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

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.