mss

congratulations on getting your surgery date.

I saw a plastic and reconstructive surgeon today and this is the quote he gave for an abdominoplasty total fee $4500 est. rebate $890.20 out of pocket $3609.80 medicare no 30177 I am with HBF (top cover) and the rebate is both medicare and HBF included. I was reading the HBF website yesterday and they don't cover hospital fees for elective cosmetic surgery I don't think. I need to see if I (hopefully) misread this. The above costs are only for the surgeon, not for the anaesthetist or the hospital stay - he said that for me it would be a week in hospital. edited to add.... oh I would be having a hernia repair at the same time so I might get some of the hospital stay covered, I need to go and talk to someone from HBF. I wouldn't be getting this done for 6 months or so as I am going over east for a while so I have some time to save some money. The surgeon said it is best if the person is at their goal weight and not planning to lose too much more or to get pregnant in the future.

You get a haircut and discover that you have the beginnings of cheekbones! Woohoo

HI again slimmy I just did a search and found this thread about Dr Kierath, it looks like he operates from bethesda Hospital in Claremont, not sure if he works anywhere else. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f75/dr-tony-kierath-perth-46714/

Wow it all seems to be happening for everyone here! Congrats Lellow and Cherie on getting your band dates....it is very exciting isn't it? I have nothing but praise for Dr Watson and am hoping that whoever my new band doctor will be when I move to Melbourne in a couple of weeks will be as nice. Congrats on getting your band Simba.... just think about how divine the banana will taste when you are allowed to eat one? I am another that prefers my band to be on the loose side. I cringe when I read some posts from people who pb regularly or get stuck as that sounds awful to me. I find it takes a bit more will power for me to eat in moderation and it is teaching me to listen to my body a lot more. I just got my hair cut today and the cut has really highlighted the changes in my face since I have lost weight..... omg I can see the beginnings of cheekbones!!

I had about 3 months wait before I was able to get some time off work to have my surgery so I used that time to start making changes to my eating habits eg. eating slower, chewing food more, not drinking with my meals and this all helped me to adjust to being banded. And don't worry, I have had a number of clients tell me in their first few sentences that they didn't want to see me so I worked extra hard to make the session as painless as possible. :eek:

sorry I don't know but the surgeon is Tony Kierath.

Different doctors have different requirements. There are some clinics here that require a person to have the psych evaluation, lengthy pre-op diet and lifestyle education and others where you go to your first appointment and walk out with a surgery date. Talk to the surgeon about your concerns about your trip and they will help you decide. all the best and ps. I am another psychologist haha

I was talking to my lb surgeon today and he suggested that I wait until my weight loss has plateaued before getting a tummy tuck but that I could start talking to plastic surgeons about it now. I have an appointment on wednesday (yay for cancellations) and can tell you what I find out then. My surgeon is planning to repair a hernia I have at the same time.

One article I found by doing a google search and there were plenty of other articles so you are not alone in thinking this Fanny. Early Puberty In Girls Due to Being Overweight As A Toddler

Some people react to anaesthetic with feelings of depression as well so it may be this combined with the changes that you are going through due to being banded. Talk about this with your doctor, especially if it continues for much longer.

Do a search on here for bandster hell. People often don't feel a significant change in the amount they can eat or how hungry they feel until they have had a few fills. The early stages of getting your band are more to give your body time to adjust to having the band so none of you are alone in your experiences.

When I am holidaying I tend to do lots more walking than I would usually so my suggestions is to plan lots of sight seeing. have fun!!

From what you wrote it doesn't sound like you would be eating a nutritionally balanced diet. also 1200 calories seems high from 2 granola bars and a bowl of cereal (though I could have my calculations wrong as I am an Aussie). Have you talked with your doctor, maybe they will have some suggestions. when I plateau (which is often) I tend to have to shock my body by changing my eating habits (eating more or less) and changing my exercise. Good luck with everything.

welcome to being banded. The first month - 6 weeks is mainly for healing, some people may not start feeling restriction or losing significant amounts of weight until they start getting some fills. Good luck with it all.

Well done!!!! In no time it will hopefully become a habit to not drink when eating. :party:

Hi all I am moving to Melbourne to live in the next few weeks and was wondering if you could give me some ideas on who your doctors are, what they are like, where they are and prices for the fill. Dr Watson mentioned The Avenues and Prof O'Brien I think it was.... the only thing is that he thinks that Prof O'brien gives fills without local anaesthetic!!! ouch! I will be living in Hawthorn and would prefer someone that is either close by or easy to get to on public transport. any info would be appreciated (plus feel free to volunteer to finish my packing - ugh!) thanks all Melanie

Thanks so much for the info batkitty. I will give you a call when I get there. :party:

It may help to not look on or expect the lap band to be a "cure" for unhealthy eating habits that have often been built up over a lifetime. As people on here regularly say, the band is simply a tool that can help you to lose weight however you also have to take responsibility for making healthier food choices, following your doctor's instructions, exercising and everything else that helps a person with the lap band to lose weight and keep it off. If you are struggling with the changes you are required to make and feel that maybe you weren't as prepared as you could have been for the surgery maybe you could see a counsellor to get some extra support. Also, talk to your doctor, let them know you are struggling. I wish you all the best.

As another slow-ish loser my first piece of advice would be to not be so hard on yourself. You have lost almost TWENTY kilos....fantastic!!!!! Try not to compare yourself to others on the boards as I know that can be a fast way for me to feel as if I am the slowest loser in the entire history of the band. Did you get an information booklet when you got your band? I was told not to drink for 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after each meal....and yes, drinking can wash the food through so you don't feel full so quickly. all the best and again congratulations on your weight loss.

Hi I am another of Dr Watson's happy campers! My weight is coming off slowly compared to lots of others however I have kept off everything that I have lost which is wonderful. Congrats on getting your surgery date as well.

I have to have MRI scans every now and again and hadn't had one since being banded. For those that don't know, you lay on a table, are strapped down and then the table slides you into a round tight capsule where it takes very noisy (think jackhammer) scans of your body......it must be horrible for people who are claustrophobic. Today I noticed that when I was being slid into the capsule that I didn't need to almost dislocate my shoulders to fit my arms through the gap and also that I didn't need to take a huge breath in to stop myself from getting jammed in the gap due to the size of my tummy!!!!!! :thumbup:

It may help if you can give people an idea of what you are eating on a daily basis. If you can hardly eat anything are you eating the easier to eat foods that go down easily but are filled with calories? Could you benefit from a slight unfill? There is a also a mens section so that you can talk to other guys that have had the surgery, they may have ideas that are specific to men. congratulations on losing 60 pounds so far!!

ouch I am thankful they don't ask us to state our weight here

Like yoou nat I had the weirdest experience as I went shopping yesterday and bought a pile of clothes that weren't from the labels such as urbane woman or fields woman or any other 'woman' label! It felt fantastic but also a bit scary..... I haven't been this size in a number of years. Miss P congratulations on fitting into those size 18's and enjoy wearing your new clothes. :ohmy: