Corliss

Hey Long to be thin, I did indeed post my pics. I have three albums up, lol! I am posting my stats and time table here beneath my sig. The album with my family shows me after loosing band and shortly before rebanding and plastics. I included some pics that show the trouble spots in the plastics album and the most recent pics were made sunday. Thanks, Corliss 373 pre band diet Oct 2005 356 day or banding Nov 17, 2005 165 +/- day of band removal (below goal) Sept. 19, 2008 High wt post band removal was 235 around Dec. 15, 2008 Day of re banding 219.8 June 18, 2009 Last week 215 lbs Goal 170(hopefully by Christmas)

That was me, but after communicating with the doctor about it since writing Dr. Schulman, I understand what he did and it may have had better results than the alternative. Dr. Cardenas advises waiting to see how it all settles out and then if I need a fix, he will fix it. I think that is the same way any ethical surgeon in the US or anywhere else would work it. He did indeed lift the tails of the eyebrows though it did not appear that way to me, this resulted in the shape of my eyebrow being flatter and this combined with the loose skin caused me to think I had not been lifted but only had the muscle weakened. He explained that this was not the case. I do think he was a bit too conservative, but since he is willing to fix it, I certainly retain my confidence in him. A coronal lift would probably have resulted in an extremely high forhead which I would not have liked either. I am looking into alternatives here and weighing their advice and costs against the cost of traveling back to Monterrey and staying there in order to have Dr. Cardenas tweek it himself. If I decide to stay here and have it done it will not be due to any lack of confidence in his ability. I just wanted to make it clear about that. Thanks, Corliss

HI, I used Dr. Alexandro Cardenas in Monterrey. You can get in contact with him through Ready4Achange.com. I had a full face and neck lift with tweaks on my lips and ears. I had brachioplasty also. I paid around 7000 or so for all of it, it was a bit more but I can't remember exactly how much. I do know that his office staff will negotiate prices with you and he told me himself that the ears can be done as a part of the facelift without extra charge but the office staff charged me extra. We had a discussion about that and he ended up giving me a price break on the fat in my lips and face. So make sure you negotiate what ever before you go down there then if their are additional proceedures you want you will be sitting on your lowest price for the main work and negotiate the add ons. They take very good care of you. They have a driver that will get you back and forth to apts. but i think that he charges extra when he can. The nursing staff there is very welll trained. I met one who spoke perfect english as does the office manager. Dr Cardenas speaks excellent english and Dr Lozano who is the anesthesiologist went to high school in Houston and speaks perfect english with a southern accent to boot. The required stay for face lift is 10 days post. I stayed in the clinic one night and the hotel the rest. I hired a sitter through them named Angela who will act as your driver if you hire her. She is also a great nurse and tour guide. She charges $100 for 24 hours and $50 for a 12 hour shift. She does not speak much english but understands it quiet well. She is working on speaking it. She does not have a degree in nursing but gives excellent care for plastic surgery. I cannot say enough good things about Angela, she is skilled, smart and funny. So we had a lot in common. I have included her pics and the staffs pics in my plastic surgery album. You will want her services for the first couple of days unless you have someone who is a nurse accompany you. Just caring family is not sufficient support for a couple of days after plastic surgery. If you know anyone who needs banding the have a wonderful bariatric surgeon in Monterrey, Dr. Miguel Zapata. He did my rebanding. That was why I was in Mexico and had plastics there rather than in states. Although plastics are cheaper there, the cost of transportation, room and board and meals have to be factored in. I guess it just depends entirely on how it all stacks up in comparison to what you would pay in the states. I am not 100% satisfied with the work on my forehead. He was a bit conservative there and I am not crazy about the results, but he explained why he did it and we are talking about the possibility of him doing some revision next summer, but it is too early to say for sure that I will need it. Overall I love the outcome. I don't know that I would have liked the results if he had done a more drastic proceedure on my forhead. The difference in where I was and where I am now overall is amazing! I would defianately go back if I had it to do over again. Feel free to pm me if you want more specific information. If you contact ready for a change , tell Judy I reffered you. Good luck, Corliss

Hi, I just got back from Mexico having my lap band replaced and my brachioplasty and face lift. This was my 3rd medical trip to Mx. I go to Monterrey. The care that you receive there is phenomenal. Maybe you could arrange for hubby to fly down with you for a consult. It is pretty amazing and he would be much more comfortable if he saw the facilities and met the doctor and staff. They are first rate. Corliss PS I have posted my plastic surgery pictures.

What gorgeous grands, and Grandma ain't bad either, lol! Corliss

Dr Schulman, Thanks for your reply. I did discuss this by email with my surgeon. He says that he did lift the tail of the brow up. He used and endoscopic approach, but I don't see how there is any difference other than my eyebrows are flatter and lower. I had a point in the middle of my eyebrows before surgury, like the "devils brow" but now it is just straight so i guess that is why if he lifted the tail of them but I cannot for the life of me understand why my brow would be lower if he lifted the tail. He said that he had not done the coronal lift because I have an ample forehead already. I have written him back asking for more information but have not heard back from him. In your experience can a coronal browlift be done without making the hairline receed further? Can an endoscopic lift be repeated perhaps elevating the entire eyebrow area without making the full incision ? Thanks you, Corliss

I understand you not wanting to get too pushy too quick with the doc, but I do think you need to start a conversation with it, so he won't be surprised about your concern. I so hope it improves. Corliss

Hey Punkster, I am glad you got this taken care of quickly. I had my band removed in September, I was in such bad shape after my slip. I had it replaced a month ago. The doctor who replaced it found a huge hiatal hernia which may or may not have been responsible for the slip. I sure hope all goes well with you. Life without a band was difficult after having been banded for almost 3 years. I hope yours stays put this time. Corliss

I had face lift in Monterrey Mx on June 23. I had neck, face, upper and lower bleph and the muscle in my forhead weakened. I also had my ears trimmed. I am extremly happy with most of it, however my forehead does not match the rest of my face. The skin is quiet loose and wrinkled. My eyebrows are low as a result, basically unchanged since before the surgery. I find this disturbing as it is a contrast to the rest of my face. My understanding was that he would in doing the full face lift, elevate my brow somewhat. I told him in consult that I did not want to look unnatural and have that surprised look all the time. When I asked him afterwards if it was going to pull up on its on or if my brows would stay that way, he told me that I had said specifically that I did not want that surprised look. This was all true, and I am wondering if since this was a Mexican surgeon that the language nuances may have made a difference in his understanding what I really wanted or was there some medical reason that he could not have done this in combination with the upper and lower bleph. If you could shed some insight on this issue I would appreciate it. Do you think I could yet have a brow lift or would too much scar tissue have developed from the incisions he made to weaken the forehead muscle? I also wonder if it is usual for patients to not require narcotics after face lift. My doctors gave me Supradol (Mexican tordol and tylenol combo) and Ultracet (ultram and tylenol). This was quiet painful surgery on my face though the arms were not very painful. My doctor told me I was the first patient he had ever had who had such pain with a face lift. That was a bit disturbing because I don't require a lot of pain meds and following lap band was off after the second day of Supradol. Any how I would appreciate your thoughts on these issues and any advice as to how to deal with my mismatched face lift. Thank you, Corliss

:confused:Oh heck 3.5 wks???What do you do? Work from home at a job where you can sit in a recliner and get up frequently and continue to use pain meds. I just had face lift and brachioplasty which is nothing close to what you are having and no way would I consider going back to work at this time. I am 3 and 1/2 weeks out to be exact. I still have some scabing on my arms and have not been able to start the silicone for the scars yet. I have a lot of weakness and quiet a bit of depression which could be from the anesthesia. I am not taking pain meds for the last week and 1/2 but strongly suspect if I had all the surgery done you are I would need to. You may have your drains 3.5 weeks. What did your doctor tell you to expect recovery time wise? I sure hope that it works out that way for you and will watch for your progress, but be warned it sure wasn't that quick for me. Good luck to you and I am truely excited for you, I bet you will love the results. Corliss

Okay am i missing something? I thought you paid him 4000 more to take care of your rolls in upper stomach. He did not tighten muscles correct? Then if he didn't tighten muscles he didn't do an actual tummy tuck, he just cut the loose skin off the upper part of the tummy for the extra 3000 you paid him and the 1000 was for extra time in the OR? I would be very very angry. I think I would get a copy of my operative report first, and unless he had told you in advance he was not tightening your stomach muscles, he owes you some money or a revision. If he explained before hand that he would only cut excess skin he should have also explained to you that this would not give you the flat stomach that a tummy tuck gives. That is horrible to not give complete information either way. He may even be liable for malpractice. :cursing: There is a plastic surgeon who has a thread on this board. I would post and ask him any questions I had and I would deal with my doctor politely but objectively. I would not make any accusations but ask for information and be careful to document everything he tells you. Ordinarily I am not litiginous but having just been through a face lift and brachioplasty I know how much pain and what a slow recouperation it is and this should not be taken lightly. Hugs to you hon, and I hope all goes well as possible. Corliss

So sorry, what a drag. Is your doc going to be able to do it outpatint in his office under local? Good luck hon. Corliss:thumbdown:

Rita, I agree with you. Christ preached love and forgiveness. I have had to work real hard to forgive some people in my life who have been abusers but that didn't mean I liked them, I just didn't have to waste my energy hating them. I certainly don't have to hate a troubled celebrity who may or may not have done the things he was accused of. I wonder at the people who use the bible to justifiy hatred and avoid forgiveness. I have found a lot of peace in my life by being willing to own my feelings and let go of them. I suspect everybody is right where they are supposed to be, and my biggest problem is that I tend to have a hard time avoiding judging the judgemental, lol! All part of my spiritual journey. Corliss:wub:

I just thought I would check in on this thread to see what folks had to say and I wished I had stayed on the forum just talking about wt. loss and cosmetic surgery. I was saddened by the guy because I thought he had too many issues that he should have dealt with as he certainly had the resources. He had very bad judgement in his relationships and in his use of cosmetic surgery, but he did a huge lot of good for a many thousands of starving people. He was just an injured soul. I hope he finds peace, and for those of you who get some comfort out of hating him and pronouncing him guilty of child molestation and wishing him in hell, I hope all of you find what ever it is that you are supposed to learn from this experience and move on. Good luck on your life journey. Corliss

I lost 203 lbs with my previous band. I did not consistently do low carb but it was absolutely wonderful for getting me off plateaus. I lost my band due to a slip Sept. 19, 2008. I gained wt. on every diet I tried. The only one I lost any wt on was a modified low carb where my carbs were from vegetables and a small amount of fruit and of course dairy. I could not consistantly stay on low carb and it was neccesary to get another band. I am thrilled to have a band. At this time I am 45 lbs from goal again and just started back on low carb, high fat, moderate/high protein. I intend to keep my band as loose as possible in hopes of avoiding another slip. Wish me luck! Corliss

TY Patty, I have read a lot of your posts on the plastic surgery forum. You had caught my eye, I identify with so much you have written. Sounds like you did a tremendous amount of work even before you were banded. Please PM me anytime. Corliss

Hey Butterfly, I was banded 2 days after you but this is my second band. I am here to tell you that bands work if you do your part. I lost 203 lbs with my first band. I gained 60 between bands and started with the new band at 49.8 lbs from goal. I had a load of plastic surgery shortly after rebanding and am only just now starting to focus on wt loss. I had so much push to eat from my plastic docs that I have basically ate most any liquids, softs and now mushies that I could get in. I am however feeling that I am wasting time cause I am not trying to loose wt, so I made the switch, today I started seriously watching my carbs and cals. Don't feel like you are the only one who has buyer's remorse because I have heard of many who do. You are an addict to the feeling that food gives you and to avoiding the feelings that come up when you can't eat. You will have to deal with those negative feelings. The best ways I have found its to start a new project and you can let that project be you. Start logging your food and activity on fitday, and try to work in just a little more fun physical activity everyday. If I can help you in any way I will be glad to. Don't hesitate to get in touch with me. You can see my before and after pics on my profile. Corliss

Slush Puppies are not carbonated, but remember to count the calories.