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That’s good to hear bc I’m so scared to look. I’m afraid bc of the swelling and it not looking like the final product yet that I’ll be disappointed even though I know it will take time to look like how it will be. I’ve kept the binder on. Due to shower so I’m not going to look then either. It’ll make me whoozy which I know sounds weird since I work in the OR but on myself that grossed me out but on other no big deal I could eat lunch right after seeing it.

Yea I can’t lay on my side either bc of my drains from the TT. I know I’ll be in the recliner for a while. Just missing my bed. I totally get just wanting to curl up on my side in bed. Good news is I’ve been off of all pain meds aside from Tylenol in the evening since Friday. So on my way up! Or on the downhill some say! Lol

Wow! Getting real quick huh?!! I’m feeling ok. Pain has been rough past couple of days but it’s def manageable pain though. I have seen the girls and they are swollen but look great! Haven’t seen all of my tummy. Just had hub check on my belly button. So far so good. Keep saying to myself it’s all worth it once I’m all healed up! It will be! Careful on going to places bc of your COVId test. I was afraid to get waxed and my pedicure bc w my luck I’d somehow pick it up. Not sure where you live but it’s getting pretty bad down here again. I’m in Texas.

I don’t have a history either. I believe He said Bariatric patients are more likely to have clots. He just called to check in on me. “All is well!!” So glad. No nausea after surgery bc I asked them not to give me gas. Makes me super sick. They just did IV drugs to keep me asleep. Think I’m the Anesthesia world it’s called TEVA.

Just got back from pre op. I went into with the idea that I wanted 225cc implants. The surgeon wants to to go bigger. She promises they will look great. So we agreed anything between 350 and 550, and she will decide during surgery what looks best. I like that I’ll be surprised. Lol!! She wanted me to consider 650s but I drew the line there! I said maybe if I was 25 but I’m too old for those kind of boobs! Lol! As for the TT she is going to extend the incision past my hips bc I have so much loose skin which I’m happy with! She also said that I don’t have any fat to lipo on my flanks (it’s all skin) so she found a little on my back to do instead, but it won’t be 1 liter. I’m glad I don’t have much fat but hope I can still get that snatched look without lipo to the flanks. Hoping she’ll find some more fat when she gets in there! No matter what I’m excited!! Attaching pics of me in all my saggy glory. This first pic is without implants. The rest are with the 350s. I’m showing my saggy thighs too for research purposes bc sometimes the TT can give the thighs a little lift. I'm hoping to get a little oomph but am prepared if that doesn't happen.

Anyone else have to get lovanox injections after surgery? They said it’s bc I was a past Bariatric surgery patient. They want to make sure I don’t throw a clot. I don’t want that either! I also ordered SCDs from Amazon as recommended by my surgeon.

here is to 2021!!! I live in a very small town and I am not much on social media. I have kept my WLS on the down low, not because I am ashamed but because I am not looking for support or BS from anyone. My husband we into town today to the local cafe (gossip central) to pick up eggs that I forgot to get on my regular grocery run and the old gal who runs the place announced to the whole joint, during the morning coffee run, how sorry she was to hear about my illness. My husband said "she is feeling good but I will tell her your thinking of her" she carried on to ask him how many rounds I would need. He replied " I believe this will do it". The word is I am going though chemo, LOL. I am not telling them any different......let them talk. Chemo or weight loss surgery regardless, I am getting thin!!!! LOL

Oh good! It was the best thing I ever did. Only wish I had done it sooner bc maybe then I wouldn’t have all this loose skin. Nothing a little PS won’t fix though! My first time for PS though so I’m nervous. When is your surgery date again?

Is it stuff that you can give out to homeless people? Also, my neighborhood has a Facebook group and people post opened food items all the time, bc their kids didn't like it or whatever. People still take it. Maybe yours does too? ~ AuntieMAME

I had a Belt Lipectomy/ butterfly lift with stomach muscle tightening, augmentation and thigh lift. My worst areas were excessive loose crepey sagging skin of the butt area and even more so my thigh area. I should have kept my own before pictures of how bad it was but I was so ashamed. I did let the surgeon share my before pictures but its hard to truly see how bad it was before. for me it was worth the scars. I had a T incision due to how much sagging skin so a incision in the groin area T shape and down the inner thigh. I only wish it had gone to my knees otherwise I have no regrets. I had some issues with the incision healing in the T Incision area but its now healed fine. I have many chronic health issues which made it a challenge so a healthy person fares better of course. Also having a lower BMI and making sure your blood work is healthy (the surgeon checks these things) helps the healing process. I took Turmeric, collagen, vitamin c, biotin (extra) and extra protein and made sure not to push too hard while healing. Im not on my own computer I had problems and had to replace it but its going to take a while for me to get a replacement. my photos are on a solid state drive. I took pictures of my scar progress. In all honesty for me it was a huge difference. I didnt have a lot to remove but it was all loose skin. I would do it again definitely. some people I see have it they dont have alot of skin but they seem to remove fat along with it for me it was about horrid excess skin. It was a challenge also having the Belt Lipectomy which is basically a body lift procedure. Along with the thigh lift. You have areas high tension that the incisions hold together and these can open. There is risk with anything. Basically if it does open the best course of action is secondary wound healing. using Bactigras and keeping it dry and bandaged until it heals and closes on its own. I had some challenges. But I think its mainly my chronic illness that made it challenging. my surgeon made sure I was good for surgery and made sure I was aware of possible things that could come up and I was prepared. My thigh Lift T incision opened but now you cant tell. to me its just a scar and still better than it was before. My body lift I had incision open at the coccyx that also is very common. its a high pressure point. some of my scar areas are so light though, it surprises me. I dont regret that either since my backside was the worst absolute worst. My body and skin felt like 90 years old. I mean i still do. because of my health issues but at least my body isnt sagging anymore! do I see some little things like my calves and backs of my knees and excess skin under my arms yes. but Im grateful I had my surgeries. I am ... I think seven months out from surgery. I had it June 14th. I braved putting on a swimsuit. Just not in public yet. but Ill look for the picture maybe share it here. Im not a fan of myself. I didnt do it for cosmetics but for the physical effects and yes also how it made me feel. I wish I were better at explaining. I tend to write too much. I havent been around Im dealing with some health issues. every time I go to write a post to discuss it I delete it. Thigh lift is a challenging surgery but for me it was something I needed to do. I was so scared when I thought it might not happen. and grateful my surgeon helped it happen. so no regrets here. I am not a fan of sharing pictures sorry I dont have my before. My surgery pictures are on the Hospital BC Facebook Group. probably not the best pictures. My One side the scar is darker because that is my "bad side" medically. I dont remember if I shared other pictures here. I do have other pictures on my portable hard drive some very graphic scar pictures. Ive had so many surgeries in my life the scars dont phase me. I guess Ill say again its still better than all that loose, wrinkled and sagging skin. It helps the weight loss journey feel like i made goal. Im still working on body dysmorphia that likely wont change. but the sagging skin gone is something I dont regret.

I am 34B. Think actual tissue is an A the rest loose skin. They pretty much are folded up inside my bra. I’m getting 450cc. I asked about cup size that would bring me to and my surgeon said he doesn’t go by cup size bc bra makers sizing is very different from one to the next. He said I’ll prob be a D or DD. It varies from person to person too. Measurements body type etc

Unfortunately, that is not an option. I am not giving up my home and he isn't from this country. All his family is abroad. He says his BS sparingly. I just need somewhere to vent my frustration...

I never quite understood this. Sometimes I think it comes with the territory. Psychological exam needs to rule out an "eating disorder" before the patient is going to be deemed eligible for WLS. Ruling out an ED in someone who is heavy enough to need WLS... my ass. So maybe it's simply a thing of not being allowed to admit disordered eating. Just like one isn't allowed to admit that plastics are also for looking better and feeling better when we all know it's BS. Second thing is that the media only knows two eating disorders: anorexia and bulimia. We're just being fat and gross and weak willed. That's one of the worst things: remaining in the old black and white mode and refusing to learn being flexible - all too often out of fear. "I can't be trusted with food!" "I can't eat this or that in moderation!" "I'm a food/sugar addict!" "Only abstinence works for me!" Of course it is. Look at all the "HEEEEEELP!!! I've fallen off the wagon!!!" posts.

This has been my experience too. I find myself getting fed up with eating the same sorts of food all the time (I'm in soft eating phase). I still can't tolerate most meat or tinned fish and so my meal options remain limited, bearing in mind calorific and protein requirements. I could quite easily revert to eating all of the wrong sorts of food when I'm depressed or bored, and unfortunately the current situation here in winter and in lockdown in the UK is depressing and boring.... So I'm trying to use a combination of willpower and planning, and I do factor in 1 x "treat" per day if I stick to the eating plan - and I count the calories. The treats aren't what I would have considered treats 6 months ago, but so far it's working. My treats include e.g. a small bag of lentil crisps (90 calories/2.2 protein) or 5 sugar free sweets (40 calories/0 protein!). I don't think I'm ever going to see an apple as a treat, so I figure I just have to work with who I am.

I hit 199 lbs, it was so exciting seeing that number on the scale this morning. I'm also 4 weeks post op so hitting that milestone today was perfect! I'm down 25lbs even though I endured a 2 week stall already (ugh!). Those stalls are disheartening. My struggles are still getting my fluids in so I started using my (reusable) straws 2 days ago and that is helping. I don't have any additional "air bubbles" gurgling up than I did before the straws. I also struggle with eating too quickly and getting sick bc it gets stuck. I want to do 3 meals and 2 snacks but I realistically can't do that right now with my daily schedule. I have to do about 2 oz of food at a time (or less) more frequently to get it all in and to keep my stomach happy. I also had a hiatal hernia repaired so my esophagus is healing as well.

I have not experienced any bleeding or leaking from my sites. Which they did say was normal if it happened. Pain wise the first couple days were rough. More from the constant nausea and vomiting I couldn’t control. Which just made the belly hurt! I had several different nausea meds I was taking and they added in a one time dose of a strong nausea pill and it made all the difference! It didn’t take long and I was feeling better! My surgery was on 12/22, today 3 days out I sat in the floor with the kids while they opened gifts, fed my daughter breakfast, and have been up on the couch sipping slowly today. Today feels like I’ve turned over a new leaf! I still am taking my pain medications every 6 hours which is helping. I skipped one overnight and was super sensitive this morning but otherwise doing good! Everyone has a different pain tolerance. I’ve always had a high pain tolerance, but not tolerant at throwing up. I’m a weakling when it comes to vomiting. Whiney too, lol. Overall, it hasn’t been a bad experience and I have no buyers remorse as of yet!

Hi, it looks like you have gotten alot of responses, but I thought I'd add mine to the mix. I am 42, 5'11 and was at the beginning 334lbs. When I scheduled my first appointment with my dr, they sent out a packet and it specifically pointed out calling my insurance to make sure that bariatric/weight loss stuff was covered. I called my insurance and they asked me if I had diabetes, and I said no. They said without being diabetic, it wouldn't be covered. <Insert tears and breakdown here> I was so frustrated because my first memories are of being fed diet jello, sugar free kool-aid, things like that, I have always been the chubby kid. I did richard simmons deal a meal, jenny craig, weight watchers, calorie restriction, keto.......i lost some weight, but always gained that but more back. I called my drs office and asked them if this is true and what other questions I should be asking. I have no 'comorbidities' aside from being morbidly obese and have been obese pretty much my entire life. I called back and talked to another agent who asked about diabetes again, then about high blood pressure and sleep apnea. I have none of them. Eventually they told me that if the doctor decided that my BMI put me int he morbidly obese category and that I had tried other diets etc and had a long history of being unable to lose weight, they would approve it. In the end, I had to go through my entire history of what diets/plans/meds I had tried, my weight history, etc and I was approved. I had my bypass surgery on 12/18/2020. I hope you are able to get it approved because it is frustrating. I know what would be waiting for me if I didn't get this weight off now, all of the comorbidities that they ask about, and i am hopeful that with this tool, I will be able to avoid all that crap. Best of luck to you and happy holidays <3

Oh good god, the autocorrect mistakes....sheesh. Two week pre op. Find FOOD again. Day two, feeling not as headachy and haven't had any neurofen yet so that's a good sign. I've been on the ride on mower for a couple of hours in readiness for Christmas day, in the pool for a swim, fed the kids, they are in the pool now while I catch up on some me time. Yes, they are old enough to be unsupervised and are also surf lifesavers so quite safe in the water! 🙂

I think it's BS when programs push specific brands of protein drinks. Unjury is recommended by a lot of programs, but there are tons of other options for whey protein isolate. Premier Protein ready-to-drink shakes use milk protein concentrate, which is not as easily absorbed as protein isolates, but I would think they're still better than nothing, especially since you are past the liquid stage and you're consuming protein from meat as well. I've tried a bunch of samples of protein powder and my favorite is IdealLean (I love the birthday cake flavor mixed in my yogurt), but again, it's a matter of personal taste. I found that once I started shopping for protein powders, Facebook started advertising them to me nonstop, and I've discovered different brands that way. Syntrax Nectar is also whey protein isolate, and they have lots of flavors (including a lot of fruit flavors that are more like juice than protein shakes). Do you drink coffee? A lot of people use protein shakes instead of creamer in their coffee, which is an easy way to add a little protein. I don't drink coffee, but I love protein hot cocoa. I make it with Fairlife milk instead of water for even more protein. Unfortunately, you may have to cut back on the veggies for a while to give you more room for protein. I know that seems weird since it's been drilled into us that veggies are good for you, but right now, since you are so limited in the volume you can eat, you have to reserve most of it for protein. You can add a little protein to your meals by incorporating protein soups, plain Greek yogurt, or cottage cheese into toppings or sauces. You can mix unflavored protein powder into anything liquid or pureed like soup or refried beans. I prefer flavored protein powder to mix with sweet foods like yogurt, pudding, and protein oatmeal. As for the stall, it may or may not have anything to do with what you are or aren't eating. Even if you are following your program perfectly, stalls still happen to everyone. You've done really well with your weight loss, so your weight loss is going to slow down and you might just need to give your body time to adjust. If you're working out, you might be building some muscle as well, which can increase your weight even as you are losing fat.

Kempner, TX but working out of the Killeen office with the Texas Bariatric Specialist group. Sleeved December 2018 and had revision to Roux-en-x-y gastric bypass on October 7th, 2020 per GERD/Acid reflux issues causing damage to my vocal chords and creating a cancer risk. Lost 20 more lbs since revision and am happy with results as I was only able to get to 173 with sleeve and now I am 8 bs from goal weight ( Now weighing 153) and finally within reach. I have had no complication and no longer any problems with GERD or reflux and am very happy thus far.

Hey there friend! My name is Jessica. I saw your post & thought that I’d reach out to you bc my mom just had the sleeve on Dec. 17th and would love to have support! I had my sleeve surgery October 2014. I bet its weird having the surgery and dealing with a Covid too. Y’all are doing the best thing for your life and I’m so proud of you to step out and take care of your health long term like this!! Congrats and I’m here for support ❤️😃

They wouldnt approve me bc my job underwrote it out of the policy ;(

Thanks for all the awesome ideas, how do you guess the protein content on the broths then.....I am trying to be pretty careful with getting in the right amounts of protein. I would much rather make my own because I know where all the animals in my freezer have come from and how there were fed but I just don't know how to count the nutrients in them?

I’m 46 and I’m scheduled to do my Tummy tuck, breast lift and Augmentation Jan 7th. You’re not too old. Bc if you’re too old then I’m wayyy too old. I don’t think 46 is old and I don’t feel old either. Age is just a number😊 Are you at goal? What do are you looking to do?

Before my surgery, I was really good about measuring everything and only eating what was allowed. But since my surgery in September, I just get my food (high protein, low carbs) in a portion that I think I can eat, but I eat slowly, and as soon as I get that uncomfortable feeling, I stop and give my plate to my dog🐕. She has learned that she'll get fed something good every time I eat, so she stays right by my side waiting for it What I end up actually eating is a fraction of what I used to eat, and still about half of what I think I can eat now. I think the most important thing that I can do is to train myself to put my fork down when I am full and not feel obligated to clean my plate.