Diva

I am seriously considering having post lap-band abdominoplasty and resculpting at the Ariel Center. I have had an initial consultation with Dr Lara but am finding little or no information otherwise. It seems that of the few postings on this subject, that the surgeons mentioned are no longer at the Ariel Center/OCC - Dr Castillo, for example. Any input from someone who's had the procedure with a current staff surgeon? Any reviews? Thank you

I am left feeling a little unsure as well. Dr Castillo's website has some photos but none of the thigh lift procedure. Under the heading 'Surgery after weight loss' there are only two photos: an upper arm revision and a second photo whose before photo looked pretty perfect to begin with. I'm wondering if I shouldn't just spend more time on the stairmaster....I remain undecided.

Hello, I'm considering a thigh lift at the Ariel Center but have not found much information online or on the forum. Have you checked into that option and if so, what is your opinion?

Hello I see that your surgery is right around the corner. I am scheduled later this month and will be eager to hear about your experience. I wish you the best.

Anybody had post weight loss surgery done by Dr Castillo Calderon? I'm looking into a thigh lift and possibly more but am unable to find much info. I had my lap band done by Dr Ortiz and wish I could feel as fully confident with another procedure by a different surgeon.

Any insight would be very much appreciated. Any photos out there?

Thanks a bunch

Anybody had post weight loss surgery done by Dr Castillo Calderon? I'm looking into a thigh lift and possibly more but am unable to find much info. I had my lap band done by Dr Ortiz and wish I could feel as fully confident with another procedure by a different surgeon.

Any insight would be very much appreciated. Any photos out there?

Thanks a bunch

Hello Everybody,

Regarding the violence in TJ, it so happens that my father lives in TJ - in a very nice area about 10 minutes away from the border - without traffic. Living in the good area of TJ is in a way more worrysome because of the threat of kidnapping. He now spends 3-4 days a week in the States and does no shopping or walking about in TJ - basically he's "in and out." I've been wanting to go to TJ for another fill and while the general consensus is that it "should"be fine, the concern is very real. Not so much for a personal attack but for the indiscriminate shooting - from both sides- should you be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Which, by the way. happens not only in "bad" areas.

So, I keep putting it off. My father has a golfing friend who was kidnapped in early 2008 but was released after 43 days after ranson was paid (a business owner in TJ - living in the States). He was NOT treated well, let's just say. Approximately 3.5 weeks ago my father was playing golf in TJ when a shooting broke out between police and God who knows who, just across from the club house. Nobody was hurt but the people in the club house were told to lie down for their own protection.

So, will I chace it? Probably in a few weeks. (Like THAT'S going to make a difference!) But the recommedation is mixed when it comes to the business people we know who live in the states and cross for business. Go figure.

I would just be cautious about milling about like I've done before. This time it'll just be "in and out."

For what it's worth, that was my two cents.

Best wishes everybody.

People like that drive me crazy. That's one reason why I decided to keep my band a secret. I'm not ashamed, I'm not embarrassed, it's simply not anybody's business and I don't need to be bothered with unsolicited opinions aimed at sabotaging my efforts. Someday, I may choose to tell somebody out side of this forum if it's helpful to them but that'll be my choice. Only my husband - who's under threat of castration should he ever squeal - and a friend who is a bandster herself know.

I honestly don't care if some people think it's an easy way out - it isn't, although I was hoping it would be! But yes, I paid for a personal inner food police with my band. And IF there was an easy way out I WOULD gladly pay for it without hesitation. I do enough in my life the hard way, so what if I pay for help? Money comes and goes. If I want to spend money on a lapband, jewelry, give it to charity or gamble it away in Vegas, it's my business. People with their unsolicited opinions - such as your co-worker - can suck it. She probably doesn't give a hoot anyway about your journey and hopes that you won't succeed. But her jab at you gave her a false sense of superiority.

You go and do your thing. Next time she says something be ready for her. Or simply don't waste your breath.

Good luck and best wishes on YOUR weightloss journey.

I've told only my husband and a fellow bandster friend who encouraged me to get banded. It's been super easy to keep secret. If I get 'stuck' I just say that I swallowed wrong. I was always on some diet or another anyway so now I just say that my new diet is to eat less and to eat very slowly. Piece of cake. Funny thing is that a couple of people think it's a great plan and are following my lead and LOSING. Gee and it didn't cost them anything! Hate them. HA HA. I'm glad I haven't told anybody. Most my family thinks I spend unwisely anyway. Not that this was unwise but since I really didn't have too much to lose, it would probably be another reason for them to gossip anyway. Just wait until I get the boob job. Then they'll REALLY talk. HA HA.

Thanks from the bottom of my heart for your answers...and thanks for not "riping me a new one" since that is kinda what I was preparing myself for. I literally have tears in my eyes from the comfort I receive when I read these posts.

It definitely is a complicated situation and my husband and I have actually been to counseling before because he has been to Iraq twice and we had to deal with his coming home issues. He knows how important this is to me because he has seen me gain. We've only been married for 7 years and I have gained 60# in the 7 years. He's a gourmet cook as well as a marathon runner...so he views my weight issue as something that can be taken care of by "limiting my food intake and exercising." Simple as that. I think that a person who has never had a weight problem doesn't have a clue how to deal with one or meet it head on. While limiting my food intake and exercising on my own might work if I was a different person might work...it's impossible for me. I just can't seem to control what I eat if I'm left on my own to do it. I need the band to control myself.

Hello and I really feel for you and all the added strain you are having to deal with regarding your decision to get a lap band. I was fortunate in that my husband was completely supportive of my decision BUT BUT BUT I wanted to share my experience with you because of your last sentence "I need the band to control myself."

100% those words were exactly my words and the reason I got the band. Unfortunately for me, I found that my fantasy of what the band would do was just that: a fantasy. After much struggle, I believe I've finally come to terms with what the band will and won't do for me. I can't speak for anyone else but in my case, the band does very little to control me. Even with restriction. In other words, most of it does come down to the basics: limit food intake and exercise. Shoot. Not what I thought I was paying for. I do not regret getting the band but I might think differently if it had been a financial burden. As my husband and I joke, it's cost about $1000 a lb so far but it's not really funny. I've only lost 7 lbs in 4 months. Why? Because I was thinking / hoping that the band would control me. Wrong wrong wrong. I've had two fills and have restriction but believe me if I don't control myself the band ain't gonna do it for me. You might notice that one of the most successful and popular bandsters on this site has done it mainly through willpower and self control - stopping herself from overeating - on her own. She simply amazes me. Trust me, the band won't stop ice cream or chocolate or potato chips. It will still take self control to follow the rules - just like any "diet" pre-band.

All I'm saying is that you might, like me and other bandsets that personally know, still have to grapple with the "impossibilty" of limiting your food intake and exercising. The band will help - this is the first time that I've actually lost anything without much of a struggle. I'm thrilled that I've kept off even 7 lbs. I have about 40 lbs to go. Most of the time I struggle with hunger. The band doesn't always let me eat as much as I'd like but let me tell you I'm still hungry. Sometimes the band will stop me from eating because the food feels tight and uncomfortable in my gullet. The challenge comes in another 20 minutes with the unconfortable feeling passes and I am able to eat without restriction. Not eating at that point comes down to willpower because I'm still hungry.

I hope that you will be able to get your surgery. I just want you to be aware of the reality of the band especially since you will undoubtedly have the added pressure of a husband who may not be completely at ease with the procedure. I wish you the best. Please keep us posted.

I was banded June 9. I lost 20 lbs. in the liquid post diet phase. I've not lost another pound since then and it's been a month on solids. I can eat as much of anything as I want. Anything. So I made an appt. and got a fill at OCC. They only put in .8 cc's and said I came too soon and should have waited longer. I came at 5 1/2 weeks because I knew I would be travelling for 2 months and not able to do it until after that. I was also eating what I wanted.

I'm not gaining. I'm just not losing. I have made an appt. for a second fill but they want me to wait another 4 weeks. Here is my question.

What does good restriction mean? I thought I was not going to physically be able to eat as much as I used to. I can eat an entire plate of mexican food and desset! Is that normal?

I'm not hungry very much but I'm eating anyway...and all the wrong things. I just found out my dad was diagnosed with a terminal cancer and I'm an emotional wreck. Of course, I want to bathe in chocolate. I am starting to feel this whole thing is a waste of money I don't have to waste. I'm getting pretty down.

Thanks ladies. Your replies on restriction were great. I have found that certain foods: chicken, steak, High fiber crackers or cookies, are more than likely to give me that 'stacked' or pressure in the breast area feeling that reminds me to stop eating after only a couple of bites. So, if I want to work it right, I really need to start with a couple of bites of those items (gee, like we're supposed to - protien). But sometimes, I don't want that feeling quite so soon which I supposed equates to cheating. Ay yay yay, back to the drawing board. Good thing is that my little buddy does keep me under-eating at least a portion of the time.

Best to all

Hello

Great topic. Okay I'm confused too. Perhaps I don't have the level of Restriction that I'm supposed to? SOMETIMES I can't eat cause it feels as though I've swallowed a golfball, but other times, no problem; I'm "wide open." It's hit or miss. Is it really true that some of you really can never eat more than 1/2 cup at a time? That would be wonderful. I've had two fills but maybe it's time for another appointment.

Ha! Here I thought I just wasn't feeling the "right" thing. Thanks for clearing that up for me. I likely would have dwelled and gone in circles over this for who knows how long. Clarity is a good thing. Hopefully I'll begin to start working this band right rather than waiting around for some 'other' feeling.

Funny about the hubby. He'll certainly get the picture now. Congratulations on your weight loss success. I hope to join that club sometime soon.

That is a great analogy, as someone who is married to a PGA Golf professional, after almost 2 years of doing this I should have thought of that one myself!

Great description - now maybe my husband can understand! That’s it exactly!

Is restriction the feeling that you can't eat anymore because you've swallowed a golf ball or do you really feel full/satisfied? For me, when "it" happens, it's the golf ball.

Hello everyone and what a great topic.

I was banded approx 3.5 months ago and have had two fills (OCC). I did not feel any restriction after the first fill but do after the second - sometimes. Unless things change restriction-wise, I am beginning to resign myself to the fact that most of the time, I'll have to manage portion control through my own efforts. Not one of my strengths. Of course, my pre-banding fantasy was that I would be physically unable to overeat - as long as I wasn't trying to put down only soft foods. HA HA.

There are times, sometimes once a day, twice a day, sometimes not at all, when I am able to eat only a few bites before feeling an esophogeal pressure that tells me STOP or soon you'll REALLY be hurting. It's not that I feel full, but the prospect of feeling as though I've swallowed a golf ball gives me good reason to stop. Voila, portion control.

Yes, I chew - very very well, don't drink when I eat, and stay away from liquid calories, cut the sodas, yada yada.

Unfortunately, this feeling of built-in-portion-control is fleeting. The problem is that a couple of hours after a 2-4 bite meal, I'm really hungry. So, if at my next meal I don't feel any restriction - oh oh - I'm both hungry and OPEN. A dangerous predicament.

So, I'm toying with the idea of going back on Atkins since protein has the best chance at giving me that "can't eat another bite" feeling. It seems that once I move onto my vegies and carbs, I tend to "open up". Sometimes, it seems as though eating the relatively softer vegies and carbs actually helps the pressure go away = I'm open and on my own.

I'm at 181 now and was banded at 186. Whoopee. I'm an exerciser, and am a realatively health conscious eater - just too much eating.

A friend of my who was banded three years ago and has sucessfully lost a good chunk of weight put it this way. "When you have good restriction, you're still hungry but just can't eat anymore. That's how you end up eating less and losing weight."

Yesterday for example, I could only manage two bites of my lunch before getting pressure in my esophagus. YEAH! At dinner I hoped for the same as I was faced with a grand buffet. Fat chance (Pun intended). It was as if I didn't even have a band. Last night, I won the battle to stop on my own even though I was really hungry. I guess my band decided to go off-duty.

Maybe I need to go in for another fill?

Good luck everybody. May we all reach our goals.

Here's what I told my friends. I haven't had my first fill yet and haven't lost much weight yet. It will happen.

It's not about losing the weight. It's about the backslide afterwards:

Funny thing is that I eat correctly. I don't do fried foods, high fat, high sugar, etc. I didn't gain the weight overnight. I gained it over nine months (DD now 13) and have had it ever since. I didn't lose a pound on South Beach and was on it faithfully for two months. I eat that way anyway. My weight has varied 20 pounds since she was born. Ten up and ten down. It is what it is.

What I am unwilling to do is get to a healthy weight twice. I worked for Nutri/System for two years in college. I've watched people at the office drop weight using WW, N/S, Atkins, Provida, the Cookie Diet, etc and do a great job of it --- for a while ---until it came back on again. Not enough people succeed at keeping it off. No reason to think I'm atypical.

So, I've decided to make it hard to gain it back again. And that means giving up Diet Coke, things that my new stomach decides it can't manage and large portions of anything. Permant change with hardware. It won't be easy at all. You don't indulge because you can't indulge. For pretty much ever.

It's hard to live and let live when others are taking on the same task. From their perspective it's like they read the 1000 page novel and I bought the Cliff's Notes. From my perspective the difference is that later, they can have a banana split or whatever on occasion but I can have dinner or a glass of wine. Not both.

It would feel like cheating if I hadn't tried so many different diets that didn't work for me. The last one was Medifast and my skin errupted with soy protein intolerance.

We walked across last Saturday. I thought it would be terrible because it was Labor Day Weekend, but it went pretty quick. We parked, crossed, took a taxi to OCC, got my fill and were back at the car within a hour and a half. We definately got across quicker by foot then those in the cars.

Hello Lynnz

How much did the taxi cost? Where did you park? Is it a marked lot? Now you've got me thinking that perhaps it's better to walk over. Hmmmm. How's the post fill going?

Hi - I am pretty sure I am answer this for myself..

But do we need passports when we get picked up from SAN. Airport?

Thanks

From website:

Travel by land or sea

Those traveling by land or sea must present two forms of valid identification such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate and a driver's license or other identification issued by a state or official agency. These travelers will not be required to present a passport until June 1, 2009, and there is a PASS card (Passport card) in the works that will be credit-card sized and cost less than a passport, which will allow travel in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

A passport is the best form of ID

It's a good idea to get a passport if you're planning to travel to Mexico, whether or not it is an official requirement.

A passport is the best form of international identification and having one may help you avoid hassles. See the links on the right for information on applying for a U.S. passport.

Very cool! do you have a link to the original article? I thought there might be some pictures to help explain all the new changes!!

Wow. You look great fabulous picture. Sorry for the delayed response. No I don't have the link to the original article. I just copied and pasted what was posted on another site.

She had sx in TJ? Sorry couldn't help myslef.

Good topic. I'm 15 days banded and at first it seems that my incisions were healing really quickly. But for the last 2 days I've noticed that the highest one in the middle, seems like a little hard pimple. No biggie but certainly not flat. As the days go by the incisions do seem a little bit more raised. The only problem I've had is if I turn / twist too much when backing up while driving for example. That's a real ouwie!

Today my port incision began to hurt after days of feeling perfectly fine. Hmmmm. Not really a big concern yet but since you'all brought it up, I thought I'd add my two cents.

Best wishes

Great picture! HA HAAA! Yes the price is exactly what you posted. I was just banded on April 30th. Paid a $500 deposit and paid the balance in Cashier's check on the day of surgery. I drove to TJ with my husband so the only other expense associated with the surgery was our gas (and the GasX for my post-op gas HA HA) and whatever we spent on his meals. The price is definitly right. I considered a local Dr here in the Los Angeles Area but after receiving an initial quote of 18K, I took a leap of faith and scheduled my surgery with Dr Ortiz ASAP. Still at the beginning stages but no regrets at all. I don't believe I received any lesser treatment at all my going to MX. As a matter of fact I probably got as good of care if not better. I understand that fills can be a problem if you are unable to return to MX but it seems most people find a way to work this out.

Best wishes

So my surgery is this Thursday and I'm supposed to lose 15 lbs. before then, but I'm only down like 6!! Will my surgery be canceled? Anyone have any tips other than just a liquid diet to lose bigtime between now and then?

I only lost half of my pre op weight. Everything was fine. I didn't want to shut my metabolism down so I was kind of resistant to cutting calories below 1200. I heard too many stories about people consuming almost nothing post op and not losing. I guess everybody is different but you'll most likely be fine. Best wishes.

First fill June 20! Can't wait. Now I realize the scary part is doing "my part" post surgery and not the surgery itself. I lost a lot of good enery worrying for nothing pre-op. Good luck on your upcoming surgeries.

Found this info on another site, FYI

Interesting info about AP bands

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I found this info on the 'net and thought I'd share it:

The "skinny" on the AP:

Allergan/Inamed has a new band in the US called the AP band.

AP stands for Advanced Platform.

There are a couple of differences in this band and the previous ones:

1. Cuff - the cuff on the AP band is 360 degrees around, as opposed to about 300 degrees on the prior bands (there was no cuff around the buckle on the old ones)

2. Cuff length - the cuff on the AP band is 18mm longer/taller than on the previous bands, so the surface area in contact with the stomach is much greater, hopefully increasing the speed of weight loss and maybe reducing the risk of slips

3. Cuff volume - the AP small holds 10cc, the AP large holds 14cc

Note that we do not believe that AP patients will lose MORE weight, just possibly faster. So those of you with the older models, it would definitely not be to your benefit to think about having your band swapped out!

·They are either APS (small, 10cc) or APL (large, 14cc).

·They are considered by some to be "the next generation in AGBs".

·They are considered less likely to cause blockage or obstruction than other AGP types.

·They are considered less likely to slip than other AGP types.

·They are considered to be less likely to cause band erosion than other AGP types.

·Like the VG band it is "Omniform" technology - i.e. the balloon has ribs or baffles and the band itself is curved.

·The AP has more of a 360 inflation around the stomach as opposed to the 10cm or 9.75cm (4cc) bands, which have more like 260 or 280 degrees inflation (the rest being the buckle), and the VG which has more like 280 or 300. It is understood that this was simply an upgrade to the existing band to make it easier and less traumatic to remove.

·The silicone material is much softer than other AGP types.

·They are more concentric (rounded) when inflated than other AGB types.

·The balloon is pleated to 'grip' the stomach better.

·The balloon goes all the way around the inner surface of the band, rather than missing a piece at the locking mechanism.

·The balloon is wider.

·They have an easier release mechanism to remove the band if need be.

·They have the locking mechanism isolated from the stomach.

·AP type bands have been FDA approved for the US, but will not be available until the summer at the earliest.

·We understand that there are NO plans at this time to discontinue any of the bands Allergan already makes. They still plan to manufacture and offer the 10cm and the 9.75cm (the 4cc) bands as well as the VG band.

·new : AP ( Advanced Platform )

·APS ( small)

·APL ( large )