Kelliebelly

I think of it like this, without the band I would still be 265lbs...no I would be bigger by now. You have take every moment with the band and embrace. Lose your weight, live, learn and enjoy. Retrain yourslef as much as you can. Try and teach yourself to eat like a "smaller" person does. Eat when you are hungry, get through the head hunger. Prepare yourself for the day that you may lose your band but dont let it rule you. Just know after my big speil there, I am re reading it and thinking I really have to take my own advice more. Its soooo much easier said than done, but I would do this again in a heart beat...over and over again.

Hey, Thanks you guys. Umm as for size I was a C before and a C after. Before I actually had to lift and squash and tuck my boob into the cup. It was so grose. Now they just go in there comfortably...My areolas were huge, like saucers. he said he would give me a more "youthful" areola. Now they are the size of 20 cents. It doesnt hurt and hasnt from the beginning. Like I said my boobies feel like I am getting my milk in...a discomfort or pressure type thing..no pain. The areolas still have the stitches will come out Saturday, they will then relax and work back into a nice rounded shape. Areola cookie cutter...I like it!!! Heather - I am being straight up with you guys so you know what to expect. Honestly the insicions have never hurt. They are numb. Inside hurt from the muscle repair and where I was lipoed hurt. Lipo is the killer, I felt beaten and bruised which I was. I know it all looks yucky, I was the same when I researched, it scared the pants of me, but its nowhere near as bad as it looks. Just imagine and picture the after and it will get you through it. Thats what I did. Ill take some more pics this weekend after the stitches come out and let you see. I am not looking foward to the rest of the BB stitches coming out as they have skin over them ughh. Oh yea that reminds me, Jess...yes the BB stays an outtie yayyyyy!!!! Remember if you want an outtie let your PS know. They can usually do it both ways, makes no difference to them. Hugs everyone

Here is a close up to show you the scar technique my PS used to lift my breasts. He didnt have to cut me along under the boob just the lollypop cut. Around the areola looks yucky right now, but when the stitches come out(Saturday) it relaxes and settles into a nice shape. I wasnt sure if this close up is a bit much, but just wanted all you guys that are saying you want a lift see what is involved. Any offence, simply email me and I will delete them...no worries.

My life has been one big yo yo of dieting. Up and down, but mostly up. i would starve myself down to a half decent weight for a while then put it all back on and more. I often think about the difference in the way I am treated by people when I am big and when I am not so big. I decided this time around that all those stuck up snobs that put their nose in the air and looked down on me when I was big will never get the time of day from me. I am still the same person with the same personality, just a lil extra cushioning. It was those sort of people that had me believeing I am worth nothing when I am fat....that I am ugly and not worth the air I breathe. No more of those type of people. I am taking NJchicks advice..Surround myself with people who are positive and care about me...and that always have. The others well they can go jump.

Jess, I did the same, I went and bought trackies and stuff a couple of sizes bigger...it all wasnt necessary. The swelling is huge but I can still fit into clothes that I couldnt pre op(TT). The skin they cut off gives you so much more room in your clothes, it will be a pleasant surprise. I also thought I would live in trackies and jammies, but 1 week later when I was feeling btter, I went through my cuboards like a mad woman trying on all my clothes from when I was smaller. I have been getting dressed up to just go up the shop and get milk. to be able to wear pants and not have to wear a big long shirt to cover the gut is a great feeling. You will see. How long is it now and can I ring or txt you after a couple of days when you are feeling better?

Margo, Before this week the last time I lost weight was January. I have beenon a major plateau. I know myself I was making bad food choices and I am trying to improve that. I often have to remind myself to look at the bigger picture also. I feel like my weight comes off so slow, a lb here, a pb there...a lb a month. I wonder if I am ever going to lose it. Next thing it has been 12 mths and I have lost 70lbs. I know it is quite a slow loss, but hey I got there, slow and steady and all that right?? Well looking at your stats slow and steady your not. You have lost as much as I have in 5 mths less time. Remeber keep looking at the bigger picture, it paints a prettier picture

I know in my opinion when I reached my sweet spot I just knew. I remember posting question after question asking but how will I know?? How long will it take? It will come to the stage where food isnt constantly on your mind. You will eat a small amount of food and you will feel full rather quickly, it will also keep you satisfied for 4 hrs or so. There are days when I will have a naughty day and eat chocolate, ice cream and lots of bad stuff. I think during these days that maybe my fill is disappating but then I get back onto the solid proteins and realise that I still do have great restriction. No matter how much restriction you have you will always be able to easily eat chocolate and ice cream, remember that when you are working your way up to the sweet spot. Good Luck

I had 2ccs put in the time of surgery. At 6 weeks he took me up to 4.5ccs. I never felt restriction till I got to about 7ccs and each time it would just disappear over a period of a week or so. I have now had 9 fills and I have 9.6ccs/mls in my band. I have great restriction and have had so for about 5 months. Dont worry if after this fill you find you have great restriction that just disappears in a week or so, it happens! Also our bands can take up to 12ccs safely if needed. Good Luck

Heather, the TT scars havent been painful yet at all. I am numb on the insicion, above it and below it. I have a little sensation in the scar right at the end. This will last up to 12 mths. Kathy, it amazed me too, one of the lapbanding scars is completely gone...now that is what amazed me.

Close up of my belly button. They took my old belly button and made a new one. My old one was a big ol hole that resembled the grand canyon. Having an outtie is so exciting.

I seen a question I forgot to answer regarding my port. My port was not moved in the operation. He worked around it. I could have had it replaced with a low profile one, but didnt want the extra cost for someting that really doesnt bother me anyway. It doesnt protrude and it isnt noticeable. The only thing was he couldnt pull me as tight as he would have liked because of the port and because of the stretch marks. Stretch marks being pulled tightly around the insicion can raise your risks for necrosis(skin dying) which I didnt want. He did upper ab lipo in the middle, but not the sides, because my port is on the side and it would not have been even. I think thats all the questions I had forgot to answer

Remember its midnight here and I am in my nighty and suffering from swell hell

Day 13 close up of scar front and side. Take note of the scars left from my banding and how keloided they were/are. My PS has said after looking at my new scars they are going to heal very nicely. I still have alot of stretch marks which arent quite that noticeable. They did go right up to under my breasts before, so it is a great improvement for me.

Hiya everyone, I was thinking about the pinny pics and I really tossed and turned about whether to post it or not. I am a shy, self conscious person and I have NEVER I repeat never let anyone besides my partner and Dr see me like that. Like I have said, I wanted you guys to get a real picture of the before and after, and the fact is, you do get a pinny lift and you do get insane swelling in the mound. I think blacking it out would take away the effect KWIM? If anyone is desperate enough to want to do anything but use my pics for anything but educational purposes then they must be sick!!! Heather - I had my first baby at 17 and have had a body like my B4 pic since then. It was terrible being a teenager looking and feeling like that, so I can totally relate. Wait till you are done with the kiddos and go for it, you will never look back. Kathy - Thanks for all the compliments you give me, you sure know how to make a girl feel good. I agree on the links thing, I didnt want someone coming to read an update and being confronted with me in all my glory, what a sickening thought. I am treading very carefully with this post as I really dont want to offend anyone. HUGS The next thing I really wanted to mention was the keloiding. I am going to dig around for some pics of my lap banding scars. They were reallyyyyyy bad. I keloided so bad and one of the main things worryiing me with the TT was keloiding again. I chose a PS that specialised in minimal scarring and was prepared. He spent alot of time suturing my scars so they would be ultra fine, and they are. I really am happy with them, so dont let that be the reason to stop you doing this. I am going to go take a pic right now of my scar so you guys can see. Be back soon PS Thanks EVERYONE for the compliments - it means alot :faint:

Jess, Pain is all but gone now...aches yes...pain no. It is coming from the lipo. the thing that really bugs me now is the lipo. I will get up put some shorts or pants on and by mid afternoon I have to take them off because they dont fit me(too small). The swelling I expected but never really comprehended the extent of it. I literally look preggers after midday. Hugs

Hey Tammy, I will answer any questions that I can to help. As for the kitty, mine, well...it sagged and was so fatty. With the TT it is inevitable that it gets pulled higher, but I specifically asked my PS to pull her all the way up, I didnt care if my bikini line ended up at my throat . Anyway yep he did give her a rather nice lift hence the extreme swelling to my mound which will last for a few months yet, but how do I say it...hmmm, ummm it hasnt been that high in yrs and for the first time my girlie sensitive part actually isnt buried if you know what I mean. I know that might offend some that is why I tried to think of the nicest way to put it. Please excuse me if it has offended some. Tammy - Be excited!!!!!!!!! If you want to talk about any of it I am happy too. Hugs

I dont know how relevant this is because I am in Aussie but I am on Omperazone(sp) and it costs me about $28.00 a month. I havent had relux since I have been on it about 5 months and I had it pretty bad. Good Luck

My Dr told me I would still be bale to breastfeed after the lift but I am with jacqui...my boobs were huge when I was pregnant and breastfeeding which bought alot of stretchmarks. When I was finished and they shrunk again boy oh boy they were like footy socks on my chest...udders actually. So I wouldnt go through the money etc and have it done and then have them wrecked with pregnancy and breastfeeding. Wait till you are completely finished and go for it then!!! I have 4 kids and I know I am definately finished Good Luck with whatever you decide....any questions on the lift just send me a PM

Has happened several times here. I ring him and insist he bring them home. I dont care how he does it, just get them back to me. I have 4 kids...3 of them have to get to school and be picked up. I know how you feel, as much as I know he doesnt do it on purpose it makes me sooooo angry.

Lol Jacqui, my whole life I have never had boobs that arent saggy with huge areolas, so yes i keep taking my bra off and looking at them in the mirror. I went into the bedroom last night to have another look and Paul had put a huge picture that I couldnt lift in front of the mirror. I called out to him and asked him why it was there and could he move it. He said he just want to see what I would do if I couldnt look at myself for 5 minutes hehe . All I hoped going into this was improvement, the life changing I feel just from not having a belly over my thighs is...well I cant think of the words. I know when I was researching this I wished I could find more pictures of "real" people that had it done instead of touched up surgeon pics...so I promised myself that when I had mine done no matter how embaressing it was I would share my pics with people who wanted to have it done. It has been sorta humiliating everytime I come to this thread and I know those pics are there, but I just try not to think about it and think of the ppl that they are helping. Love you guys, you know how to make a girl feel special!!

Before - 260lbs Work in progress - 191lbs

I remember asking the exact same question. I have the big VG band and I was getting fill after fill wondering when I was ever going to find decent restriction and how would I know if I had it and when to stop. Well my opinion is you will know, you cant miss it. You will eat small quantities and be satisfied with it for 4 or so hours. Food will no longer be on your mind all the time. Dont get me wrong at times I still struggle...with things like chocolate. It doesnt matter how tight you get you will always be able to eat as much chocolate ice cream etc as you want, so it take a little will power but....when you hit your sweet spot it is so much easier. You will know when you get there. I found mine on my 9th fill, each fill before that I would feel nothing, or only feel restricted a week or 2 before it waned. On the last fill I had the sweet restriction and it lasted. I am now 5 mths since my last fill and still have restriction. Good Luck

Hi Tammy, I am in Australia and I didnt have any insurance cover. It was $27 000 for everything including private hospital. I too am a big chicken, but in the weeks leading up to surgery I did a mind over matter thing. I have wanted this for so long that I think when I came out of surgery and seen my pinny for the first time I was just so excited I didnt feel the full extent of the pain. I mean, it really is only a day or so of real pain before its not even a big deal...get through that and you will be amazed. I still cant believe it. I know I dont have a flat tummy, but after losing the last of my kgs I think it will be pretty flat, just the fact my tummy isnt to my knees and my boobies arent to my belly is hugeeee in itself. I am so excited...can you tell?? :)

Day 12 Post op update. I am feeling almost back to myself now. I went out for lunch and shopping today. I did fine except.... I had to keep pulling my jeans up because they are too big I didnt have enough money to buy a new wardrobe and the swelling tonight is killing me...I am huge!!! The bruising is healing nicely and I am doing most things except bending to the ground. Here is a few more pics...please dont look if nudity offends. Thanks

Thats great news, its wonderful to hear a story like that.