pip

Hi there everyone, I only joined the forum a couple of days ago, I live in England and was only referred for surgery last Monday (11th) so I haven't seen any of the surgical team yet. I am on here for info, inspiration and advice and also love reading everyones success stories! I cannot wait for my surgery but am told it could be another six months before I actually go under the knife as it were. My question is about skin folds. I was told that vertical sleeve surgery generates very rapid and sudden weight loss (sounds good to me!!) but that skin folds can be an issue because of the speed of the weight loss. Soooooo, any advice on how to prepare/avoid skin folds? Anything I can start doing now to get skin folds to a minimum? And how are people who have lost lots of weight coping with their skin folds? I am just a fraction under 5 feet tall and I weigh 119 Kilos (sorry, don't know what that is in pounds but it is around 19 stone). Any advice welcome!!!! Pip x

Hi there, this is my very first post and I'm sorry if it is on the wrong forum!!!!! I've done a little research on VSG vs BAND and after alot of consideration I have opted for the sleeve. I am having the surgery on the NHS and had my referral done on Monday so I have quite a long wait before getting done. My jitters come because where I live, you have to attend 4 group sessions and everything was geared up to having a band, then on one of my one to one appointments the dietician told me that the sleeve is now available! I did my research and decided that the sleeve sounds best for me, but when my referral was done and dusted I emailed the dietician and she emailed back saying 'wow, our very first sleeve, you must keep us posted' !!! Now I'm feeling abit scared because I have no-one to go to for advice if I'm the first one. The treatment centre I'm having it done at have obviously done loads but I haven't had my first appointment with them yet and just feel a little nervous incase this surgery isn't as safe as I thought it was......... Pip x

Thanks for that, it's good that this forum is available! I went for my final appt in Swindon on Monday and the referring Dr told me to go on the forums to get proper honest feedback from people, I'm so glad I listened to him. The research I've done has definately led me towards the sleeve and I really do think I've made the right decision but I don't know who my surgeon will be at this point as I haven't had my first appt in Bristol yet. They do all types of surgery there so I'm certain the surgeon will be experienced in doing the sleeve it just threw me when my dietician (who is lovely) said I was their first!!! It's because up until now, in Swindon they have only offered the band. Don't get me wrong, if I couldn't have the sleeve I'd still try the band but the sleeve really sounds like me. Thanks for the replies, this seems to be a very supportive forum and I'm planning on being a regular!!! Pip x