FLORIDAYS

you can do it. I started my pre op liquid the day before Thanksgiving .... My surgery was 12/9 so I was on liquid for all the dinners, parties and holiday gatherings.... it was tough but I did it. I kept my eye on the prize of which I am almost there. You can do this for you!

You can die from anything. You can die from being fat, you can die walking down the street.... and yes you can die if you have surgery. But your Dr will be able to tell you if your body is a good candidate for surgery and if it isnt he can help you get it to where it is. I agree with Mis... go to a seminar, have a meeting with a reputable dr and get the facts. Look at all of the people on this board who have been banded.... the odds are certainly in your favor.

nope not as bad as all liquids for 14 days. Lucky you!!!!

you can send anyone an email through this site by a personal convsation. y ou may want to take your personal info off a board that everyone can see. I wouldnt want it to fall into the wrong hands Many of us here are willing to help... what are you concerned about?

wonderful news! keep it up!

I have not heard the term...but for those of you were were wondering...this is what I found. And after reading it... I need it. LOL Mermaid Lift procedure is designed to achieve the following: 1. Accentuate the waistline to create a more feminine flare at the hips. 2. Flatten the abdomen to improve its contour and definition. 3. Lift the pubic area to create a more smooth youthful transition to the lower abdomen. 4. Redefine the belly button to compliment the bottleneck waistline. 5. Lift and restore shape and volume to the buttock and lateral thighs. 6. Cinch and redirect the skin to reduce /or eliminate the appearance of cellulite in these areas The design of most lower body lifts often does not address each of these crucial aspects, leaving many patients disappointed with their results. Over the last ten years, working with over 2500 post-Bariatric patients, we have developed the Mermaid Lift procedure--inspired by the feminine curves of these mythical creatures which are emulated both in art and fashion, to enhance and accentuate the female body. The key to this surgery is properly placed tension. Just as in any graceful, well-constructed wedding dress, the lines smooth out wrinkles, lift key areas, augment curves and give an overall pleasing shape. We begin centrally by making sure to lift the pubic area smoothly without leaving any unsightly mound while flattening the upper abdomen, without any need for a vertical scar. The incision is then carried out to the sides along a bikini cut, lifting and curving the thighs. We always tighten the midline abdominal muscles since this helps lower the scar further and brings in the waist, allowing us to have the thighs flare out naturally from an hour-glass shaped abdomen. The incision is then carried to the back along an imaginary bikini line and the buttocks lifted and augmented with fat from the lower back creating a pleasing curve. The total effect is similar to that achieved with so-called Mermaid-cut dresses and perfectly addresses all the key points that concern most massive weight loss patients. Another very important aspect to achieving the optimum shape is that we pre-operatively size every patient for a compression garment customized to her figure. By choosing the right size and shape of garment before the surgery and placing it directly on the patient in the operating room we are able to better control tension and allow the newly placed tissues to conform to their ideal positions. This also allows easier mobility for the patients and they are encouraged to begin walking the same evening after their surgeries. Proper preparation before surgery is also crucial. Patients’ weights need to have stabilized and their nutritional status must be optimized. In addition, any anemia must be addressed pre-operatively. We are often able to combine tummy tucks or the Mermaid Lift procedure with hernia repair or gallbladder surgery by the Bariatric surgeon at the same time, saving the patient recovery and expenses. Because of the extent of the surgery, we are cautious about doing a great deal of additional surgery. On select patients we will also do breast or arm lifts or augmentation along with a Mermaid Lift procedure. For most patients, a day or two in the hospital is sufficient, but depending on whether other procedures are done simultaneously we sometimes keep our patients longer. Recovery is usually about three weeks, but varies a great deal. Insurance coverage for at least a portion of these procedures has improved dramatically over the last few years and this often takes a great deal of the financial pressure off of patients allowing them to recover with a little more peace of mind. Plastic surgery is often the “icing on the cake” of the Bariatric experience. Once a patient has lost the weight and is feeling good, she feels complete when her newly restored inner harmony is matched by a newly harmonious outer appearance. The Mermaid Lift procedure transforms these patients’ figures and helps them radiate their new inner happiness outwards.

Doctors around here seem to live by the BMI so I have made it important to me. Even my OBGYN mentions it. Of course as wilh all generic charts you need to take into consideration your personal circumstances. Being 1 point into the overweight area isnt always a bad thing. Discuss it with you Dr and see how he or she feels about it. And on a side note... your goal weight may change as you get closer. Mine has gone down by 10 lbs!

the band does 70% of the work when you are in the green zone acoding to my Dr. You are responsible for 30%. Pretty good odds if you ask me. Best of luck to you!

I felt it... I bet there isnt anyone who doesnt feel that way if they have been overweight most of their lives. Its normal. Just dont focus on it. Let the weight come off as it went on...slow and steady. And I can tell you from personal experience one day you will have the pleasure of looking at a size 14 pair of pants you bought 2 months ago and seeing them swim on you... because now you are a 10. And the 8's you never could have imagined would fit are looking pretty good right now.

My band is fickle. It likes a routine. Its not fond of trying new foods so when I do... I have to eat very slowly and make sure I chew better than normal. My band doesnt like me eating on the run. Like in an airport. Even though I try to slow down its not enough for my band. My bands dislikes fatty foods and grease. You said you threw up a hamburger.... well a hamburger is pretty greasy so that doesnt surprise me. Maybe your band is fickle too. I cannot eat scrambled eggs unless its around lunchtime as my band is tighter in the morning. I have no idea why. It just is. I am surprised you can swallow large capsules or eat an entire bagel. Have you discussed this all with your Dr? I found that that was the best way to determine if I needed a fill until I had lived with the band long enough. And even now he usually tries to talk me out of it.

Just last week I had my first dealing with reflux... I thought it was the lo cal margarita I had.... but I had it again yesterday.... hmmm I am due to see my Dr next month. Will have to ask him about it. Great job ZZZZip!!! Dontcha just love the new you?

i hope I never have to find out.... but TKW is spot on. If you diet and exercise you should be able to maintain your weight.

I would ask the Dr why its a terrible idea and why he wants to do another procedure rather than replacing the band. He most likely has good reasons. Once you have his answer you can do research and feel comfirtable with your decision.

Try sticking with a reduced calorie level as well.... because as you know sometimes it takes a few fills to get to the green zone. Congrats for getting back on the bandwagon!

The decision to get banded ...just like diets is very personal. As much as your family is trying in their own way to be supportive they arent doing so from reading into what you wrote. But to their credit they arent the ones learning to live with the band. If it were me... I would tell them you are following your Dr's orders and eating what you are supposed to. Thank them for their concerns but tell them you really need to follow his advice and the results will come. I wouldnt give them anymore info then I felt comfortable with. In their mind they are looking at this as another diet that will fail. Sad but true. SO... give them info on a need to know basis... and stay true to yourself in the process.

My Dr warned me I would lose from top to bottom. He was right. That said I am 52 years old and never thought I looked my age.... until now. So did some research and found the Philosphy line which I now use religiously on my face. There are plenty out there.... find one that works for you. I use the Help Me rentinol cream, the When Hope isnt enough firming gel and Hope in a jar moisturizer everyday. If I forget any of the 3.... I can see a difference. They also have a firming lotion for the body and as much as I love it.... I cannot see any difference on my arms and legs after I use it except that they are smoother.

I have a belly button that frowns....boobs that sag and remind me of a tube sock with a tennis ball in them and barely fit into a B cup, upper thighs that jiggle and arms I could fly with. My tummy/hips measured 77" on the start of my journey. They are now 38". I have lost 208 lbs... I have 9 to go. I do not however have a trace of visable scarring. thankfully I also do not have a huge flap of skin hanging from my belly. Between the weight loss and time.... its the peril I must live with as a thin person unless I get plastic surgery. I am 52 years old and I will wear a 2 piece bathing suit on vacation next month. Its a size small on the top and medium on the bottom. It is a push up top.... obviously. It is replacing the sized 3 or 4x I wore at the same resort 2 years ago. I wont look hard bodied but I will look presentable and thin and healthy! I will also be packing cute flirty skirts in a size 8/10, capris in bright colors paired with small tops and cardigans because as a thin person I now get chilled in air conditioning. Who knew? Do I have a body of a thin 22 year old.....? Obviously not. Would I like one? You bet. Am I willing to go under the knife to get it? Maybe if time and money werent any object. At this point I am thinking about it for the boobs and tummy. But if I dont... they make padded push up bras and clothes to wear which if I dont say so myself I look fabulous in! Basically my quippy reply is to tell you to focus on the positives. You can exercise all you want and use creams and potions.... but what will be will be. So Celebrate the journey and find happiness in the fact that your quality of life will improve! Best of luck!

1000 calories was my number.... I ate that before my first fill , after , when i was in the green zone and even today ...9 lbs from my goal I eat 1000 calories most each and every day. As much as the band isn't a diet... Until you hit the green zone you must treat it as such. I was very motivated to get the weight off as soon as possible so I just focused on everything other than eating... And the weight dropped. My first hundred came off in 7 months. The 2nd hundred took about a year. Of course no two people are the same but if you burn more calories than you take in simple math says you will lose weight. All the best to you

The 2 week liquid is hard... But I learned some valuable lessons during that time... 1) I can live without food. I just need nutrition. I learned that food is fuel...nothing more 2)eating is a habit...not eating for 2 weeks will break you of the habit so when you get on the other side everything is new again 3)you can feel amazing after no fatty foods.... No heartburn, no reflux, no funky stools... It's amazingly cleansing 4) the 3 weeks of liquid post op were a breeze after 2 weeks of 5 optifast protein shakes each day!

I would discuss it with the dr... Ask him if it slipped...and if so then you can get it fixed. Or maybe if it hasn't just a fill will do. Good luck I am sure you will feel better when you have some answers.

Are you eating too fast or too much? I ask because that's how I feel if I eat too much too fast. One Piece of bacon i can do... 2 is too much and it comes back, just my personal experience. You are still early on and just being banded 4 wks ago also may have something to do with it... You will find foods you can eat some weeks you cannot eat others... The band can be fickle. LOL

Wy wouldnt you use the tools you have? The first thing I would do is to decide if I want to lose the weight. If the answer is yes... Call your surgeon and make an appointment. You lost it once so something was going right. Talk to him frankly and honestly. Get back on track and get a fill and let the band work for you

I try not to look too deep into pizza. You screw up... It happens. Next time have one piece instead of 2. That won't hurt a thing... And look on the bright side...Right now you are not in the green zone... When you are I doubt you will be able to eat 2 pieces. Thats what makes the band so wonderful when used correctly.

According to my dr you cannot. That's one of his 3 rules.In case you are interested the other two rules are 1 Agree to monthly visits until you reach goal and 2 do not eat more than 6 oz of food at a time and that should take you 20 minutes.