Gerri

Hi Shannon, I had my surgery done on the 11th September and am 99.9% sure you came in the following morning and were in the middle bed opposite me. I remember thinking how young you were and right to do it and not wait and I think you may have had lipo done previously? I have my card from ACS and the surgeon was Mr Bernd Ablassmaier. The band is definitely the minimiser the hospital group told me that when I went to Belfast for one of my fills. Glad things are going well for you in Australia. I was delighted with my Tummy Tuck, I felt even after losing 9 stone that I was still carrying the baggage so when they removed 5lbs of skin it was great:thumbup:. The web site is great to see how other people are doing and to get advice and even to vent. Take care. Ger

HI Shannon, I have a feeling you came in to ACS the morning after I had my surgery I had mine done on 11/09/2007 . I assume they gave us all the same type of band which is a Minimiser. ACS were a joke but I have since dealt with Dr Chris De Bruynes team and can only praise them on their service. Hope things go well for you in Australia.

Hi Geri and all, Geri, good luck with your trip, things will go great for you. Nerves are normal, I was in tears before my band op and before my tummy tuck but wouldn't change either for the world. Brenners, it would be fab if you could get the byepass if thats what you want at no further charge. Like yourself I forked out €10,000 to ACS but I have been lucky and no complications to date, I do believe its just been luck and not the standard of care (ha,ha) that ACS delivered. I'm going for a fill on the 6th of May with Frederick as I have had virtually no restriction from the 2.5ml he put in post surgery. I'm feeling good though and the tummy tuck recovery has goine suprisingly well. Things will work out for you you have done fantastic. Bye for now. Ger

Hi Dee and all, I have to admit I was suprised at how little pain I had after the tummy tuck. I am just over two weeks done and had a check up appointment today. Everything is healing nicely, no infection and no pain just a little tenderness depending on how careful or not I am being. My band had been empty for the two weeks so had a partial refill today, due to the type of band I have Frederic was only able to put 2.5ml in today. I am hoping this will be enough to kick start me or stabilise me. Have to say I did enjoy the two weeks or being able to eat "normally", tried not to go mad but hey I am human and needed to build myself up after the surgery:rolleyes2:. Sounds as you like myself have no regrets in having the band and that things are going well for you. Take care. Gerri

Hi folks, I am just back from Belgium since yesterday:smile2:. I had an abdomnioplasty (tummy tuck) with an excellent surgeon called Dr Dedonker. I saw Dr Chris De Bruyne and 3 of the patients he had fitted band to on Tuesday also. The hospital is spotless, the staff excellent with excellent English and the care faultless. I booked my surgery, hotel, taxis etc through Frederic in ECFS and again couldn't compliment him enough. The surgeon removed 2.5kg of skin in two sections each measuring 10"!! He said it was the hugest tummy he had worked on and after dedating this I decided it was a compliment :thumbup:on my weight loss. 7stone 4lbs down since my lapband and 8 stone 11lbs down since my heaviest. My band had to be emptied for the op and won't be refilled for another couple of weeks so I have to try build myself up and be sensible at the same time. Hope ye are all well. Gerri

Hi July, Lil, Brenners, Ailbhe and all. July my friend had his surgery done with Dr Chris De Bruyne in Belgium and had nothing but praise for the whole set up. I believe it was around €4,200 for the surgery, the hotel stay and the transers from the airport to the hotel and hospital. I think if you google Dr Chris De Bruyne you will get the contact details for him. Ailbhe, I am feeling good apart from a chest infection that I have just gone to the doc about despite coughing for two weeks! Glad to hear things are going well for you. Brenners, hope you are coping well without your band, you strike me as a determined woman and I think you will do great. Lil, well done on your recent weight loss. Glad to see posting again.:thumbup: Gerri

Hi Dee, Welcome to the site, I had my surgery with ACS :smile2: on 11th September 2007. I have never regretted having the surgery just my choice of provider. I have a band with an 8ml capacity and I think there is about 4-4.5ml in it at the moment. I'm happy with the restriction and with just 1lb to go to 7stone down I am happy with the loss. Even at this stage I am still learning to work with the band and eat things that I know I shouldn't and then wonder why I'm feeing uncomfortable or stuck:scared2:. Hope things continue to go well for you. I will be dealing with Dr Chris's team when I go over to Belgium for my Tummy Tuck have only heard good reports about them. Ger

Hi guys, its gone very quiet again.. I've been in touch with Frederik regarding getting a tummy tuck, hope to get done the second week in March in Belgium. I'm trying to sort our respite for my Dad who lives with us at the moment. Brenners, hows things have you had your band removed yet? Ailbhe, hope things are still going well for you. I'm happy enough with my level of restriction at the moment, 1lb to lose and I'll be 7 stone down since the band was fitted and and 8 1/2 stone down from my heaviest. Lets start posting again guys, I for one find it a great support to be in contact with others who know what I'm talking about. Ger

Hi Brenners/Lil/Emerald and all. Brenners, just read your post and am nearly in tears on your behalf. All I can say is like yourself the only success I have had losing weight is with the band. I know I haven't met you but I get the impression that you are a strong person and that you will be able to face getting a new band fitted when everything heals properly. I am meeting with Frederik who is Dr Chirs De Bruynes right hand man next Thursday for a consultation about having a Tummy Tuck done. Did some research and they came back with a good inclusive price and have only read good things about them. Friend of mine just back from Belgium on Saturday having had the band fitted by them and said the hospital and care was top notch. Best of luck Brenners on Wednesday, your luck will change for the better. Please stay in touch on the site. xxx Ger

Hi Ailbhe, Thanks for that info, I have been in contact via email with a group in Belgium but I think I'd be more comfortable contacting Dr Chris. Well done you, 4lbs down in a week, go girl! Keep up the good work. Gerri

Hi Lil, Glad you are back even if it is minus the port. I'm sure Dr Chris did the best thing for you unlike ACS who just took our money. You seem to have the right attitude for going forward and I'm sure you are going to do great. Could you pass me on the email address that would be great and I'd be happier seeing someone who is recommended. Look after yourself, stay in touch. Gerri

Hi Flirtylass, Thanks for your reply, I had a quick look at the site for the hospital in Leeds. I've emailed a place in Belguim and the Harley Medical Group as well. Clane hospital are looking for €7,400 for Tummy Tuck alone! Seems a bit steep. Will do some more research and see how I go. Silly question:blushing: now was the recovery for the surgery very painful? Gerri

Hi Brenners/Ailbhe/Lil and all. Brenners, the stomach bug hit us as well, my Dad who lives with us since last May, my husband and both kids got the bug, I decided that I wasn't going to get it:unsure:. Glad you are on the mend and that you have got your date for your procedure. Ailbhe, welcome back, you have done great I remember meeting you with Elsie and Coco good while back. You must be thrilled with yourself. I am pleased with how things are going, hasn't been all smooth sailing but I have been luckier than a lot of others. Lil, thinking of you and hoping that things are/have gone well for you in Belgium. I'm thinking of having a tummy tuck done, does anyone know someonoe who has had one done or recommend someone? Not sure if Chris De Bruyne only does Gastric surgery? Hope ye are all well. Ger

Hi Lil Best of luck with your trip to Brussels, from what I have read and heard you are in good hands with Chris De Bruyne. I understand your anger with ACS we all got a raw deal from them. :w00t: Hope it all goes well and you are on the road to recovery quickly.:thumbup: Ger

Hi Brenners, Lil, Kila and all. I too was banded with ACS 11th September 2007. Like yourselves the after care was non existent as they went bust shortly after that. Have to say that I consider myself one of the lucky ones as apart from an infection early on, the stress and the money I have been relatively problem free. I travelled North last Summer to the Hospital Group and had a fill done and didn't have another one done again until October and had reflux after it, had it taken out and another fill in December. Think I have 5ml in an 8ml band and hit the scales this as with the first number as an 11 for the first time in about 25years or more. Have gone from a size 22/24 to a 14. Fingers crossed things continue to go well. Yours was the first post I read Brenners when I was doing my research and had noticed that you had disappeared off the forum. Glad to see you back:smile2:. By the sound of it you have made a good choice going with Gravitas, keep us posted on how that goes for you. Bye for now. Ger

Hi Roe, Great to hear you so upbeat, glad things are working out for you, you went through the mill but your attitude is right, there was no point in being angry with the band just because ACS were crap. Flirtylass, that is some weight loss in 5 weeks, well done. Angie, you are doing great, hope it continues to go well for you. I want to lose another couple of stone if possible and then get a tummy tuck done, have had a look on the web and got some information. Yet again Ireland is so much more expensive than the rest of Europe. Belgium and Prague look good, but not sure yet. Hope ye all continue to get on well.

Hi all, Ailbhe, glad to see that you are doing so well, isn't it great when things start to get loose instead of tight! I'm happy with my progress but I'm at the stage when I need a Tummy Tuck. After the disaster that we know as ACS I'm very dubious about choosing someone to do it. The cost is an issue to. Has anyone had one done and who would ye recommend? Hope everyone is doing well. Ger

Hi guys, Its been well over a month since I've been on the site, things have been a bit crazy. Seems as if there is a lot going on. I'm still happy with how I'm doing since the fill I had in Belfast in July. I'm 35kilos (77lbs down) and feel good. Finding it a bit odd seeing the new me emerging and doing a lot of What If's. Hope you are all keeping well and those of you that had trouble with leakages etc are sorted and on the road to recovery. Bye for now. Ger

Hi Guys, sounds as if the fills went well for most of you. Skinny, sorry to hear about your band.. what a bummer. Roe, Elsie etc glad no cancelled flights etc this time. Ailbhe, you are doing fab on all fronts, you do what feels right for you, all we can do is make the decision that is right for us at any given time. I'm doing well, the last fill I got (in Belfast) has made a difference, I'm 68lbs down, 2lbs off 5 stone. Can't quite believe it sometimes. Coco, hope all going well for you.

Hi Coco and all. It was me who was told 2 weeks to get the file and notes etc. Needless to say that was about 4 weeks ago. I phoned again last week to find out a few things. 1. What happens now that I have travelled to Belfast and had a fill, am I now cut loose from The Hospital Group? Leanne said she would find out for me??? and 2. Where are my notes that I requested, Leanne told me that the notes etc from Owenstown were put in Storage when Owenstown closed and that it would take tiime but that Ashling was looking after it... Glad I didn't start holding my breath! On a brighter note am now 66lbs down so approaching the 5 stone mark. The last fill seems to have made a difference, just have to get my head to be on the same page as my body and make the right food choices. Hope ye are all well its a little quiet around here lately.