My Bariatric Life

@@imsoglad56 we must come up with new pet names for our now pretty juicy bits!

@@CowgirlJane I got referrals from other people. I only spoke to two facial plastic surgeons. I had looked at so many surgeons' websites and was completely unimpressed with their before and afters. There seemed little -- and sometimes NO -- difference. One surgeon whom has a BIG reputation and is in the media a lot had me momentarily impressed but I found his Facebook profile and he turned out to be a real schmuck, completely full of himself, and he had the same woman on this website (before and after) that I'd seen many years earlier. He just seemed like a one-hit wonder who bought a lot of media exposure. Watch out. It is a very competitive field and not all doctors are sincere... Funny how I ended up with Dr. Winslow. I bought a Groupon for waxing and the aesthetician had a studio in her home where she worked on me. Of course she saw my scars so we spoke about plastic surgery. She worked for Dr. Winslow part time and gave me the inside scoop. She said THAT is where I wanted to go. And she was right! I looked at her website and was impressed -- but when I saw the photos in her office, OMG, she absolutely blew me away. And she has a very nice personality/bedside manner. The work she did on me was nothing short of a miracle :-) My life was changed all because of a Groupon, LOL!

@@CowgirlJane maybe get your upper and lower eye lids done and some filler and see how you feel about your looks afterwards. Any good facial plastic surgeon will ask you what YOUR goals are and will not push procedures on you UNLESS you ask for their recommendation. At least that is what I know. Here you go: http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/276918/174416/17-plastic-surgery-insider My tips to help you be a savvy consumer.

@@BethinPA I agree about anesthesia. I lay in my hospital bed that night crying and crying... and even the next morning when I saw Dr. Capella I was upset. Tough timing with your BF. And yes, I find exercise, meditation, and other integrative medicine approaches are fabulous stress reducers. Last night I had reiki done on me -- first time ever -- with three practitioners, as well as tuning forks, and it was an absolutely phenomenal experience and extremely relaxing. I am considering taking instruction to become a reiki master because it was THAT incredible.

@@MichiganChic see how you feel after 6-mos with regard to your figure and plastic surgery. I am 50 years old and can wear a bikini after having my plastics. In fact, I went topless! I share this with you because maybe there is room for improvement with the work your surgeon did -- a tweak to perfect it. Then again we each have a different body. I was blessed with good skin, which certainly makes a difference in the results I was able to get (also my PS did an amazing job). But I am bothered by my thick waist, wanting to achieve just a little more, a little better, something close to perfection :-) What I really need is a vertical torsoplasty or ancho cut BUT I am not willing to live with the scars because I tend to scar dark. I already look like FrankenBarbie with all my incisions. LOL. But believe me, I have tried to convince my PS to do the procedure on me. And it was something that he really was against. I've tried the gym and running and I still cannot whittle my waist. My PS said he thinks it is hormonal because I used to have a hour glass figure when I was younger. Also a BodPod analysis showed that I have a high percentage of body fat, which can only be visceral fat in the trunk. I am at an age where even though I am not in menopause or even peri-menopause that hormone therapy can benefit me in several ways. I've done the research and asked my ObGyn for human bio-identical hormones in a transdermal or transmucosal formulation and the specialty pharmacy is compounding it as a cream for me as I type this. I am going to try it for 3-4 months and see what happens. What I am hoping for is smaller waist, thicker hair (I used to have thick hair), and restored vitality. Well, that was probably more info than you wanted! LOL Oh, emotionally I was a basket case after my tummy tuck and going into my stage 2 surgery. Dr. Capella was such a comfort through it all, really patient and kind. He went above and beyond. I was convinced I had a seroma after my TT. I even went to the ER one night. Dr. Capella was on top of my care in the middle of the night with the ER doctors, and called me the next day to comfort me. It was not a seroma. He wanted to be sure that I was emotionally comfortable, not just leave me hanging with the MRI results and the ER doc saying there's nothing wrong with you, go home. I guess I was just scared and I really don't know why. Fear rarely is rational. But I saw a side of myself that I had NEVER seen before and it was a very odd thing to go through. It was even worse going into my stage 2 surgery. I had a bad experience with a local plastic surgeon whom I call Dr. Creepy. Following that I began having panic attacks and high cortisol levels and I would often feel faint. I was convinced I would die in surgery from anesthesia. I've always been afraid of it. My PCP tested me for two rare diseases which if I had them could be fatal during surgery. I was showing some markers for them. But he sent me to an endocrinologists to pull labs. This was right up until a week before my surgery so it was a real nail biter. I even had to be put on a beta blocker because my blood pressure would spike. The labs showed that I did not have the diseases. My endocrinologist asked me a simple question: When did you begin having panic attacks? I said June. He asked, "What happened in June?" And so I told him about Dr. Creepy. And he and my PCP agreed that the stress from that was the cause of everything I experienced. I was OK once the surgery was over. Two months later I had my facial work done and was just the normal amount of concerned going into that. My story: http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/276918/167141/plastic-surgeon-sexualized?ap=831

I am 50 years old and only several months ago did I realize that I loved myself. I hadn't known that I hadn't loved myself... that it until I really loved myself. There were so many parts of me that I kept hidden, due to embarrassment, or fear of rejection, or fear of being judged. Plastic surgery turned out to be freeing for me in so many ways. I put all of me out there now without any hesitation because I am secure in who I am... and that comes from self love. And finally, finally I can look back at old photos of myself morbidly obese and love that person I was, and feel compassion for her rather than disgust and shame. I am proud of how I have turned my health and my life around. And what life lessons I have gotten from that have helped me to then share that message with other people and inspire them to take control of their health and their lives. I have been told to investigate NLP. Might you recommend a good book on it? Thanks!

Yup... I let fear hold me back. I put off the WLS for years. It turned out that it saved my life. I guess that I did not learn my lesson of allowing fear hold me back because I put off my plastic surgery for 6 or 7 years. It turned out to be the best thing I ever did for myself. After my plastic surgery I vowed never to let fear hold me back from doing what I want to do (or say). And I am honoring that commitment. I have been living life fully doing things I never would have done in the past. I always say that I am a size 2 and living larger than ever! Live a life you love. Love the life you live.

It occurred to me today that I chose to be obese. It really is a choice. So is recovery.

@@MichiganChic the emotional part of recovery was harder for me than the physical, well at least for the face and the 2nd stage b.c. The tummy tuck was hard emotionally and physically.

@@Sara Kelly Keenan LC That is for sure -- I had a complication with my arm lift from Oct 2013 and which has improved a lot after PT/OT but is not 100% resolved. My facelift included deep plane face lift, neck lift, lip lift, upper eye brow lift, chin implant, SMAS to tear troughs, and filler, $15k, no stay needed as it is 30-min from my house, so lucky! I had to travel for my plastic surgery and it makes things much more complicated. I did not include my travel costs in the $25k for the two body contouring surgeries. I included only the care center, which was 5-nights. I may get v-beam laser on my arm lift scar. It is hypertrophic and because of the complication it is dark. I'll go to my facial plastic surgeon's esthetician for that.

@@MichiganChic what else do you want?

@@Sara Kelly Keenan LC I know how you feel!!! Its incredible to do this for oneself. I paid a similar price in NJ for my body contouring. Mine was a little more because it included a thigh lift. Or was your face lift included in that price, too? My total bill was $40k for body and face. I had them done with different surgeons, each an expert at what they do. I had a lot more done than just a facelift so I went to a facial plastic surgeon -- and Dr. Winslow did an amazing job. Its a lot of money for sure but I am happy having spent it. Those prices outside the country sure are appealing! I think another patient that I am friendly with had her work at Cosmed... I've seen her naked pix and it was a very nice transformation. Please do not be offended, but I believe -- although not sure -- that I have heard some things in the news about Cosmed that were concerning. Do you know anything about that? I may be wrong -- it may be some other place in MX.

@@Sara Kelly Keenan LC, sorry, I should have asked what did you pay? That is, if you don't mind sharing -- perfectly fine if you don't. Thanks!

@@Sara Kelly Keenan LC congrats! who did you go to in MX?

Once we master our physical appetites we then begin to change the way we relate to ourselves and others. We are in a great transitional period. Our old way of being that was deeply entrenched in us was fearful. There is an awakening after obesity. We experience true living. Our lives can, in fact, be Heaven on Earth. Once we master our physical appetites we then begin to change the way we relate to ourselves and others. We move into higher levels of consciousness as our in-dwelling Souls (true self) take dominion over our once unbridled appetites (the ego) of the physical life. There is an awakening after our crisis (obesity, dis-ease). This higher part of us also then starts to develop a new understanding of how to rightly relate to the outer world, and resources (food), and to people. We are in a great transitional period. Our old way of being that was deeply entrenched in us was fearful. With this clearing of the mind (from a selfish consumption-driven life) we realize we have a piece of the answer, insight into a joyful Soul-driven life in which we experience true living by relying on our inner guidance rather than dogma and giving and receiving love unconditionally. Our focus will be on making our lives Heaven on Earth with the Spiritual purpose to serve all humanity. I am excited to bring my best forward. Destiny I believe in Teilhard de Chardin’s philosophy that we are Spiritual beings living a human existence. We existed in Spiritual form before we were born into our physical bodies. Our Souls, our true selves, are eternal. Our Soul is a part of the Divine, here to experience this life and its lessons. Our physical world reality exists for Spiritual growth. We are here to play and experience as much as we can. We are here to grow. For this purpose, Soul Mates have made agreements while in the Spiritual form to find each other in the physical world. Be it to clear up karma, complete unfinished business, or accomplish a particular goal together, these relationships are destined. Soul Mate Relationships During the first few meetings Soul Mates feel in some way connected, familiar or drawn to one another. It just feels different with this person. There is an instant affinity. Often the person or the situation has an emotional "charge" to it. The more intimate the relationship the larger the opportunity we are given to learn and grow. Soul Mate relationships are mirrors for us to learn more about ourselves. Some relationships are a joy to be in. This allows us to have a glimpse at who we could be, if we wanted to. This person is usually someone that we idealize and put on a pedestal. Some relationships challenge us and take work. Self understanding is the reason for these mirrors, not to ‘fix’ the other person, but to look at ourselves. This mirror is hard to look at; it reflects the things we’ve not yet finished in our karma. These are the things that we are most blind to. If we miss this opportunity, we’ll experience the same type of problem over and over again until we learn the loving lessons that are being presented to us. Though the life experience often feels otherwise, these lessons are always blessings and for our growth and fulfillment. Soul Mate relationships can be beautiful. They may be a married couple or true friends without any sexual involvement. Relationships may last a lifetime or only temporary for a particular purpose. De Chardin said, “Love alone is capable of uniting living beings in such a way as to complete and fulfill them, for it alone takes them and joins them by what is deepest in themselves.” The love between Soul Mates is very intense and strong. They, however, must learn to develop unconditional love and place the wants and needs of the other above his or her own (self-sacrifice). This love energy between Soul Mates only can be surpassed by the love between Twin Flame Souls. You may have several Soul Mates in a lifetime but each of us has only one Twin Flame (Twin Soul). Twin Flame Unions The Twin Flames’ sexual energies are immensely powerful and more profound than in any other relationship. This is not an ordinary relationship and it does not adhere to the ordinary rules. The act of love is dreamlike, it is electric, it is Heaven — the divine union of masculine and feminine energy — and will go on for hours. Twin Flame relationships are very different and very rare for they are two halves of the same soul. Attachment and longing for their union is ever-present in the subliminal consciousness. And the incessant throbbing of desire and deep-rooted love for the other Twin is never far beneath the subconscious. They go to great lengths to make the other Twin happy and secure even to one’s own detriment. The Twin’s happiness must be above one’s own. Inevitably there is infliction of pain, it is part of the Twin Flame process. This emotional conflict is almost unbearable, because they are Twins each feels precisely the same feelings as the other, so to hurt the other is to hurt oneself. There should be no blame here – only deep and unconditional love. Approach any disagreements with patience and love and compassion. One does not love the other despite the other’s faults; one loves the other for the other’s faults as much as for the other’s virtues. There is no room for judgment in Twin Soul pairings. Theirs is nothing less than Divine love. It is a relationship of such magnitude that others may not understand it, but will envy it. An energy that is beyond their control seems to pass from one to the other. This is both Twins recognizing each other at the soul level although most are not consciously aware they are Twin Flames. There will be synchronous and inexplicable events surrounding the union, and the Twins’ meeting may occur at a seemingly inconvenient time. Quite often one may be in an emotionally unfeeling marriage whilst the other is in a controlling and abusive one. Both can feel trapped. The Twins swing back and forth in a painful “twin flame dance” connecting then withdrawing. They long to hold and touch each other. They can’t stop thinking or fantasizing about one another. Yet they’re frightened to lose each other — they may fear being rejected or that their intense feelings may be one-sided. There may be other obstacles; the relationship may be judged inappropriate by moral precepts, such as a wide discrepancy in age. However Twin Flames are able to defy all laws that apply to this physical realm. Destiny has brought these two together at the perfect time, under the right circumstance. It is fated. Inevitably the two are torn apart and separated. This can be confusing if they do not understand the divine purpose of this separation. It is one of the 7 stages through which the Twin Flame Relationship must pass. Learning to have patience and not forcing the relationship is part of the Twin Flame process. Synchronicity is at work here to bring the two back together to fulfill their destiny. Once they’ve grown in Spirit, balanced their karma and love unconditionally so that they are whole within themselves, the Twin Flames join in a soul partnership deeper and more powerful than anything ever imagined. The only thing, in fact, that can keep the Twins apart is themselves. Continue to Soul Relationships, part 2.

Hahaha, I guess in my "former life" if you will (obese) these were my soul mates, especially PBJ.

I just posted "Soul Relationships Part 1" to WLS Magazine. Here is the teaser. Please take a read if this is of interest to you. I am finding this process fascinating. Our Soul is a part of the Divine, here to experience this life and its lessons. Our physical world reality exists for Spiritual growth. For this purpose, Soul Mates have made agreements while in the Spiritual form to find each other in the physical world. Be it to clear up karma, complete unfinished business, or accomplish a particular goal together, these relationships are destined.

I had the works. Here are my all-inclusive prices, surgeon, OR, anesthesia, care center, ambulance transport Body contouring Stage 1, tummy tuck, $7k Stage 2, convert the TT to an LBL, inner thigh lift, extended arm lift, breast lift, $18k Facial plastic surgery Deep plane face lift, neck lift, SMAS to tear troughs, lip lift, chin implant, upper eye lid lift, filler $15k Every now and again I go back for filler and botox, price varies

@@HipsAndLipstick you're very welcome. I am very glad that I did "all of me."

@@yogurtgirl thank you! i am getting a combination of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. I am going to try it for 4-mos and see how it goes. I got it from my ObGyn at my request but something online that I read from Dr. Mercola said you should see an endocrinologist that specializes in hormone therapy. I'll see how this round goes and maybe go to my endo after the 4-mos.

I am 12 yrs out and my hair is thin. It once was very thick. I take all sorts of supplements including Biotin. I don't see a difference. I am going on hormone replacement therapy next week. Thinning hair can be linked to that. I hope it works. Here is info http://www.lef.org/Protocols/Female-Reproductive/Female-Hormone-Restoration/Page-07

@@HipsAndLipstick oh I was such a mess that I had to have everything done, LOL. I paid $25k inclusive of surgeon, hospital OR, general anesthesia, ambulance transport, and several nights in the care center. I had a tummy tuck with mons lift done first. Then I decided to go all in. I had a second surgery to convert the TT to an LBL, and had a medial thigh lift, extended arm lift, and breast lift. Recovery from the TT was hard but it was worth it. Recovery from the second surgery was easy but I did have a serious complication with my right arm. The emotional part of recovery was harder for me than the physical part. My scars vary depending on where they are. Some are very light and some are dark. Scarring is completely personal. One friend who had her LBL with Capella has a scar that is virtually invisible. The front of my LBL scar is dark and thick. Oh well, it is hidden in my thongs and bikinis so no one sees it unless I am naked. You can see my before and after photos on Flickr, including pix of the scars https://www.flickr.com/photos/mybariatriclife/sets/ I wrote about my surgeries extensively. Go to my profile page on BariatricPal and click on my story. There are links to my surgery articles there, as well as an interview article that I did with Dr. Capella on plastic surgery after weight loss. The article will be helpful to you in selecting a surgeon and other important things. There are lots of patient stories on the website RealSelf about all the plastic surgeons whom have been mentioned in this post. I think the best thing you can do is contact those patients privately through the message feature and ask them about their experience. Oh, here is an article that I very recently wrote about insider tips on plastic surgery -- these are the things I learned after 19-mos in plastic surgery http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/276918/174416/17-plastic-surgery-insider Good luck!

I was such a mess that I had to do everything... I can't think of anything that I could have spent that money on that would have made me happier.