juliegeraci

Hi Karey, I am feeling really good now..just a little tired. I'm up and around on my own now. Thanks for the tip on washing the binder. It definitely needs it. I should get my drain out mid to late next week. I am thrilled with my stomach. I can't believe how flat it is. I am now wearing baggy 14/16 pajama bottoms. So who knows I may be in a size 14. I'm okay with 16 though. I am taking the liquid tylenol with codeine right now just to make sure I'm not in any pain. I do take 1 vicodin only at night to help me sleep. I'll post some pics as soon as I can get a pair of underwear on. Julie

You are correct. It is just like fixing a flat tire. Its a little bit thicker than saline and yes, it does work. You might want to look it up on the web and take it to your doctor.

Yes, it can take a while for good restriction. It took me about 6 months before I felt good restriction. Yes fills are a pain in the butt but so worth it. Good luck with your decision.

I went in 20 lbs from goal. I look really good now. My stomach is completely flat now. Its so exciting.

My tummy tuck and thigh lift is scheduled for 4/21. Anyone else in April and/or May time frame?

I'm in Northern CA so its more expensive here. It was $11,500. That included anastesia, hospital outpatient and follow up care.

Hi Ladies, I am doing really well. Finally went to the bathroom today for the first time so my tummy feels better. I am still a little tired. I am really glad I have one more week off of work. My tummy and thighs look really good. When my facial bruising goes away I'll post my before and after pics. Julie

Hi Karey, thanks for the post. My chin looks awesome. I had a fat pocket under there that he just lippo'd out. It is flat as a pancake now. I just need to wear the chin guard at night for the next 2-3 weeks. Its bruised pretty heavily but worth it. I feel really good today. I did get my period so its kind of interesting trying to figure out how to handle that with the brace and everything. I timed it so I wouldn't have it the day of surgery. My pain tolerance is really good. Much easier to get out of bed now. I am not bleeding very much from the thigh incisions so that is a good thing. I'm on meds every 4-6 hours just in case. I take the tylenol with codeine during the day and the vicodin at night to help me sleep. Tomorrow or Saturday I am going to try and wash my hair in the kitchen sink. I can't shower until the last drain comes out next week. Thanks for the post. Always feels good that people care. Julie

I had one drain taken out today. I can't believe how flat my stomach is! I love my new belly button. He said he used the old one but I didn't realize that until I spoke to him. He did the muscle repair. I have no double chin at all. He lippo'd it out and I have a face strap that I now have to wear a few weeks at night. Its completely gone. Feeling good today. It did hurt to get the drain out though.

Does anyone have a fill doctor in Northern CA that takes insurance? I was banded by Dr. Mckeen in San Jose last year and I have UHC. They covered my surgery because he was a specialist but will not cover fills. Does anyone have a recommendation?

My thigh lift was $8600 roughly. I think if I had gotten super skinny beforhand and had a lot more loose skin he would have done the incision to the knee. I had just enough fat and tissue where he was able to lippo cut and suture. He also slight;y lippoed the outer thigh. I weigh 220 lbs preop so naturally I do have more fat then other do. My goal is 200 thogh. I'm fine in a size 14/16. I never set out to be a 10. Tomorrow is my doctor's appointment. My chin is really bruised. Hurts to get up but I am hanging in there. JUlie

I only have 2 drains. At least one is coming out tomorrow. He takes them out when they are under 30ccs of liquid/blood. I am not in any discomfort laying down. The only discomfort I have is trying to sit on the toilet with the thigh lift incisions. My husband has been such a trooper. Today I am going to the bathroom more than yesterday. I figure my body needed the liquids yesterday or something along those lines. My tummy tuck isn't bad at all. I did notice that my belly button is quite high. Not sure exactly why but I trust my doctor did the right thing. He is in San Jose, CA. His name is Howard Sutkins. He is Board certified and teaches at Stanford University. I am thrilled with the thigh lift and the way he was able to pull the skin up without the incision down the thigh to the knee. That is why I went with him. Thank you all for the posts. Not exactly sure when I"ll post pics with the binder still on but hopefully within a week or so. He took 6.2 lbs off of my stomach! That is almost a sack of potatoes! Can't wait to get a fill in the next 10 days or so. I do have more restriction today and less hunger but overall my hunger has been pretty bad since my unfill 2 weeks ago. I gained 9 lb s. I weighed in a 220 at the surgical center yesterday. My goal is 200 so hopefully when the swelling goes down I'll be down to 210-215 or so. That will bring me just a couple months from goal as I typically lose 1 lb a week when I'm filled. Keep posting. I love to chat. JUlie

I am also bleeding from the belly button. Is that normal? How did you wash your under garmet?

Hi Karey,I had my surgery yesterday and I had a couple questions for ou. How long did you have your drains in. I am going to probably get one of them out tomorrow since I am not draining on the right side. Also, was it strange seeing our belly button for the first time? It seems kind of high to me and I was just wondering if it is just because I am use to being fat. lol

Yeah, I had no idea what to expect as far as the belly button goes but it is defiinitely higher. It will take some getting use to. It may show when I wear jeans for sure. Thanks everyone for the posts. I am in bed with my son's wireless computer so its really nice to have some friends out in the cyber world!

My thgh incision is the worse. It goes about 4 inches around my thigh near my crotch. That is what is giving me most of the pain when I get out of bed plus trying to sit to use the bathroom. I am still draining out about 75ccs of blood on my left side and the right side can come out tomorrow I believe. I go in to see him tomorrow. I'm also bleeding from the belly button. My belly button is really high now so I don't know if that is what I should expect with a skinny tummy. lol I've never had one that high.

Suz,how much can you consume at once? With a good fill I typically can only eat 2 oz at a time and I lose 2 lb per week. I am never hungry. The first thing I would revisit is your consumption and then the exercise portion. If you can move a little more, lose your hunger and only eat small portions you should lose. I would start with consumption first.

When my band is tight and I am losing 1 lb a week I am never hungry and typically only eat 2 oz at a time. If you can lose on 4 oz it may be better nutritionally however. I have to eat like a bird to lose. Good luck.

I haven't had my implants yet but there is still a lot of controversy between saline and silicone. My doctor is board certified and teaches at Stanford. He still doesn't do silicone, only saline. Probably because of all the hoopla in the 80s and 90s. I hear that Silicone is a lot more natural feeling however. Good luck with your decision.

Thank you. The only thing strange so far is my belly button is really high now. Hopefully it will go down with the swelling.

Yesterday was my big day. I am a little sore but nothing that bad. I am on the tylenol with codeine only now. vicodin was good yesterday. I slept really well. My stomach is definitely flat. He removed 6.2 lbs from my abdomen. My thighs look better too but I will not see the true outcome until I can get into the girdle next week. Thanks everyone for the posts. I am healing nicely. My husband is a Godsend. I am ready for a glass of wine already! That is how good I feel. I hear it makes the worldy difference having a good anastesiologist. He said he uses a ton of pains meds during the procedures so lets see what tomorrow brings. I think day 3 might be the most difficult. Right now I am very comfortable. I get one of my drains out tomorrow so wish me luck. Julie

Hi everyone, today is day 2. Yesterday was the worse day. I am off the vocodin now and only on the tylenol with codeine. I am only sore when I have to move around and use the toilet. The thigh lift incision is the worst. He removed 6.2 from my abdomen. My stomach looks really good so far. Tomorrow I go in and he removes one of the drains, the other next week. As soon as I feel fit I'll post my before and after pics. I am resting comfortably and feel really good. The chin strap is a little odd since he did the lippo on my chin. I am bruised on the chin now. I feel really good, just a little sore. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. I know I can't wait to see my flat tummy. Thighs look good but they are just wrapped in ace bandages now. I probably will not see the great results until I can get into my girdle next week. I'll be checking lapbandtalk frequently so wish me luck. Thanks again. Julie

I am in my bathrobe ready to hit the surgical center in about 20 minutes. I feel really good this a.m. I took 2 Valium to help my nerves. Haven't peed much this a.m. which is the typical sign of nerves! I'll post again when I'm feeling up to it. My only fear at this point is just that my pain will be under control so wish me luck. Julie

Thank you all for your kind thoughts. I am very nervous today about everything. Thankfully he gave me some valium I can take in the a.m. along with my anti nauseau medication. I can't believe my jelly roll will be gone tomorrow, and my double chin! I will post when I am feeling up to it. Love all of you! Julie

From losing 100 lbs my PS wants to suck the fat out of my chin. I guess you need to wear a chin strap for at least a week afterwards as well. Has anyone seen good results with this? How long did the strap need to be worn?