Jenn

Wow! You are doing great!! You have lost 56% of your excess weight. Remember WLS is considered successful if you lose and maintain 50% so you are doing better than average!!! The hard part - which you discussed - is keeping it off! I lost 110 lbs with the band and put almost all of it back on. KUP - good luck with your 5K! Jenn

Wow! You are doing a great job!! Congrats to you! KUP

Thanks everyone!!

Chow I hope you are feeling better please KUP.

I'm 38 although I was banded at 28. I knew that I didn't want RNY so I had to wait until there was a different type of WLS available. 10 years ago the sleeve wasn't widely available either because, if it was, I may have chosen that route. I definitely don't think it's a mid-life crisis type thing but I think my husband is feeling a bit jealous over my weight loss and my new *look* even though I lost 110 lbs. with the band before. I'm not sure why my weight loss is bringing up these emotions in him. Hopefully, we'll work through any insecurities because I'm planning on having plastic surgery in December!! Take care,

Lena - aah thanks! We have been back for 2 weeks already!! I have a very nice class of 5th graders this year and I feel more energized than I have in a LONG time so I think it will be a great year! Chow - thanks!!

Absolutely no fill in my band. I plan on never ever filling it. My restriction is much better with just the plication than it ever was with just the band. I would be afraid to get a fill because I think I would be too restricted!!

Hmm I don't think I have had anything like dumping. I have eaten too fast or taken 1 bite too many and have had acid reflux. Nothing like dumping though.

Hi I revised to a lapband with plication in Feb 2011 here in california. I have lost close to 60 pounds in 6 months and I couldn't be happier. I also considered the VSG but had a really hard time dealing with the idea of the doctor cutting out 80% of a perfectly good stomach. I hope to lose about another 40 or so pounds and I am okay with it taking me another 6 months. You should consider all of your options and maybe visit the VSG board as well. Hope this helps. Take care

Aah lena U deserve the best tool to help you lose weight. I really hope you find a doctor that can help you.

I agree. My original goal was to be at 199 which at the time of my surgery seemed almost an impossibility. 6 months later I am 28 pounds away from that goal. So I have revised my goal to 185. I would eventually like to be around 175ish. My doctor's goal is closer to 150 but I would never want to weigh that. First I think I would be too thin and my husband wouldn't like me at that weight I'm hoping to reach my goal of 185 by my 1 year surgiversary. Please remember that when I was originally banded it took me 2 and a half years to lose 110 pounds so with the plication I m losing much faster.

Yeah! Good for u Diva! You have taken a negativity and turned it into something positive.

Yeah!!

Wow! U r doing great. KUP

Nancy I had surgery in the us with doctor helmuth billy in ventura, california. I also had a lap band with plication therefore, my insurance covered the procedure. You can look at my blog for more info or message me. KUP

I've been stuck in the 230s for almost 2 months. Although I've lost inches and a size, I pretty much weighed the same. Since I'm on summer vacation I decided to really focus on exercising daily and being more aware of my eating habits. A few times I actually worked out twice a day. I started doing Zumba and really enjoy it so if I miss a class I actually get bummed! Very strange! I'm starting to be able to fit into some size 16s. My goal before I go back to work in about 2 1/2 weeks is to lose 5 more pounds or 60 pounds total, which would put me at 223. My 6 month surgiversary is coming up in a few days and I have to say that I am ecstatic with my results. I am very happy I chose the plication! Take care,

Lena I've gone to class now about 10 or 12 times and I'm finally starting to get it. I figure as long as I'm still moving around I am losing weight!

I have noticed that I lose weight in spurts. I also almost never lose weight when I'm really, really working out. I'm not sure why but I will notice that I drop weight the day after I don't work out - weird! I think my body is so messed up from all the years of yo yo dieting!

Wow! That is great! KUP

Yes. Rashes plus I've had two c sections and gained and lost 110 lbs.

So I've been researching cosmetic surgery for about 3 years. I started when I was closer to my goal weight with the lapband. I think I was about 220 lbs at the time. The first surgeon I met wanted me to be closer to 200 lbs and at a stable weight for approximately 3 months before proceeding with a tummy tuck. After I had our 2 children and breast fed each for about 10 months, I started researching a breast lift. I have a friend who had a tummy tuck and she didn't get her breasts done, even though the dr. recommended it. She is maybe a size 6 or 8 naturally and has a great body without surgery IMO. She had the tummy tuck and now regrets not having her breasts done. So I started researching a lift. I've met with 4 surgeons, 3 here in California and 1 in Tijuana. One is a plastic surgeon who specializes and works mainly with WLS patients. One is strictly a body man and does mostly tummy tucks and arms and one is more of a breast doctor. The doctor in Tijuana (Cosmed) also does tummy tucks and arms - I'm not sure how his breasts lift are because I didn't research him for that. The WLS plastic surgeon thinks if I get below 200 then I can get at least the tummy tuck paid for by my insurance. We'd try to get the arms covered as well, but that will be a challenge as most insurances don't pay for it. The prices I was quoted: Tijuana - Arms about 2K, Tummy Tuck about 3K Newport Bch - Breast lift - 11K (yeah right!) Newport Bch - Tummy Tuck - 11K (again - yeah right!) Newport Bch - Arms - 10K The other dr. in Newport - Tummy tuck was about 8K, Arms about 7K WLS plastic surgeon - TT - covered by insurance (hopefully) Arms - if not covered then 7K My main concern with my body is my arms. I am a teacher and when I write on the board I can just feel them swinging around - bleck! It's sooo nasty! I have a genetic predisposition to batwings anyway because my mom had them really badly too. So arms are my priority. I am going to try to lose another 20 pounds or so before I have another consult with the WLS plastic surgeon because I haven't seen him in about 3 years. I'll let everyone know how that goes and what we can or can't get covered by insurance. Also, pretty much all the doctors told me that if I do a TT and arms, then they should NOT be done together. The TT is a big surgery and I would need my arms to help me get out of bed so I can either do TT and breast lift or arms and breast lift or do all 3 separately.

Hi Chow I am doing very well thank you. I am on summer vacation so I am really trying to work out and exercise every single day. I strongly recommend taking measurements because although I have not lost very much weight this past month, I have lost several inches! I have also had a plastics consult for a tummy tuck and my arms, but I think I'm going to wait to get under 200 pounds. I'm really hoping I can get my insurance pay for the tummy tuck. Hope you are doing well.

Wow! You are doing fantastic! Congratz and KUP

We go to tijuana all the time. If you treat it like you would any big city then you should be fine. Don't bring valuables, don't flaunt around a lot of money and go places where others are at especially at night then you should be fine. They make the majority of their money on tourists they want you to be safe.

I agree with Chow. If you are generally healthy I think they will perform the surgery up until 70. Good luck to you and please let us know what you find out.