Karen12345

Sue, thank you sharing all of that. I first had the fleur de lis tummy tuck, then the breast lift with implants and neck lift (in Mexico.. Scary!) and now my arms 7 weeks ago. I need to lose a lot of fat on my thighs before I even think about doing those. I totally agree that it has all changed my life. I still haven't gone out in tank tops but I can't wait. It's still cold outside but spring is near, lol. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Scamp, you look fantastic! Had you had your arms previously done? They look great! Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

It's gonna be okay. I lost 170 lbs and it took 2 years. I went thru many months of non losing. Just keep getting back on track. Make sure you get your Protein. I used a lot of the low carb Protein shakes. Just keep going. I didn't do a lot of exercising but I did walk regularly 3 or 4 times a week. Good luck! You are getting it done! Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Dr Quiroz at CostMed did my breast lift and neck lift. He did an okay job but the stitch work was extremely messy. Friends remarked that I looked like a vet had sewn me up. His cutting and sewing up is extremely messy. I joined a group of former patients and saw some hideous work done. They of course would go on and on about what a god he is but they didn't see how bad their work was. A friend of mine from here in Houston had a tummy tuck and ended up in the emergency room in San Diego after a badly botched spinal tap. They tore some tissue in her spinal column. He can do the work but the results are very messy. Please do your research and be aware that afterwards people really go into denial about their bad experiences. Look at a lot of the pictures you find not on CosMed's website. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Yep, I love it! I would totally do it exactly the same way! My tummy is super flat! I paid $10,200 here in Houston for my stomach and then 8000 for my arms 6 weeks ago. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I can't get it to do right! Obviously that's upside down I hope! The would be freaky if it weren't! Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

The picture came in upside down! Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I had lost 170 lbs and so I had to have the vertical incision. The scar is 9 months old and will continue to fade. I didn't have a full lower body lift. My plastic surgeon recommended the T cut and was able to pull from my sides. The scar at my belly button is worse because I had my port and tubing removed thru a new incision 4 months ago in Mexico. I love the way she did it. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I have lost 170 lbs (got my lapband 2 years ago) and I could not be happier! I was prepared for a lot of pain but it hasn't been bad at all. I still have a drain in and I have another month of wearing the compression garment. Having to try to stay still but I'm just dying to start trying on clothes! I had this done in Houston but I'm going to Mexico to do the breast lift in August.

Yes a little from my arms. Lots for my stomach and then had to have tubes put back in. I had those suckers for six weeks! It's all good now. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Newgel online. It's on amazon for more money. Cheaper direct from company. http://www.newgelplus.com/ Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

He's probably right. Silicone sheets or tapes work on old scars but you have to wear them for up to 6 months. Sheets may lighten them some but it would be expensive. They have this leg makeup spray in the stores now and it works great. I sprayed it on my sides where I have stretch marks to see how it would look. Looked pretty good but I didn't run around outside to see how long it would last. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I've had tummy tuck, breast lift and now arm lift. I've used NewGel. I get the strips online and wear them 24/7 for about 4-6 weeks and my scars are barely visible. Silicone is the only thing that's been proven to help in scarring. I've done tons of research! The silicone gels are effective on places where the strips aren't practical like the face but you don't get as much fading. NewGel is a professional grade used by burn centers and plastic surgeons. Be careful in purchasing stuff in the pharmacies. There are a lot of rip offs. They have done many studies on Vitamin E and its been proven that it provides ZERO results but there are 100's of products with vitamin E all claiming things because everyone believes it works. Good luck! Oh and mederma and other products like it don't do anything either. Any results from those are the results people would have gotten just from time. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I just had my arms done 4 weeks ago and I've had swelling of Fluid. I had a tummy tuck in May 2012 and then a breast lift in Aug 2012. In both of those I had fluid built up too. It does go down. I'm trying to wear the compression garment as much as possible and that helps. I also massage those areas and that helps even more I think. I know the arms will be fine soon. Oh I had a neck lift at the same time as my breast lift and the swelling on my neck took 3 months to come down. Be patient. It will be fine. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I am 53 so the skin was never going to tighten up on its own. I am really not a person with a high threshold of pain. In fact I'm quite the whiner and a wimp. I've had 3 surgeries in 8 months and after each one I ask myself why the hell I put myself in this situation. But then a few months later, like childbirth, I forget and I'm ready for the next one. The pain isn't so bad. The hard part is the recovery with the gauze and tubes and wearing the compression garment and not being able to wear all of my cute clothes and not being able to work out or walk. I'm at week 2 right now so I'm at that really frustrating part. I am so glad I got all of it done though. It's been expensive. I've had to work a second job and move into a cheaper apartment and save every bit of my money, but it was important to me to get it done.

Shelly Congratulations! How is your tummy tuck? I'd love to see pictures! I'd love to get the butt lift but I've had 3 surgeries in 8 months. I'm ready to take a break. I have some weight to lose in my legs and butt before I even think about that. I'd love to keep up with you. Email me. Keelinehoppes@yahoo.com. Karen Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Myskinnydream, I'm in Houston too! I just got my arms done two weeks ago and I'm so happy! Who did yours? Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Thanks! I know! Her name is Camille Cash and she is a perfectionist with her work. I don't care if I have scars. I will now be able to go to pools, the beach, hot tubs, wear tank tops, etc... A whole new world is open to me. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Okay so here are my arms. The scars will fade. This has only been two weeks! Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

So cal amy: I know! Funny I didn't even think about it until after I had gotten back home. I did have some very painful swelling under one of my breasts. I was able to massage it and that helped alot. I called my PS here in Houston and her nurse told me that she couldn't look at it, comment on it, nothing! I guess if she even said anything about it, she could be pulled into some kind of lawsuit about it. I've heard of people ending up in emergency rooms. I've heard of success stories too. Mine ended up okay but I feel I was very lucky.

Good idea! I had some Fluid problems from my breast lift in Mexico and no doctors here would even look at it. It worked out okay but could have been much worse! Karen

I've had tt, and arm lift and breast lift. Those incisions look great and will heal beautifully. I used silicone scar tape. Be careful not to use Vitamin E. everyone will say to use it but they have done studies to see if it actually works and in several studies it has been shown to not only have zero effect, it can sometimes worsen scars. Mederma and regular lotions are equal but really are equal to doing nothing at all. It makes us feel better like we are doing something but you either are the type that scars one way or another. It has been proven that exposure to sun in the first year actually makes the scarring worse. I wish I had known that when I was younger and would tan after getting stretch marks thinking that would actually help. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I have now had my arms done. It has been life changing. I am now able to wear short sleeved shirts for the first time I over 30 years! I don't have before and after pictures of my arms yet but will post those when I get them. She did an extended so all the skin looks neat all around my arm pit. I won't ever have to shave anymore or wear deodorant. She removed my sweat glands at the same time. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I saved a lot of money going to Mexico. I wouldn't recommend CosMed but I think there are other doctors there that do good work. Please do lots and lots of research before you go. There are a bunch of girls that went there and they act like he is some kind of ps god. I've seen their pictures and its not the best work. Just be very very careful. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I had my tummy tuck and arm lift here in Houston and they are both beautiful. Dr Quiroz at CosMed did my breast lift with augmentation and neck lift in Aug 2012. He did a good job on the lift and implants and placing of my nipples but his stitch work is some of the messiest I've ever seen. Luckily my scars heal pretty well. When I had my arm lift two weeks ago here in Houston she extended it all thru my arm pit and tightened up the skin on my side boob. She cut out a lot of his messy stitching under my boobs and tightened those up. My neck lift is good but again, very messy external stitches. A friend of mine from here flew there to get lipo in her stomach and he ended up talking her into a lower body lift. The anesthesia wasn't working (not the best quality was used on me) and so they did a spinal tap thing. They had to go in twice and they ended up tearing some tissue in her spinal chord. She had to insist on being driven to the emergency room I San Diego where they just dropped her off. I had done my research on Costmed and could only find good reviews. If I had dug deeper I would have found d similar stories to my friends. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk