Pushin10

I know there are probably other posts about this topic but wanted to throw it out in the men's room. Has anyone had a tummy tuck or any other kind of PS after they have lost their weight. Just looking for some advice, cost estimates. I guess I did not think that I would have this much flab around my stomach, chest and under my arms. No matter what I do at the gym, it is not helping and am going to resort to PS in about 2 months. Thanks for any info.

I just got done with my initial consult with Dr. James Kadi in Dallas and he has quoted $12,500 for abdominoplasty and a chest reduction. He quoted a second surgery for my arms at $6,700 so I would imagine just the abdominoplasty would be around 8k by itself. This includes an overnight stay at the hospital, all initial and followup visits, bloodwork, hospital costs and anesthesia. I have a friend who used Tricare and they covered her plastic surgery. I think that she had to go through some hoops but it may be worth you checking into and getting the ball rolling now if that is something that you want.

I re-read your original post and by the way I was under the same impression as you about the skin going back in place but unfortunately in my case it has not and I do cardio 7 days a week and alternate weight lifting upper body and lower body every other day. I am pleased with my rapid weight loss over the last 11 months and would have probably not stuck to the program if the weight was not falling off quickly so if I have to have an additional surgery because of the excess skin that is perfectly ok with me. Don't get me wrong, I look great with my clothes on...lol I just wish that I had known about the flabby skin issue earlier or someone had told me because I would have started saving money much sooner.

Dallas PS gave me a range for the abdominoplasty from 6k to 8k and Shreveport PS was in the range of 8k to 12k. I estimate 6k for each additional item bring me up to about 20k in total but the average that I have seen in the surgery forum for having just you stomach done is around 10k. I will shoot you an email when I get all the final financial numbers over the next 3 weeks.

My therapist told me to set a realistic goal and I started at 332 lbs at 6'1" and decided 230 lbs would be a good goal about 100 lbs but when I hit that, I was not satisfied so set another goal of 200 lbs and may not be happy with that but we will see. I don't pay attention to those charts, and a goal is something you need to have but my therapist also said DO NOT over estimate your goal because you will set yourself up for failure.

I know exactly what you mean, we both started around the same weight and are both at about the same weight now. I do sit-ups, crunches, 3 abdominal weight machines at the gym and yes the gut has gotten smaller but not enough for me so I have scheduled 3 consults with plastic surgeons to see what we can do about getting rid of it.

For your first exercise I found the treadmill the easiest but my knees would kill me so the trainer switched me to the elyptical...I could only do 5 minutes at first but now it ranges from 45 to 60 minutes per day and much easier on your knees. I would wait 2 to 3 months post op before beginning weight lifting. Some people say that weight lifiting may cause you to not lose the weight as fast and get discouraged and I did wait about 6 months before hitting the weights. My current work out schedule is below as an example: Day 1 - Cardio and upper body strength training Day 2 - Cardio Day 3 - Cardio and lower body strength training Day 4 - Cardio Day 5 - same as day 1 Day 6 - Cardio Day 7 - same as day 3

I am at the end of the spectrum (29) but I have 3 consults scheduled for abdominoplasty, lipo in my chest, neck lift and maybe the arms. I feel if you are more than 100lbs over your goal weight you will need PS. Good luck.

Dejavu...I was talking with one of my friends earlier this morning who also has the band and is getting ready for TT. She said that the PS wanted the band fully defilled before the surgery. I was not aware this was part of the process but if they want it defilled there must be a reason

Down 107 lbs in 10 months, slacked off over the summer for some reason, eating terrible, etc but back on the band wagon, doing two a days at the gym to lose 25 lbs in two months (one year anniversary) before I go in for some nip/tuck!

I set up an initial consult with two plastic surgeons in Shreveport, LA and one of them gave me a quote in the range of 8K to 12k depending on the amount of work needed. I have no clue what the standard is but had a friend that had hers done in Dallas for 12K.

100 pounds in 6 months but started having a few adult beverages in the last 3 months and weight loss has stopped, gotta get back on the waggon! Exercise is an absolute must.

I enjoy the social impact of being thinner than I have ever been, which has made me much more outgoing. I don't have any problems drinking burbon or wine while everyone else is drinking beer. There are so many different cocktails out there that you should be able to find an alternative drink that you enjoy. Good luck!

Doctor told me one month and at 31 days I strolled into the local bar. I have had no problems with booz however I do not drink beer. I typically drink bourbon on the rocks, wine, perfect manhattans, martinis and a few yeager bombs but not all at one time. But as the other guys said be ready because you will not be able to handle as much alcohol as before. I mean you can still drink it but you will be totally wasted if you drink pre-surgery amounts.

Took my old suits to my tailor and was almost able to wrap them around my entire body. The tailor laughed and said there was nothing that he could do with them. Lately I think that I am going to have to join shopaholics anonymous instead of over-eaters anonymous. I love being able to shop in the normal people section and so does Visa.

I am planning on using Dr Simeon Wall Jr from Shreveport. I have a friend who went to him and has had good sucess and my cousin also works for Dr. Wall in his recovery center. I have already started my consultation 6 months after my lapband but do not plan on having the surgery until I am about 1 year out from the Lapband.

I was never on beta blockers. My Dr only told me to take a multi vitamin and sugar free tums for calcium

I also struggle with this constantly. A little thing that I have done when I feel the need to pig out or eat something unhealthy, I punish (maybe the wrong word) myself by going to the gym even if I have already been that day. Believe me 45 minutes on the elyptical will cure that craving. Might not work for everyone but it has helped me. My mind now tells me if you want taco bell you have to go the gym first.

My insurance would have covered it four years ago, and I had the mentality that I can do this on my own at 330 lbs, but then I changed companies and insurance no longer covered the band. I decided to finally have it done last year with or without insurance, and I have to say it has been the best 15k that I ever spent. I justify it by figuring up how much money I don't spend on food now.

I was back in the air two weeks after my surgery with no problems and have flown many times since then. I agree that the best method is to shop at the grocery once you get to your destination and avoid airport and fast food. When I travel I usually stay at a hotel suite the ones that have a kitchen so I can cook my own meals. Good luck!

I was fairly restricted after surgery and did not really need a fill but decided to do one anyway and see what it was like (especially since the Dr paid for them for the first 90 days) I had my first fill about 6 weeks post ops of 4 cc but nothing would go down after that, not even water so 2 cc were removed and I really don't think that I am going to have any more. The nurse said that I probably did not need the first fill to begin with but I spoke with a lady sitting next to me in the Dr office and she got 4 cc that day with no problems. Good luck to you but I guess the best recomendation is that everyone is different and it will be trial and error til you find that sweet spot.

I am mostly a wine drinker, but lately I have been drinking Crown Royal with a splash of water and lemon. I have come to really enjoy this as my alternative to beer and good for those bars that don't serve wine.

Just give it a few weeks and the real key is exercise. If you are not sweating the lapband is not going to work. I think that I only lost 10 pounds or so in the first three weeks because I was not exercising as much and was on the liquids which pumps more calories into you than real food. Believe me if you pump up that exercise routine the weight will fall off!

I have gone through the same things. Before surgery I was a heavy drinker, smoked a pack a day, gambled too much and overate...just about everything that is bad I use to do. I allow myself one day every two weeks to enjoy my old vices but in moderation and you have to fight it every day. This seems to work for me but if you are having problems I would recommend consulting your Psychiatrist, joining a support group, talking on LBT.