where I got to and not

> expect more. I also believed that it was one thing to risk life and limb

for

> health, another for vanity. In addition, there was this whole notion that

my

> body was incredible as compared to where it once was and people who saw

> otherwise were just completely taken in by society's love for everything

> thin!

>

> In the end, after all the internal debates, I decided that I wanted to

look

> better than I do now. I decided that the way I look in clothes is okay,

but

> without clothes I felt I did not look " normal, " but rather due to excess

skin

> looked somewhat deformed in certain places. Deformed to me is something

> totally different from simply not slender. For example, my arms are big

but

> they don't look odd, just bigger than most. Same with my calves or face.

> The part that looks, in my mind, deformed, is the area of my inner thighs,

> butt, back, and tummy. There are puckers and sags, and hanging skin, and

> folds, and indentations. You look at it from every which angle and you

> realize something ain't quite right. Covered with clothes it just looks

like

> I could lost some more weight; but with little clothes (at the gym, the

> beach), it looks like a problem beyond cutting back on the carbs.

>

> The surgery is set for 9/23. It will be done at Bayview by Dr.

> Shermack. I have taken 2 weeks off and plan to spend the next 2 weeks

after

> that doing light work in the office. It involves a tummy tuck, lower back

> lift, butt lift, and thigh lift. My insurance company (Aetna HMO) is

paying

> for the thigh lift and I am kicking in $5,000. If I am satisfied with the

> results, I will, most likely, do a breast lift procedure in 6 months.

>

> I just found out that when they do this surgery the result will be no more

> tummy. I thought they made you smaller all around (that your waist got

> smaller). I did not understand that your actual tummy went away. I am

> stunned by this discovery as I could never have imagined being on the cusp

of

> something that would take this big mound away. It's never been away.

It's

> always been a sort of hill.

>

>

>

> se

> Baltimore, MD

> Open RNY 11/22/99, Dr. Sweet, Reading, PA

> http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=L951569336ttp://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=L951569336

>

>

> 11/22/99 324, BMI 51

> 12/6/99 301, BMI 47

> 1/27/00 280, BMI 44

> 2/22/00 270, BMI 42

> 3/16/00 262, BMI 41

> 5/31/00 244, BMI 38 (no longer extremely obese... just plain obese)

> 7/22/00 224, BMI 35

> 9/23/00 220, BMI 34 (and still obese)

> 10/16/00 216, BMI 34

> 11/7/00 210, BMI 33 (65 pounds from goal!!!)

> 5/8/01 196, BMI 31 (new goal 157; I am 5'7 " that would give me a

BMI

> of 24.6; 39 pounds to go)

> 9/13/01 196, BMI 31 (Stuck!)

> 1/24/02 190, BMI 29.7 (slightly overweight!! have lost 80.2% of my

> excess weight)

> 4/2/02 200, ARGH! Very frightening moment. Hopefully I can lose

back

> down to 190 quickly!

> 4/28/02 201 (started a starch-free, 4 hours a week of exercise

> program...weighed in at the gym)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

se:

The amazing or surprising thing about abdominal reconstructive surgery is

how it makes you feel as much as how it makes you look. My stomach was a

wrinkled mess (see pictures in the files area.) I just got tired of looking

at it. But, the enjoyment I get from that surgery is the way I feel in

pants. Like they're not choking me anymore! They repair muscles and you

can feel your stomach muscles working when you walk and move around. In

other words, you can lost a lot of weight, but this surgery helps you

actually " feel " trim. It's not all vanity in the end, it's sometimes better

mobility.

All the very best,

in Austin

RNY April 1998

Plastic Surgery

> I've been pretty forthcoming on these lists with my journey, but have,

> lately, kinda clammed up while I tried to decide whether to have plastic

> surgery or not. I think I had a lot of issues with the whole plastic

surgery

> thing. Part of me felt I should be grateful for where I got to and not

> expect more. I also believed that it was one thing to risk life and limb

for

> health, another for vanity. In addition, there was this whole notion that

my

> body was incredible as compared to where it once was and people who saw

> otherwise were just completely taken in by society's love for everything

> thin!

>

> In the end, after all the internal debates, I decided that I wanted to

look

> better than I do now. I decided that the way I look in clothes is okay,

but

> without clothes I felt I did not look " normal, " but rather due to excess

skin

> looked somewhat deformed in certain places. Deformed to me is something

> totally different from simply not slender. For example, my arms are big

but

> they don't look odd, just bigger than most. Same with my calves or face.

> The part that looks, in my mind, deformed, is the area of my inner thighs,

> butt, back, and tummy. There are puckers and sags, and hanging skin, and

> folds, and indentations. You look at it from every which angle and you

> realize something ain't quite right. Covered with clothes it just looks

like

> I could lost some more weight; but with little clothes (at the gym, the

> beach), it looks like a problem beyond cutting back on the carbs.

>

> The surgery is set for 9/23. It will be done at Bayview by Dr.

> Shermack. I have taken 2 weeks off and plan to spend the next 2 weeks

after

> that doing light work in the office. It involves a tummy tuck, lower back

> lift, butt lift, and thigh lift. My insurance company (Aetna HMO) is

paying

> for the thigh lift and I am kicking in $5,000. If I am satisfied with the

> results, I will, most likely, do a breast lift procedure in 6 months.

>

> I just found out that when they do this surgery the result will be no more

> tummy. I thought they made you smaller all around (that your waist got

> smaller). I did not understand that your actual tummy went away. I am

> stunned by this discovery as I could never have imagined being on the cusp

of

> something that would take this big mound away. It's never been away.

It's

> always been a sort of hill.

>

>

>

> se

> Baltimore, MD

> Open RNY 11/22/99, Dr. Sweet, Reading, PA

> http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=L951569336ttp://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=L951569336

>

>

> 11/22/99 324, BMI 51

> 12/6/99 301, BMI 47

> 1/27/00 280, BMI 44

> 2/22/00 270, BMI 42

> 3/16/00 262, BMI 41

> 5/31/00 244, BMI 38 (no longer extremely obese... just plain obese)

> 7/22/00 224, BMI 35

> 9/23/00 220, BMI 34 (and still obese)

> 10/16/00 216, BMI 34

> 11/7/00 210, BMI 33 (65 pounds from goal!!!)

> 5/8/01 196, BMI 31 (new goal 157; I am 5'7 " that would give me a

BMI

> of 24.6; 39 pounds to go)

> 9/13/01 196, BMI 31 (Stuck!)

> 1/24/02 190, BMI 29.7 (slightly overweight!! have lost 80.2% of my

> excess weight)

> 4/2/02 200, ARGH! Very frightening moment. Hopefully I can lose

back

> down to 190 quickly!

> 4/28/02 201 (started a starch-free, 4 hours a week of exercise

> program...weighed in at the gym)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Congrats on your decision! Besides the wls, it's the

best decision I ever made. It's made a huge

difference in how I feel about my own journey. I feel

more like I have completed my goal. And let me tell

you, that flat tummy will go a loooooong way in

helping you fight to keep the weight off. I wouldn't

trade this flat tummy for all the carbs in the world.

Thinking of getting my belly button pierced to

celebrate my 50th b-day! HAHAHAHAHA!

=====

judy in austin

5'9 " of wild Texas redhead

SRVG 5/99 380 lbs

Ext. Abdominoplasty 5/00 180 lbs

Current 165-170 lbs

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

There's also a support group for post weight loss surgery,

OSSG-PlasticSugery, the link is below in case anyone is interested.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ossg-plasticsurgery/ " >Yahoo! Groups :

ossg-plasticsurgery

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/1/2002 8:49:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

hwd.hwd@... writes:

> But be prepared for major scars - my body

> looks like enstein's bride

Isn't that funny - we always end up the the bathroom at our support meeting

show scars - we call it the enstein beauty pageant...!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/1/2002 8:49:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

hwd.hwd@... writes:

> But be prepared for major scars - my body

> looks like enstein's bride

Isn't that funny - we always end up the the bathroom at our support meeting

show scars - we call it the enstein beauty pageant...!

[Guest guest]

It's been 7 yrs since my TT and I still check constantly to be sure I didn't

dream it. I had that huge belly all my life, and I just can't get over that

it is not sitting in my lap any more.

Plastic Surgery

> >

> > I've been pretty forthcoming on these lists with my journey, but have,

> > lately, kinda clammed up while I tried to decide whether to have plastic

> > surgery or not. I think I had a lot of issues with the whole plastic

> > surgery

> > thing. Part of me felt I should be grateful for where I got to and not

> > expect more. I also believed that it was one thing to risk life and

limb

> > for

> > health, another for vanity. In addition, there was this whole notion

that

> > my

> > body was incredible as compared to where it once was and people who saw

> > otherwise were just completely taken in by society's love for everything

> > thin!

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

It's been 7 yrs since my TT and I still check constantly to be sure I didn't

dream it. I had that huge belly all my life, and I just can't get over that

it is not sitting in my lap any more.

Plastic Surgery

> >

> > I've been pretty forthcoming on these lists with my journey, but have,

> > lately, kinda clammed up while I tried to decide whether to have plastic

> > surgery or not. I think I had a lot of issues with the whole plastic

> > surgery

> > thing. Part of me felt I should be grateful for where I got to and not

> > expect more. I also believed that it was one thing to risk life and

limb

> > for

> > health, another for vanity. In addition, there was this whole notion

that

> > my

> > body was incredible as compared to where it once was and people who saw

> > otherwise were just completely taken in by society's love for everything

> > thin!

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

that link didn't work but this one did.

www.surgery.uiowa.edu/surgery/beltlipectomypage.html

see if it works for you guys and let me know. Like she said, it is " R " rated. I

was very VERY surprised at the large scaring.

Angie

Re: Plastic Surgery

> someone on spotlighthealth posted a link to a belt lipectomy site,

but

> BE WARNED folks, the pictures are rated " R " .

http://aboutplasticsurgery.uiowa.edu/surgery/

plastic/beltlipectomy.html

the address is too long, sorry!

lori h.

[Guest guest]

that link didn't work but this one did.

www.surgery.uiowa.edu/surgery/beltlipectomypage.html

see if it works for you guys and let me know. Like she said, it is " R " rated. I

was very VERY surprised at the large scaring.

Angie

Re: Plastic Surgery

> someone on spotlighthealth posted a link to a belt lipectomy site,

but

> BE WARNED folks, the pictures are rated " R " .

http://aboutplasticsurgery.uiowa.edu/surgery/

plastic/beltlipectomy.html

the address is too long, sorry!

lori h.

[Guest guest]

what about his scars? Do they lighten up alot or are they very noticeable?

Thanks

Angie D.

Plastic Surgery

Lori H,

Boy that journal sure explains it all, ugh!! I don't know the names

of what he had. It started with a hernia and a desire to look his

best. Because he lost so fast, he had a huge apron compared to his

size. He also had broken his tail bone as a kid, and since he no

longer had any butt, when he sat down, the bone touched the chair

first. So, insurance covered the front of him (it was gross, because

the facia covering his front abdominal area was so stretched, you

could feel his organs and intestines) butt (pun intended) they

wouldn't cover the back. The plastic surgeon said she could give him

a butt, by cutting an eye-shaped piece out in the back and pulling

everything upward. He says that helped a lot, butt made his first

month miserable because there was no area on him that hadn't been

cut. No place to turn to get comfortable because evry area was sore.

When they cut vertically on his front, they found that the facia

problem was larger than they thought...so they had to cut more off.

Then his top section didn't match up to the bottom section, so they

had to cut below his waist more to fit.

He looks great. Has this body image that he loves. Everything went

so well for him, that it makes me so anxious(sp?)to have this done,

but I have such a long wait for the surgery (Feb or Mar). Then I

hear about everyone's ups and downs, and it settles me back down.

Lizanne

land

pre-op

> > > hey peace!! awesome job on the w l!!! do tell about your p s!

> > once

> > > i choose a surgeon, i'm having a medial thigh lift. i hear

it's

> an

> > > ordeal, since the skin is so thin & they sew onto the bones &

> > > tendons to anchor the incisions. ooouch! did they give you

some

> > > good meds?

> > > lori h.

[Guest guest]

In my opinion, there is NEVER to much!! I want to know and see all that I can.

This is a major step and I don't want to go in with my eyes closed at all. I

appreciate all the frankness in this group.It helps to make better informed

decisions. Did you go to that site? I was VERY taken aback!! The reality of what

I could look like if I don't get plastic surgery done was like a slap in the

face. I needed to see that to be prepared. To be honest, some of those looked

worse with the skin hanging then I do with being over weight. Neither site is

appealing but maybe I'm just used to my size(thinking as I type) LOL who knows!!

I am glad I went there to see for myself. Thanks again for the info. So he

doesn't look like enstein now, right?

Angie D

Plastic Surgery

>

>

> Lori H,

>

> Boy that journal sure explains it all, ugh!! I don't know the

names

> of what he had. It started with a hernia and a desire to look

his

> best. Because he lost so fast, he had a huge apron compared to

his

> size. He also had broken his tail bone as a kid, and since he no

> longer had any butt, when he sat down, the bone touched the chair

> first. So, insurance covered the front of him (it was gross,

because

> the facia covering his front abdominal area was so stretched, you

> could feel his organs and intestines) butt (pun intended) they

> wouldn't cover the back. The plastic surgeon said she could give

him

> a butt, by cutting an eye-shaped piece out in the back and

pulling

> everything upward. He says that helped a lot, butt made his

first

> month miserable because there was no area on him that hadn't been

> cut. No place to turn to get comfortable because evry area was

sore.

>

> When they cut vertically on his front, they found that the facia

> problem was larger than they thought...so they had to cut more

off.

> Then his top section didn't match up to the bottom section, so

they

> had to cut below his waist more to fit.

>

> He looks great. Has this body image that he loves. Everything

went

> so well for him, that it makes me so anxious(sp?)to have this

done,

> but I have such a long wait for the surgery (Feb or Mar). Then I

> hear about everyone's ups and downs, and it settles me back down.

>

> Lizanne

> land

> pre-op

[Guest guest]

I am 280 pounds. I don't have any life threatening problems now but they can

occur.Heart disease runs in my family and so does diabetes. I am infertile and

have polysistic ovaries. I also have adrenal hyperplasia. That is the only

problems that I have had. I do keep alot of fluid buildup even when I lose

weight, so my ankles are starting to bother me. I am doing this because I cant

do it on my own. I need a tool to help me. But I would be lying if I told you

that looking better is not a BIG plus. My self imagine needs some improvement!

But at the same time, some of those pictures made me wonder if I would look

worse on the outside then I did starting out. Just cornel thinking, I know !!

Surely I'm not the only one who thinks about how they will look. In my dreams, I

look great!! LOL LOL Bottom line, I need to do this to see my daughter grow up.

I just want to look good also.

Angie D

Plastic Surgery

>

>

> Hi Angie,

>

> When he initially came out of surgery, he looked worse than

> enstein. The incisions were bright red and swollen, he

liked to

> show them off, You know how guys are.

>

> Also, he has lost 205 lbs since 8/30/02, so he was pretty jiggly

when

> he went in for the plastic surgery. To get to your

question...tne

> scars look great, and most of the swelling has died down. They

look

> like a faint lone drawn in pencil, except they are white.

>

> Do you know after you have dieted a while, and then stopped

(before

> you start putting it all back on again when using conventional

weight

> loss methods), how afterwards it seems like your weight shifts

> around? I mean like maybe you lose a little more in your butt,

but

> you maybe gain some in your face? This is where he is. Some

places

> on him still look WAY too big for his new size, like the little

pouch

> under his navel, but his face seems too thin. His plastic

surgeon

> says that until all the shifting stops, you should probably put

off

> the plastic surgery so you get the all over " perfection " that you

> paid for.

>

> I probably gave too much information, I can't help myself. Sorry,

>

> Lizanne

> pre-op(tomistic)

>

[Guest guest]

I am 280 pounds. I don't have any life threatening problems now but they can

occur.Heart disease runs in my family and so does diabetes. I am infertile and

have polysistic ovaries. I also have adrenal hyperplasia. That is the only

problems that I have had. I do keep alot of fluid buildup even when I lose

weight, so my ankles are starting to bother me. I am doing this because I cant

do it on my own. I need a tool to help me. But I would be lying if I told you

that looking better is not a BIG plus. My self imagine needs some improvement!

But at the same time, some of those pictures made me wonder if I would look

worse on the outside then I did starting out. Just cornel thinking, I know !!

Surely I'm not the only one who thinks about how they will look. In my dreams, I

look great!! LOL LOL Bottom line, I need to do this to see my daughter grow up.

I just want to look good also.

Angie D

Plastic Surgery

>

>

> Hi Angie,

>

> When he initially came out of surgery, he looked worse than

> enstein. The incisions were bright red and swollen, he

liked to

> show them off, You know how guys are.

>

> Also, he has lost 205 lbs since 8/30/02, so he was pretty jiggly

when

> he went in for the plastic surgery. To get to your

question...tne

> scars look great, and most of the swelling has died down. They

look

> like a faint lone drawn in pencil, except they are white.

>

> Do you know after you have dieted a while, and then stopped

(before

> you start putting it all back on again when using conventional

weight

> loss methods), how afterwards it seems like your weight shifts

> around? I mean like maybe you lose a little more in your butt,

but

> you maybe gain some in your face? This is where he is. Some

places

> on him still look WAY too big for his new size, like the little

pouch

> under his navel, but his face seems too thin. His plastic

surgeon

> says that until all the shifting stops, you should probably put

off

> the plastic surgery so you get the all over " perfection " that you

> paid for.

>

> I probably gave too much information, I can't help myself. Sorry,

>

> Lizanne

> pre-op(tomistic)

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Angie,

When he initially came out of surgery, he looked worse than

enstein. The incisions were bright red and swollen, he liked to

show them off, You know how guys are.

Also, he has lost 205 lbs since 8/30/02, so he was pretty jiggly when

he went in for the plastic surgery. To get to your question...tne

scars look great, and most of the swelling has died down. They look

like a faint lone drawn in pencil, except they are white.

Do you know after you have dieted a while, and then stopped (before

you start putting it all back on again when using conventional weight

loss methods), how afterwards it seems like your weight shifts

around? I mean like maybe you lose a little more in your butt, but

you maybe gain some in your face? This is where he is. Some places

on him still look WAY too big for his new size, like the little pouch

under his navel, but his face seems too thin. His plastic surgeon

says that until all the shifting stops, you should probably put off

the plastic surgery so you get the all over " perfection " that you

paid for.

I probably gave too much information, I can't help myself. Sorry,

Lizanne

pre-op(tomistic)

> what about his scars? Do they lighten up alot or are they very

noticeable?

> Thanks

> Angie D.

> Plastic Surgery

>

>

> Lori H,

>

> Boy that journal sure explains it all, ugh!! I don't know the

names

> of what he had. It started with a hernia and a desire to look

his

> best. Because he lost so fast, he had a huge apron compared to

his

> size. He also had broken his tail bone as a kid, and since he no

> longer had any butt, when he sat down, the bone touched the chair

> first. So, insurance covered the front of him (it was gross,

because

> the facia covering his front abdominal area was so stretched, you

> could feel his organs and intestines) butt (pun intended) they

> wouldn't cover the back. The plastic surgeon said she could give

him

> a butt, by cutting an eye-shaped piece out in the back and

pulling

> everything upward. He says that helped a lot, butt made his

first

> month miserable because there was no area on him that hadn't been

> cut. No place to turn to get comfortable because evry area was

sore.

>

> When they cut vertically on his front, they found that the facia

> problem was larger than they thought...so they had to cut more

off.

> Then his top section didn't match up to the bottom section, so

they

> had to cut below his waist more to fit.

>

> He looks great. Has this body image that he loves. Everything

went

> so well for him, that it makes me so anxious(sp?)to have this

done,

> but I have such a long wait for the surgery (Feb or Mar). Then I

> hear about everyone's ups and downs, and it settles me back down.

>

> Lizanne

> land

> pre-op

[Guest guest]

Actually, I've seen similar pictures. I will be having my surgery

done at s Hopkins. They have a support group the second Tues of

each month and it lasts about 3 hours. The first one I went to was

on excercise. The phyical therapist said that we should all start

with water aerobics, nothing jarring. He said we never had

to " upgrade " to jogging or walking because we have had too much

stress on our knees, backs and hips to last a lifetime. He also said

that there was no way not to get jiggy. There is no miracle potion

or exercise that will keep flub from appearing.

The second time I went there was a plastic surgeon there, she was the

one who did my brother's surgery. She showed us larger than life

slides of before and after. The worst looking ones, by far, were the

boob jobs on bypass surgery patients. I think I look better than

them, I even think some of the before pictures were more tolerable

than the after.

Most often, the surgeon said, you can get your insurance to cover the

surgery in the front. Back aches are caused by having all that

weight pulling at the front of you with not as much in the back to

balance out the load. Anything other than that is hard to get

insurance to cover unless there are other illnesses caused by the

excess weight or the placement of the skin.

My brother said the his belly felt like an old saggy boob before

surgery. But keep in mind, looking gorgeous is probably not the only

reason you are having wls. These are health, mobility, and energy.

If you aren't having any of those problems, maybe you should't get

the surgery if you are wooried about how much flubbier you'll get.

If that sounded like I was judgung you, I'm not. I would probably do

it for looks alone, depending on how much flubb I thought I could

handle. My sister is heavy, but she is fairly healthy. I wouldn't

recommend to her to have the surgery, because of the risk involved,

but you have to look to the future. In 10 years, will you have

health problems that maybe won't develope if you have the surgery now?

I'm no judge, just the question person

Lizanne

PS He doesn't look loke enstein at all, and he is dating like

crazy. Hasn't locked onto one yet. I think he may be looking for

the " perfect " girl, now that he's the " perfect " guy.

> In my opinion, there is NEVER to much!! I want to know and see all

that I can. This is a major step and I don't want to go in with my

eyes closed at all. I appreciate all the frankness in this group.It

helps to make better informed decisions. Did you go to that site? I

was VERY taken aback!! The reality of what I could look like if I

don't get plastic surgery done was like a slap in the face. I needed

to see that to be prepared. To be honest, some of those looked worse

with the skin hanging then I do with being over weight. Neither site

is appealing but maybe I'm just used to my size(thinking as I type)

LOL who knows!! I am glad I went there to see for myself. Thanks

again for the info. So he doesn't look like enstein now, right?

> Angie D

> Plastic Surgery

>

>

> Hi Angie,

>

> When he initially came out of surgery, he looked worse than

> enstein. The incisions were bright red and swollen, he

liked to

> show them off, You know how guys are.

>

> Also, he has lost 205 lbs since 8/30/02, so he was pretty jiggly

when

> he went in for the plastic surgery. To get to your

question...tne

> scars look great, and most of the swelling has died down. They

look

> like a faint lone drawn in pencil, except they are white.

>

> Do you know after you have dieted a while, and then stopped

(before

> you start putting it all back on again when using conventional

weight

> loss methods), how afterwards it seems like your weight shifts

> around? I mean like maybe you lose a little more in your butt,

but

> you maybe gain some in your face? This is where he is. Some

places

> on him still look WAY too big for his new size, like the little

pouch

> under his navel, but his face seems too thin. His plastic

surgeon

> says that until all the shifting stops, you should probably put

off

> the plastic surgery so you get the all over " perfection " that you

> paid for.

>

> I probably gave too much information, I can't help myself. Sorry,

>

> Lizanne

> pre-op(tomistic)

>

[Guest guest]

Actually, I've seen similar pictures. I will be having my surgery

done at s Hopkins. They have a support group the second Tues of

each month and it lasts about 3 hours. The first one I went to was

on excercise. The phyical therapist said that we should all start

with water aerobics, nothing jarring. He said we never had

to " upgrade " to jogging or walking because we have had too much

stress on our knees, backs and hips to last a lifetime. He also said

that there was no way not to get jiggy. There is no miracle potion

or exercise that will keep flub from appearing.

The second time I went there was a plastic surgeon there, she was the

one who did my brother's surgery. She showed us larger than life

slides of before and after. The worst looking ones, by far, were the

boob jobs on bypass surgery patients. I think I look better than

them, I even think some of the before pictures were more tolerable

than the after.

Most often, the surgeon said, you can get your insurance to cover the

surgery in the front. Back aches are caused by having all that

weight pulling at the front of you with not as much in the back to

balance out the load. Anything other than that is hard to get

insurance to cover unless there are other illnesses caused by the

excess weight or the placement of the skin.

My brother said the his belly felt like an old saggy boob before

surgery. But keep in mind, looking gorgeous is probably not the only

reason you are having wls. These are health, mobility, and energy.

If you aren't having any of those problems, maybe you should't get

the surgery if you are wooried about how much flubbier you'll get.

If that sounded like I was judgung you, I'm not. I would probably do

it for looks alone, depending on how much flubb I thought I could

handle. My sister is heavy, but she is fairly healthy. I wouldn't

recommend to her to have the surgery, because of the risk involved,

but you have to look to the future. In 10 years, will you have

health problems that maybe won't develope if you have the surgery now?

I'm no judge, just the question person

Lizanne

PS He doesn't look loke enstein at all, and he is dating like

crazy. Hasn't locked onto one yet. I think he may be looking for

the " perfect " girl, now that he's the " perfect " guy.

> In my opinion, there is NEVER to much!! I want to know and see all

that I can. This is a major step and I don't want to go in with my

eyes closed at all. I appreciate all the frankness in this group.It

helps to make better informed decisions. Did you go to that site? I

was VERY taken aback!! The reality of what I could look like if I

don't get plastic surgery done was like a slap in the face. I needed

to see that to be prepared. To be honest, some of those looked worse

with the skin hanging then I do with being over weight. Neither site

is appealing but maybe I'm just used to my size(thinking as I type)

LOL who knows!! I am glad I went there to see for myself. Thanks

again for the info. So he doesn't look like enstein now, right?

> Angie D

> Plastic Surgery

>

>

> Hi Angie,

>

> When he initially came out of surgery, he looked worse than

> enstein. The incisions were bright red and swollen, he

liked to

> show them off, You know how guys are.

>

> Also, he has lost 205 lbs since 8/30/02, so he was pretty jiggly

when

> he went in for the plastic surgery. To get to your

question...tne

> scars look great, and most of the swelling has died down. They

look

> like a faint lone drawn in pencil, except they are white.

>

> Do you know after you have dieted a while, and then stopped

(before

> you start putting it all back on again when using conventional

weight

> loss methods), how afterwards it seems like your weight shifts

> around? I mean like maybe you lose a little more in your butt,

but

> you maybe gain some in your face? This is where he is. Some

places

> on him still look WAY too big for his new size, like the little

pouch

> under his navel, but his face seems too thin. His plastic

surgeon

> says that until all the shifting stops, you should probably put

off

> the plastic surgery so you get the all over " perfection " that you

> paid for.

>

> I probably gave too much information, I can't help myself. Sorry,

>

> Lizanne

> pre-op(tomistic)

>

[Guest guest]

I want to look better too. There is no one who has this surgery that

doesn't have that wish...I would think. Even if I had to put a value

on it I would say 50% of me wants better health, 50% wants a better

body.

My daughter will turn 18 this weekend. There will be no one left but

me at home. That does not thrill me. I don't have the confidence to

socialize as I should. This is not a cure all, but it can be a

confidence builder. I want that.

Lizanne

Pre-op

Feb/Mar 2004

> I am 280 pounds. I don't have any life threatening problems now but

they can occur.Heart disease runs in my family and so does diabetes.

I am infertile and have polysistic ovaries. I also have adrenal

hyperplasia. That is the only problems that I have had. I do keep

alot of fluid buildup even when I lose weight, so my ankles are

starting to bother me. I am doing this because I cant do it on my

own. I need a tool to help me. But I would be lying if I told you

that looking better is not a BIG plus. My self imagine needs some

improvement! But at the same time, some of those pictures made me

wonder if I would look worse on the outside then I did starting out.

Just cornel thinking, I know !! Surely I'm not the only one who

thinks about how they will look. In my dreams, I look great!! LOL LOL

Bottom line, I need to do this to see my daughter grow up. I just

want to look good also.

> Angie D

[Guest guest]

I want to look better too. There is no one who has this surgery that

doesn't have that wish...I would think. Even if I had to put a value

on it I would say 50% of me wants better health, 50% wants a better

body.

My daughter will turn 18 this weekend. There will be no one left but

me at home. That does not thrill me. I don't have the confidence to

socialize as I should. This is not a cure all, but it can be a

confidence builder. I want that.

Lizanne

Pre-op

Feb/Mar 2004

> I am 280 pounds. I don't have any life threatening problems now but

they can occur.Heart disease runs in my family and so does diabetes.

I am infertile and have polysistic ovaries. I also have adrenal

hyperplasia. That is the only problems that I have had. I do keep

alot of fluid buildup even when I lose weight, so my ankles are

starting to bother me. I am doing this because I cant do it on my

own. I need a tool to help me. But I would be lying if I told you

that looking better is not a BIG plus. My self imagine needs some

improvement! But at the same time, some of those pictures made me

wonder if I would look worse on the outside then I did starting out.

Just cornel thinking, I know !! Surely I'm not the only one who

thinks about how they will look. In my dreams, I look great!! LOL LOL

Bottom line, I need to do this to see my daughter grow up. I just

want to look good also.

> Angie D