Ruth1ess

Hey all! I'm 3.5 years out from gastric sleeve and I haven't stopped into these forums for a while. I've been putting off plastics because my life is a blur time-wise, but I'm getting married in May and would like to reap the benefits of the brachioplasty for my wedding dress, since my arms are always my biggest point of insecurity. They've always been disproportionate, and even more so now that I lost the weight. I also wanted a tummy tuck and LBL, but we want to try for kids right away, so I'll deal with that down the road if ever. Well, I pulled the trigger and did it!! Tuesday was my surgery down in Monterrey, Mexico for arms and legs. It wasn't easy. I came by myself and I've had a lot of self doubt about doing this, feeling vain and selfish taking a risk that could possibly take me away from my fiance and family. I cried going into the OR. But, I'm on day 4 of recovery and every day is a little easier. I don't want to talk about Wednesday and Thursday, that was my lowest point. But, having the nurse come in and assist me with changing my bandages and showering, and finally unwrapping the results really gave me a mental boost. All in all he took a little less than he had marked for my legs, a whole inch more than he'd marked for my arms, and a full 3 liters of fat from liposuction. I'm very pleased with the results. Feel free to look at the attached photos, ask questions, tell me your thoughts. Thanks BP fam!

Thank you, and you're welcome. I try to be as honest as possible so people know what they're getting into. I'm doing okay now, I've stopped taking my pain meds and I'm here recovering in a hotel in Monterrey until Friday, then I get to go HOME. I'm excited about home. I am hobbling a bit but probably need to take it more easy and not walk around so much, but I get pretty bored in my room. Some random nerve pain sometimes, especially in my legs, and where the compression garments end there's some pressure and rubbing which is sensitive.

I don't like to talk about the first couple of days, I was in a pretty dark place. Since yesterday, though, the pain has become manageable and is improving dramatically. It was the same with my gastric sleeve, I didn't want to be alive those first couple of days.

I feel like this has come at the worst possible time in my life. I'm losing my health insurance in the US due to quitting my job to start a new life in Canada. Regardless, getting plastics covered in my case would be a long shot. So, 120 lbs lost now, and it's getting hard to stuff these baggy thighs into my jeans. The sag is strong with me. Looking to Mexico or other countries for low-cost thigh lifts. However, it's proven difficult to find doctors that specialize in this or that show before and afters. Most of their websites are geared towards the more popular post bariatric ops, like tummy tucks and boob jobs. Can anyone give a reference specifically for thigh lifts outside of the US/Canada? Failing that, a surgeon near Toronto that may offer low cost services?

Do you mind sharing where you got your work done? I'm looking for a good reference for thigh work in Mexico.

Wanted to add my 2 cents. The exercise is going to make you feel so much different vs not exercising.. and if that means a bit of a stall at first, it's well worth it. I started an intense training of Krav Maga 3x weekly supplemented with 1-2 days a week of CrossFit at 8 months out. I felt flipping fantastic. Did I stall out? You betcha. But after 4-6 weeks, the weight started melting off again. I'm at 12 months now and had to stop exercising this month because of procedures I've had done on my legs, and I miss it SO much. And guess what? I've stalled out again. I have lost that really intense energy that I had for those glorious few months, and I can't wait to get back in it. I strongly encourage you to work out, find something that you truly love (for me it took quite some time to find my love for martial arts). The benefits far outweigh any stall you may temporarily have, and I believe your chances for long term success go up dramatically.

@@Tami_819 love GORUCK, which cadre is your trainer?

Perfect in vanilla or banana shakes. I love this stuff. Protip, use a magic bullet or blender to blend together with shake to get rid of the lumps. Nom nom

100 lbs, gone forever. I still have 5 months til the end of my 12 month loss grace period. Really looking forward to seeing how far my sleeve can help me go! Happy Thanksgiving, all! HW: 293 CW: 193 GW: 185 Sleeved 4/14/2016

Great work! Enjoy your vacation and even more, the little souvenir you'll be bringing home with you!

That is unfortunate.. but understanding! It's not for the feint of heart, or vertigo-prone.

I'm using the word מוקדשת. which is the female version of set apart/consecrated/sanctified. I'm using these guys: http://www.hebrew-tattoos.com/our-works I'll definitely post photos when it's done!

How about Angel's Landing in Utah? That's on my list..

My reward for hitting 230 is skydiving (haven't done it yet, but it's coming!). I've always said I'd get a tattoo when I hit 200, and I went ahead and paid for the art a few weeks ago. It should be done sometime next month. Really stoked, it'll be my first! It's Hebrew calligraphy for "set apart". It'll be on the back of my neck/spine. I've got 18 lbs to my final goal of 159. Maybe I'll reward myself with a thigh lift?

I love Dr. Weiner. He's got a lot of good informative videos on YouTube.

10 months out, back to back and face to face comparison. 116 lbs down.

Age: 34 Personality: INFJ Weight: 288 lbs Relationship status: Committed Location: Florida Health: Good, but not much stamina That's me, in a nutshell. My favorite thing to do is to travel and explore everything around me. I'm insatiably curious and love interacting with different cultures. I've traveled to several countries with various missionary and relief projects because I believe in spending my resources helping those less fortunate. I love hiking in the woods, zip-lining between mountains, scuba diving, getting intentionally lost in new cities on foot, and meeting new people. Skydiving is on my bucket list. I'm fiercely independent and stubbornness is my fatal flaw. History: I've done all of these things overweight. I've lost up to 60 lbs (twice), my lowest adult weight being 220 at one time. I felt marvelous and my energy was unending. The weight stayed off for about two years, but when it came back brought another 10 or 20 on top of what my highest had previously been. Recently, the scale tipped 296, something I never thought I'd see. I was mortified that I'd let myself get that high, as I'd started feeling the physical signs of that much weight: Being physically uncomfortable with that much bulge (sitting comfortably), energy sapping quickly, sore feet after just a couple of hours of exploring New York. Knees painful when climbing stairs. I noticed in myself the last few months that I've started withdrawing from social situations and meeting new people out of embarrassment over how I look. I had an internet friend visit the states from the UK recently, and I wanted to fly out to meet her. I didn't. I want to visit my dad back home in Minnesota since it's been six years. I'm not. I've tried two dieting attempts in the past year. I lost 12 lbs doing very strict low carb, which was confusing to me since usually I dropped weight quicker with healthy eating. My doctor explained it as my body becoming resistant to low carb dieting, since I've tried it and failed so many times before. I knew I needed help this time, so I made an appointment with bariatrics to talk about getting put on a dieting pill -- they had another solution for me. Present: Long story short, I've come to the conclusion that the sleeve will be the help I need to really make a lifestyle change. I know it won't be easy, and due to my stubbornness, I'm not used to doing things the easy way. I'm ready. My excitement is growing. I've been stalking and lurking this forum and youtube for the past two weeks, learning all I can. Here're a few things that really were the tipping point for this decision: -Getting rid of my PCOS. I want to bear children sometime soon! I know PCOS will complicate that. - Airplane seat belts. I fly every 3 weeks or so, and having a seat belt not fit was mortifying. About 50% of seat belts fit me, depending on the plane. If they don't, I tuck the buckle under my belly. Also, seats in general.. not comfortable. -Ahem.. intimate positions. I really enjoy sex, and have been increasingly sad that I'm not able to do the things I once could. -Social embarrassment/afraid to meet people -Meeting my boyfriend's parents is sometime in the near future (They're Asian. Even though my boyfriend is also overweight, he's dating a white girl.. and a fat one at that. Two strikes against me in Asian culture) -Wedding pictures.. nuff said. -I've always dreamed of a trip around the world, and I finally have the funds for it. How much fun would it be if I tire easily, though? -How far away is diabetes with my sugar addiction and weight, really? -I completed a GoRuck (physical endurance) Light challenge this summer and loved it. I want to do more. Things I just can't wait for: - Stamina! Being able to explore all day and not have to stop to rest my aching feet and knees. - Traveling comfortably. Airplane belts that fit. Not having to squeeze between people in a restaurant. - Forgoing that first assessment when entering a room where I look around to see if I'm the fattest person there... you know what I mean. - Summer dresses!! -Cute shoes and cute clothes. Not having to shop in Lane Bryant for everything. -If I need something, being able to simply go to the store and get it. Explaining to my boyfriend why I couldn't just go into the mall and get a winter coat was embarrassing. Not being able to buy emergency clothes in Central America.. ugh. Packing light and buying clothes wherever I travel to would be a real possibility. - -Theme park rides. I love roller coasters, and the last time I went, it was touch and go whether or not I fit in the seat. -Boots that fit my calves! -Skydiving -Being able to do more than a couple sets of stairs without my knees starting to hurt -Enough room to snuggle comfortably on the couch with my boyfriend -GoRuck Tough!! Anyway.. that's me! My name is Rio and I'm starting this journey now. I'm telling very few people in my life..my direct coworkers, my wonderful, supportive boyfriend, and a couple of close friends. I'm not close with most of my family, and I know there will be a lot of judgment there, so I've chosen to not tell them. I'm trying not to go overboard and over-prepare.. already looking at bariatric plates, collagen cream for loose skin.. lol. When I'm excited, I prepare (I've mostly contained myself, but I did try a Protein drink powder and I bought a cute bento bowl for my lunches). I'm about two months away from surgery with no firm date set yet. I'll be getting sleeved at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. I am just one EGD and two classes away from my workup being completed.

Measurement changes 10 months post op: Weight: 177 Bust: 48 37.5 Natural waist: 44 32 Belly button/waist: 50.5 38.5 Arm: 17.5 14 Mid thigh: 29 21 Hips/widest: 53.5 38

One year ago vs now. This comparison really floored me!

At this point, I wasn't really exercising. Right now I'm doing martial arts (Krav Maga) 3x week and cross fit 1-2x week. Really love it.

This is normal and likely to last for a few more days. In my first week or so, I was getting a gurgle every sip I took. Just eat slowly. Picture your stomach the size of a banana, but incredibly swollen from the trauma. It takes time for soft foods and liquid to work its way down into the bottom of your sleeve when it's swollen like it is, and it will displace air. As the swelling goes down, you'll experience less gurgling and be able to eat and drink more at once.

Your poor tummy is healing and is still traumatized. The first couple of months will be all over the place as the healing process occurs. Your journey is just starting you'll experience stalls and periods of time where you're losing sizes but no scale loss - try not to stress while it's happening and you'll have a much better time! You sound like you're right on track and experiencing a normal first month!