Juney

I had forgotten all about this site, and just come across it again. Secret Surgery is still in business much to my disgust. Since my last post I have successfully sued for negligence and anyone thinking of using Secret Surgery Ltd should be very careful. Angela Chouaib, the owner of the company is being pursued for court costs. Like Rogue Traders and Cowboy Builders on TV, she has already set up another company ready to fold Secret Surgery and move on. Anyone parting with their money to her could lose it, as she will bankrupt the company and move on to the new one. There is no reason to pay companies like hers to book surgery, it can be done direct. 2 ladies who contacted me recently both paid her £1300, and all she did for that was book them an appointment. To add insult to injury, they also noticed on some paperwork that the surgeon also paid her £200 for the lead. That's £1500 to do what? Make a phone call, or send an email!!! I will try to check back here more often now I have found it again, but if I am allowed, I will post the Facebook page where anyone who is botched can come for support. Even though I try to warn people all the time, there are still many being botched via Secret Surgery. https://www.facebook.com/groups/476922179059611/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/secretsurgerywarning/

I am sorry to say I have had a bad experience with the company Secret Surgery Ltd, who arrange trips to Poland for cosmetic surgery. I had a breast lift operation booked in December, but I was given incorrect information in the support group by the woman who runs the business. She is not qualified to give medical advice, and I believe this incorrect information was given in order to secure sales. There are many great reviews out there for Secret Surgery, but she writes a lot of them herself, as well as invent profiles to "big her up" and "stroke her ego" in her support group. Trading Standards have been informed as I wouldn't want anyone else to go through what I have suffered because of this company. Cosmetic surgery abroad is a hot topic at the moment. I have today taken part in research for a large-scale international, government funded project on medical travel for cosmetic surgery, they were very interested in my story, and the fact this company takes a "non refundable" deposit before a consultation has even taken place. If you get to Poland, and then find out the true extent of the surgery and for whatever reason it doesn't go ahead, Secret Surgery don't care, as they have already had their payment. Please don't be misled by this company

Hi Jane, no I haven't found anything else abroad. I did go for a consultation for corrective surgery with another surgeon in Poland, but decided it wasn't for me. I'm so glad I did as I have come across some other bad stories of surgery in Poland by the same surgeon and 2 others. So much so I would now never go abroad for surgery ever again. Cosmetic surgery is fraught with dangers anyway, we all know there are risks attached, but if something happens, you need to be at home. If you have surgery and then find there is a problem when you get home, you find the surgeons in Poland don't want to know, and they know it is very difficult to sue a surgeon abroad, so they just move on to the next unsuspecting person. I went to the Nuffield in Chester and a surgeon called Douglas McGeorge. He has done the best job he could have possibly done to correct my breasts, and I am thrilled with the results. I will always have the terrible scarring, and possibly may need more surgery in the future, but for now they are looking so much better. The Nuffield hospital was something else! I could have stayed there for a couple of weeks, the food was amazing, and care second to none - so different to Poland! I also had an arm lift while I was there, and the result is fab. He has put the scars right on the underside of my arms, so if I lift up my arms, you can't see the scar from the front or the back". The only time you could see them would be if I had my arms by my sides, and you would see the scars from the back. The cost here wasn't that much more than abroad, and when I look back at what I and others have been through, it's really not worth trying to save that little bit extra cost. My friend is having a consultation for a facelift with Douglas McGeorge, so I'll let you know how she gets on :-) xx

Well hopefully you are now all done and dusted, and on the way to your happier and healthier life. It really was the best thing I have ever done for myself. I am at my target weight, and fel amazing! I have been maintaining for around 6 months, I can eat anything, no food is a problem. I eat like a normal person, just smaller amounts - I love my sleeve, and I hope you love your too! Good luck xxx

I thought the same Jess, and like Disney I find drinking while eating fills me up more!

I think some of us just don't lose weight quickly. I am 8 weeks post op tomorrow, and I feel I am losing very slowly. I lost 11lbs in the 2weeks pre op diet, and since then in the 8 weeks I have lost 16lbs. That evens out to 2lbs a week - some weeks were 3lbs, and some only 1lb. I'm feeling so much better already though, and if I carried on at 2lbs a week, it won't be that long before I reach my target of 12 stone (168lbs). I'm thinking now I will probably drop my target further as I approach that weight. My hubby doesn't like skinny women, and he said he will trade me in for a fat bird if I lose too much so I will not want to go below 11 stone (154lbs). It makes it harder when you read people are dropping 6 or 9lbs in a week, but it does vary as to how much you have to lose in the first place. and all of our bodies are different. I am eating so little compared to what I used to eat - I can't fail to keep losing - I hope People keep telling me that they can see the difference, and that makes me feel good. Try not to compare yourself with others. I know it's hard as I do it too, but I have to keep telling myself it is coming off, and if it takes another year, I will still get there. Also losing more slowly means less sagging skin. I use Bio Oil in the hope it will help, and other various skin stuff that I slap on at every opportunity

Having a sleeve is without doubt the best thing I could ever have done for myself. I'm not sure where you are from but we have a programme here called Come Dine with Me. There's 4-5 people who all cook for each other a three course meal. When I watch that I sometimes think to myself that it's a shame I will never eat another 3 course meal ever! The benefits are amazing. It's only 6 weeks since my sleeve. I can eat anything, but much smaller amounts. About 5 mouthfuls and I'm done. I've had no problems at all, with the surgery, or eating all kinds of food since. It is truly amazing!

Wow, that's quite a list now isn't it. I was amazed at how many normal people were having WLS. I thought I was in a minority, and it was only celebrities who had it. It was lovely to be sleeved with some very normal people there. I had no idea so many people were having surgery, and I think it's brilliant that we are able to do something for ourselves to help with our overeating problems. I don't know about any of you, but when I see a celebrity who has lost a lot of weight, I just don't believe they did it on their own anymore

Can you add me to 1st June please? My 52nd birthday! What a great present

I haven't cooked them for a long time, but I remember making the best pate ever with them about 15 years ago. I was planning to fry them in Frylight spray with onions and garlic, and maybe eat them as they are - or I might whizz them in my pulverising machine and make them into pate. I remember last time adding cream and brandy, which made it delicious - perhaps just a touch of each wouldn't do any harm

For at least 5 years I have had to get up 2-3 times EVERY night without fail. I noticed the first night I came home after surgery, that I didn't have to get up at all. I was amazed, and still am! I've never gone much during the day. I can go at 9am in the morning, go out for the day, and not go until I come home at 6pm. I know that must be bad for you, but I just never needed to go! Why then did I have to get up 3 times during the night? I used to think I needed to educate my body back to going normally during the day, so that I could go through the night, it was almost as if I was backwards So, I don't know if it is because the bladder has more room now, whether the bladder was squashed more at night when I lie down???? Anyway, I go through the night about 95% of the time now, and it's so much better not to have disturbed sleep Oh, one thing I did read the other day is that Diet Coke (or Pepsi Max in my case) makes you wee more. I used to live on the stuff, and obviously now I don't, so that could be a factor.

I'm not quite 5 weeks out, and was told the usual 2 weeks Fluid, 2 weeks puree, and 2 weeks mashed - but I felt able to eat food sooner, and I have been eating normal food for the last couple of weeks. I do eat very small portions, and make a huge effort to chew it properly. The time I didn't chew my food, when I was chatting to friends at the same time as I was eating, and boy did I know about it. It felt as if it was going to come back, but didn't, and in fact I haven't been sick at all, not even after the op. I think as long as you are sensible, and don't rush everything all at once, you can try foods a bit sooner. Listen to your sleeve, it will tell you if you do anything wrong. I eat such a small amount, I have to split my daily food up into around 5 meals. I don't actually count, but eat when I think I should. I do have a hunger, but I think it's just acid with nothing to work on. I've been out this evening for a meal, and I had a starter portion of Stilton Mushrooms with 3 slices of french stick. I managed to eat about half, but my hubby polished off the rest for me I hate wasted food, but have learnt to leave some. We are given guidance from the surgeon and team, but no one knows your body the way you do. I can't possibly have done anything wrong, as my recovery from the op has been fantastic. From day 3 after the op right up to now and eating everything I ate before, (but much much less!) I have felt brilliant. Like June13sleever I find it difficult to get as much Protein in as I should every day. I can't do Protein shakes or bars at all, they just make me gag. I'm looking forward to some chicken livers tomorrow though, as they are good for protein and Iron

Excellent thread, and I have been watching the scales like a hawk too, but not much movement! I'm told we all go through the same thing to start with, as the body thinks it's being starved, and so holds onto its reserves. I have one Weetabix for Breakfast each day, sprinkled with ground flax and sunflower seeds. Since having that, I have been "going" every day. I am 4 weeks post surgery on Wednesday, I lost 11lbs pre op, and only 10lbs since - but, I do keep telling myself that this weight will have to come off. I'm not eating enough to sustain this bodyweight - so I will be patient and know deep down that this is better being a slow process, as the skin will have time to shrink back, and hopefully be less saggy! Hold in there peeps - we will be skinny minnies one day!

You're looking fab - well done ! x

You have done brilliantly! You look so pretty too, well done!

Hi, I am from the UK, but as a self pay patient went to the Czech Republic with Cosmetic Bliss, a company based in the UK, that arranges everything for you, and stays with you through the surgery journey. They were excellent. My surgeon was Dr Michal Cierny at Braclav Hospital and Bariatric Centre. Fab from start to finish. The op cost £6490 there, but would have been £10,500 in the UK.

I'm only 8 days post op, and I am craving a steak. I feel I could eat one now, as I haven't had trouble with anything at all going down. I'm on the liquid stage still, but in the hospital they gave us yoghurt with bits in, so I have had soup with bits in it, and have had the odd thing that I can pulverise with my teeth! I'm sure I could manage chicken now, but I have to stick to the rules I suppose lol. The answer has to be, YES you will enjoy your food again!

That sounds delicious! Can't wait to try it, but I'm still only one week post op, so still on liquids and slop! I crave meat, and cheese and onions together - so this recipe is just up my street. Thanks for sharing x

That is almost exactly how mine went, but I am one week post op today. I'm loving my sleeve - wish I could have had it 20 years ago. I like you did plenty of research and talking to people on sites like this. Good luck everyone! x