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The fact you're young is definitely on your side, but anytime you have a lot to lose it's common to have excess skin. Age, genes, the amount of weight to lose, whether or not you smoke, and even hydration play a big part in it. It's unfortunate but some people are going to have excess skin no matter what they do. The best way to try to minimize it is toning, building muscle, not smoking, good lotion, and keeping well hydrated. Speaking as someone who has lost a lot of weight and does have excess skin- I'll take the excess skin over the excess fat any day. I can easily hide the skin but there was no hiding over 200 pounds of fat. Best wishes

What is Nioxin? I've not heard of it but after all the medical crap I've had in recent months my hair is awful

I've lost 228 pounds in about 20 months. I know, it sounds really fast, but when you start with so much to lose it comes off a lot faster in the beginning. Now I'm losing at a snail's pace like everyone else lol.

Totally normal. Banded tummies are noisy tummies. Most of us have to get used to the fact our stomachs no longer grumble just from hunger, in fact most of the time it's being noisy as heck and we're not hungry at all. You're doing fine

We all slow down at one point or another. Do you know how much I've lost in the last 2 months? 2 pounds. That's it. I've watched the scale bounce up and down a pound for weeks without a solid loss. I'm still sticking to 1000-1200 calories a day and I walk 2 miles a day. I'm not doing anything different than I was a year ago- yet now I have to fight like mad for every pound I lose. But honestly? I'm totally ok with that! I think of it like this: I know I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing so I know the weight WILL eventually come off. If it only comes off a pound a month from now on? I'm totally cool with that because that's still a pound less than I would've been. I know it can get frustrating but try to see the glass as half full, not half empty

There is a reason I have this in my signature line "Comparison is the thief of joy". Don't ever feel discouraged or compare yourself to others. You are a unique individual and you will take a journey that is perfect for YOU. You also need to realize I'm a horrible person to compare to anyway. I was 421 pounds when I started. Weight comes off so much faster when you have a ton to lose. Now that I'm down to 193 pounds? I'm lucky if I lose 4-8 pounds a month. It comes off so much slower the lower down the scale you go. Just "do you" and be thrilled with the weight loss you've had

Actually, speaking as someone else who has had small fills, I don't find it frustrating at all. In fact, I'm thrilled my surgeon was cautious and patient enough to gradually work me into the Green Zone rather than over-fill me into the Red Zone I only have 5.3cc in my 10cc band. My last fill was only .1cc and my fill before that was .3cc. It's not about the amount of Fluid in the band, it's about how you feel. The amount is irrelevant.

You need to look at this another way. You've been banded for 32 weeks. The average weight loss with the band is 1-2 pounds per week. You've lost an average of 1.25 pounds per week. That means you're exactly where you should be. Remember, the weight didn't come on overnight and it won't come off overnight, either. Be patient and keep doing what you're doing and the weight will continue to come off.

That's a good but difficult question. The simplest way to put it- the band doesn't change your behavior at all, it's your job to change your behavior. Very often, band patients do revert back to old behaviors if they haven't deal with the psychological aspects that lead them to obesity to begin with. There is a saying around here "the band goes around our stomachs, not our brains". If someone is eating for a reason other than physical hunger then they need to deal with that issue because the band can't change that. Another reason it's imperative to deal with the psychological issues of obesity is because the biggest weight gain "comfort foods" are also slider foods. Slider foods are foods that you can eat a ton of because they essentially liquefy when you eat them so they slide right through like the band isn't even there. For most of us (including me), chips are a slider. So is chocolate and ice cream. Some baked good are too- I found this out when I made homemade sugar Cookies last Christmas. When it comes to slider foods, you can easily binge and really sabotage your weight loss efforts. It's a slippery slope and one that really needs to be dealt with. What the band does do is allow you to be satisfied on much less food for much longer periods of time. Essentially, it controls hunger. This helps significantly for two reasons- it's a lot easier to eat less food and you're not so pre-occupied with food when you're not constantly hungry. If the band is removed, or Fluid removed, it is common for weight gain because all the sudden your appetite comes back with a vengeance. Last summer I had to have a total unfill for surgery (not band related). I got out of the hospital and I swear I was starving. I mean... my stomach was growling hungry all the time. I didn't gain weight during that time but boy it wasn't easy. Getting my band refilled couldn't come quick enough. If I'd had to stay like that long term, or worse lost my band forever, I have no doubt I'd gain weight. My personal feeling is, the better mentally prepared you are for the necessary changes with the band the better off (and more successful) you'll be. Best wishes.

If you are bringing up the majority of what you eat, then your priority has to be getting into a bariatric surgeon. No amount of "getting back on track" is going to help you if your band is having issues. Bringing food back up isn't normal and you need to address this issue before anything else. Best wishes.

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't even consider any weight loss surgery unless you're 100% sure it's the right choice for you. If only half of you says "go for it"- then you're not ready. This is a life changing decision and not one to enter into lightly. Fyi- you did talk about people with the Gastric Bypass doing it again. I've lost 228 pounds in 20 months with my Lap Band and I'd definitely do it again in a heartbeat. I love my band, it's given me my life back.

Vomiting is not normal with the band, in fact it's very dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. So, that shouldn't be an issue. As far as gaining weight back, that would be 100% under your control. The band is there to control your appetite which helps you to eat less and lose weight. However, eating the right foods and in band sized portions is the patient's job. You have to make a commitment to changing your eating habits to healthy ones for a lifetime. If after reaching goal you slip back into old bad habits then you definitely would regain the weight. But again, that is totally under your control. Essentially, it's your choice to keep the weight off or not. My best advice is to do your homework and research the facts of the Lap Band- not anecdotal evidence from a forum or YouTube. Have a look at the actual medical facts so you know exactly what would be expected of you and decide if the band is right for you. Best wishes.

You can find every imaginable work out video on YouTube. Maybe you can find something you like to do at home.

Honestly, it makes me so happy when I see young people take their health back. I was about your weight at your age, too. I wish to God I'd have done something about it back then- before the scale got over 400 pounds and I spent my adult life miserable. I'm 40 now and finally happy, but just think what an awesome life you're creating for yourself! It's pretty amazing

I know mine would give me a refill of pain meds if I said I needed it, but I should also note that he knows me really well, too. Not only do we have a long, good relationship since getting the band but he also took out my daughters appendics a couple years before I even considered the band. So, there is a history there. I'm not sure if he would with a patient he didn't have a good knowledge of, because as you correctly said, it is addictive. The fullness and lack of hunger isn't anything to worry about, btw. That is very normal after surgery. The only thing that worried me was the dark urine and infrequent urination- dehydration can be dangerous and come on very quickly. I just don't want to see that happen to you. The fact you're getting tea down is great!! If that is what works, keep sipping away at it. Hang in there

You might actually find the SF Popsicle soothing, too. I know I did. Ask your doc for a pain med refill too- since you're calling anyway. Remember, sip sip sip and sip some more. Anything to get some fluids in. We'll be waiting to see what the doctor tells you.

Just one more thing about hair loss to everyone.... Once the hair loss has started because of surgery it's very hard to stop or slow. It's because of the chemicals used and being put under general anesthesia. When you're put under, the anesthesia shuts down all the non-essential functions of your body, including sustaining and growing hair. Because of this, it's very common for months after surgery to suddenly lose hair. But again, the hair loss will stop and it will regrow. If the hair loss is from lack of nutrients and weight loss, it's a lot easier to reverse by changing your diet to get the essential Vitamins you're missing. Either way, don't expect an improvement overnight. It takes months.

It's pretty common after any surgery, especially when you couple it with weight loss. First and foremost, be sure to get in all your Protein daily. Some people (like me) find that Biotin helps too. I take 5000mcg daily. It should stop on it's own and regrow but it just takes a little time. Best wishes.

Btw I almost forgot, definitely drink more than 6 times a day. In fact, sip constantly if you have to, but it's crucial you get in more fluid.

The dark, infrequent urination is worrisome. It's definitely a sign of dehydration. You really need to get in more Fluid. It sounds like you're still really swollen, but I also wonder how much fluid was put in the band at surgery. I would call your surgeon ASAP tomorrow and let him know what's going on. If there it's fluid in your band he'll likely want to remove at least some. Let us know how you are. Good luck.

Congratulations! You look great!

You need to go to your bariatric surgeon and let him fill you. Only a complete fool would even consider doing it themselves.