LisaVA

I went back to the hotel on a sat, then to the back and forth to the clinic on mon, tues, and weds. and flew home on weds. I hope all goes well for you, i look forward to hearing about it.

Congratulations !! How brave of you !!

I, too, want a tummy tuck and breast lift (poss augmentation) -- can you email me your pics ?

Thank you so much for the willingness to share your story !

Lisa

cruiser42@gmail.com

I had my plastic done at OCC in November and I LOVE my results, I had a tummy tuck, liposculpture, brazillian butt lift and breast implants. I am very satisfied next is my thigh and arm lift. Ill be posting some pics!!!

Can you advise who your Dr is and if its not too inappropriate, approximately how much it cost ?

Thank you ! Congratulations !

Lisa

I didn't have one, and glad about that. My band got a little tight (I think it was due to all the saline they pumped into me) but I was eating soup and protein shakes anyway. It settled back down and I didn't gain any weight throughout my surgeries. (I've had three so far - going in for my facelift on the 28th and don't plan on an unfill)

Good luck, you'll love it! And I wish I moved my port - that's my only regret!

Lisa

Hi Lisa !

Can you share who has done your surgeries and who will do your facelift ? I'm in the investigative stage and very hungry for info !

Thank you !

Lisa

Congrats, Lori ! How are you feeling and how do you feel about your results ??? Best of luck to you !!!

Lisa

How exciting!!! You should be 1 day post op!! Go slow and do everything they tell you to do!

What a journey, Dave - congratulations! We've all watched your journey - this is such a new,

exciting phase!

You should feel so proud of yourself - what an amazing transformation and gift! You deserve it!!

Heal well, our friend!!! Report when you are able and know that you have a large fan club out here

wishing you well!!!

Lisa

I'm sorry I missed you! I went down Apr 23rd (late), had my fill the 24th and back the 24th.

I have to work OT to pay for it, but I use it as a mini vacation --

I wouldnt do it without the flouro -- and I'm sure Fill Centers are good or DR O wouldnt associate

himself with them - but when I read they wouldnt fix it if they blew it - it sort of freaked me out

a little -- I think when I'm ready for my next fill I'll call them to talk about it - and then decide

whether or not to return to TJ.

One thing I wasnt thinking when I got my band is that fills are necessary AS YOU LOSE WEIGHT.

As your stomach, and everything else, gets smaller, your band loosens ! (Of course, but I just

wasnt thinking about it in that way). So even tho I have great restriction now, and I'm losing -

as I lose, my restriction should lessen and at some point I'm going to need another fill.

Anyway, as I learn I'll post !!

Have a great week, everyone -- and thanks for the prayers !! the tornados were in the South east

part of the state (near my mom and one uncle-but my family is safe and unharmed). That was wicked

and I, too, said a bunch of prayers.

Take care, fellow bandsters !!!

Lisa

Where are you from Lisa? I'm from central Pa. and am looking for a fill Doc. I'm going to the OCC for my first fill next month. =D> Darlene

I'm in VA, just outside DC -- there's a Fill Centers USA in Mt Laurel, NJ -- and others have used it successfully --

I just didnt want to risk it - I've come a long way to get this band and I'm like a momma bear protecting her cub.

Anyway - I went back to TJ, and will again next time -- but thats a highly personal decision.

Great luck to you, Darlene !!

Lisa

I think everyone's body, and everyone's band is different - and the first fill might do the trick !

you just wont know -- and even tho I'm on the other side of the Country, it was important to me

that I go back to TJ = so I just worked O/T and saved it, as I'm doing for a potential 3rd fill due to

the weightloss I expect from this one!

I could go to a Fill Center USA 150 miles from me (drive up, get filled, drive home), but I prefer

OCC to do it ! I have NO questions about it from them. And I do turn it into a mini vacation!

Best of luck to you all, whatever fill you are on !!!! =D> =D>

Lisa

I had my hair cut and colored by Nick Arrojo (What Not to Wear) !!!

It was an awesome experience - just a shade under $600 after all was

said and done -- def. a once in a lifetime thing !!!

I didnt give him any guidance (my mistake) and I got a great soccer-mom

cut, but I really wanted rocker-chick hair.

So 8 weeks went by, I went back to the girl who has cut my hair for about

12 years, showed her a couple of pictures, and as of yesterday, have short,

sassy, rocker chick hair !

Still loved meeting Nick and doing the NYC thing -- and thats very interesting

about Kim Vo -- my hair stylist said -- if you were going to go celebrity, why

didnt you go to Kim VO !!??? (cuz Nick was a day trip - Vegas isnt !)

Thanks for letting me dish a little --

Lisa

I just returned home from TJ getting my second fill --- WOW !!!!

I had my surgery April 9, 2007 and got a fill about 8 weeks later.

I pretty much could eat whatever I wanted.....HOWEVER!

even tho I was not consistent in my exercise and did NOT eat well

all the time - I didnt gain any weight !!!! Do you know what a miracle

that is ????? If I did not have this band, and I went one year sporadically

exercising and eating a good, balanced diet -- I would have gained 20-30

pounds !!! I didnt gain any !!!!!!! That is the real reason I got this in the first

place - to stop my yo-yo. I've lost and gained the same 100 pounds about 6

times in my life -- so obviously I can lose the weight, I just cant keep it off !

So -- I know its time for a fill, and the $ and the planets line up, and I go to TJ

for a fill ==== holy mackeral !!!! I can only eat about a 1/2 a cup of food before

I'm full ! And I am full for HOURS !! This thing is the greatest thing in the world !!!!!

I LOVE MY BAND !!!!!!!!

Just had to share that -- thanks ! Best of luck to all !

Lisa

I was going to use Fill Centers USA in Mount Laurel, NJ, until I read on their disclaimer page

that if they punctured my tubing or damaged my port, they would NOT pay to repair it !

Are they out of their minds ? If they break it, they'd darn well better fix it ! I would LOVE

to be able to drive up, get a fill and go home (Mt Laurel is 150 miles from me). It is so much

easier, and cheaper than flying across the country for 2 days to go to TJ - but I know in my

soul that if there were any mishap during my fill at the OCC, they'd happily fix it - on the spot

at no cost. (now if I break it, thats another story).

Anyway - it certainly gave me pause -- next fill I think I'll call and ask them about it - but it

was a show stopper for me this time!

Lisa

I was all set to cancel my flight and fill in TJ and go to the Fill Center USA in Mount Laurel.

I filled out my on-line data, and was reading through the liability waiver stuff you have to

read and accept and this stopped me cold: they said that if they screw up my band, or

puncture my tubing - they will not repair it ! If they do puncture my tubing , my band is

worthless until I get it fixed, and frankly, if they mess it up, I fully expect them to fix it !!

I would certainly love to drive up one morning, get a fill and drive home - instead of

flying 6 hours across the country, staying in a hotel for 2 nights, paying for transportation to/from,

etc == but I know in my soul that if anything happened to my port during a fill at the OCC,

they'd fix it, no cost, no questions asked.

I figure that before my next fill, I'll call and talk to them about it - but it certainly made me stop

this time!!

Looking great, Angela !!!! Keep up the awesome work, sister !

Love,

Lisa

I am scheduled for my second fill at OCC this coming week. It costs $300 to fly from VA, and will probably be another $300+ for transportation,

fill and hotel - and I was about to cancel it all and drive to a fill center 150 miles away, but when I was reading the "rules" on the Fill Centers USA

website, this stopped me cold: {I'm paraphrasing} - if they cause damage to your port or tubing - they wont fix it - its on me to pay to repair.

Uhm, NO ! If they screw it up they better fix it for FREE. They wont, so I'll go back to OCC whom I know and trust to do it right -- even if its twice

as much. I was really going to use the Fill Center, but not after reading that.

Tijuana, here I come!

Lisa

no, but there are detailed instructions on how to take the trolley and bus... take taxi to border.. cross border take trolley to downtown take bus to airport.. pull up the san diego transit website its really easy

Hi, Tom - I'm sorry we will miss each other - I was hoping to meet you! I was all ready to do the walk, trolley thing until I read todays Washington Post. I'm tough, but I'm not stupid, I won't do this alone.

(I tried to link it, but its not a stand alone article - sorry) Take good care - good luck on your fill! Lisa

SECURITY WATCH

Abductions in Mexico

A new travel alert -- or, to be precise, an updated alert -- was issued last week for Americans traveling to Mexico. The State Department bulletin was concerned primarily with criminal activity in the border towns and warned of an increase in narcotics-related violence, including carjackings and armed robbery. But it was this rather astonishing statement that caught CoGo's eye: "Dozens of U.S. citizens were kidnapped and/or murdered in Tijuana in 2007."

Wondering why a stern warning wasn't issued sooner? It's not that media outlets haven't dutifully reported the situation. A February article in the San Diego Union-Tribune, for instance, revealed that "organized, well-financed and violent Mexican kidnapping cells are targeting a growing number of U.S. citizens visiting communities popular with San Diegans and other California residents." Indeed, according to the paper, at least 26 residents of the San Diego area were abducted and held for ransom last year.

When contacted by CoGo, Arturo Martinez Esquer of the Baja California State Tourism Secretariat disputed media accounts of a crime wave, stating that Baja "welcomes more than 25 million visitors a year. Only a few of those have experienced any considerable setbacks during their stay, and none of them since late November of 2007." He said 380,000 people visited Baja during the recent spring break season and experienced no "major setbacks."

But Newsweek, which also investigated the kidnapping surge, reported in a February issue that 18 Americans have been abducted since Thanksgiving . Some of the victims were seriously injured and others were killed, according to the magazine.

One thing's for sure: Americans visiting Mexican border towns should exercise caution. For information on how to avoid being a crime victim in Tijuana, see the Web site of the U.S. consulate general in Tijuana at http://tijuana.usconsulate.gov.

LisaVA if you want i should be getting my fill around 930-1030 on april 23rd we can either walk back across border or take taxie from clinic or even hotel... its no more than 2 mile walk... and the way i go pretty safe.. then to the trolley then one bus to airport. just let me know...

Hi, Tom! my fill appt is Thursday morning at 11 - will you still be there ?? I'm coming in the night before --

Lisa

Hi Lisa--

You sound like you (or should I say your luggage -haha) will not be easy to miss! That is great!! My daughter and I are both white, I have blond(bottle-haha)/brown hair, layered and shoulder length, and my daughter has super long medium brown hair (that is hard to miss). We were just banded at the end of February and heading to OCC for our first fill. Both of us have definitely slowed in our weight loss, so we are looking forward to the fill. Also, my daughter is eating her heart out over a missed opportunity at a Lous Vuitton backpack that I think I offered to buy her at Plaza Rio. I think both of us were still feeling the effects of the aneshesia on that one - I know I must have been - haha. Excited to meet up with you. Are you traveling with someone?

Diana

Ouch - hopefully you can find the LV backpack again !! nope, I'm all by myself. Claudia has confirmed (altho she keeps typing 4/24, and I keep

saying NOPE, its the 23rd !!) so I think we are set! I dont know how they'll figure it out, but I'm leaving it to them. Other bandsters are reporting

a fill special at $275 for transpo, fill, hotel for 1 night -- thats good !! I just have to add another night and I'm set ! I look forward to meeting you

both ! Safe journey !!

Lisa

(Lisa this is a duplicate post)

Hi Lisa--

I'm glad you posted. If you are emailing Claudia, please let her know that we will share the OCC van. Thanks for being willing to wait for us. Look forward to meeting you there. My email is tootsie_lou@comcast.net if you would like to swap cell numbers. Is this your first fill?

Diana

Hi !

I have emailed Clauida and I'm happy to wait -- its beautiful there - I've never seen an airport that had a marina across the street ! I will take a much

needed walk! No, this is my second fill, but its been about 9 months - I'm much overdue. I had my band placed on April 9th (07) - I've lost about 30 pounds,

but have not worked it like I should and desparately need another fill. The good news, and the real reason I got my band in the first place is that I have

not gained ANY weight ! Thats always been my problem.

My cell # is (edited out for safety - send this patient a private note for her number > Lori), and I'll look for you downstairs by baggage claim. I'm a white female, 48, light brown shoulder length hair, 5'6 - and my luggage

small carryon and tote is black and white zebra striped.

I'm excited ! Thanks !

Lisa

Hi Lisa--

We (my daughter and I) are also arriving that evening. Our scheduled flight arrives a little bit later, at 8:45 pm. We are also staying at the Lucerne.

Diana

Diana - hi, sorry, I posted in 2 spots -- sorry!!! Yes, I'd be happy to wait for you !! I will email Claudia --

I, too am staying at Lucerne. It will be great to meet you both !

Lisa

Arriving April 23 at 0830 in morning.. i'm doing the trolley thing back and forth in same day... Anyone want to tag along it's much cheaper than the van... Done it 3-4 times now

Hi, Tom - I might do that back == can you tell me more details on how to do it ?

Since I'm probably ride sharing down (you're getting in EARLY!), I might do it

back -- how would I do it from Lucerna? Thanks !!

Lisa

Lisa--

My daughter and I are arriving on the same evening, 4/23, but a bit after you. Our arrival is scheduled for 8:45 pm. Maybe we will see you there. We are getting a ride with the OCC van.

Diana

Hi, Diana ! I'm willing to wait to share costs -- I've been emailing Claudia - do you want me to tell her we'll

share ?? Thats fine with me!! When are you leaving ??

Lisa

Hi ! I am arriving at San Diego on April 23rd at 7:49 pm. If anyone else is arriving near

there and wants to share a ride to Lucerna, please let me know. Thanks!!!!

Lisa

PS - - Returning Friday night for a 10pm flight .....ditto

I had PS in Mexico and am very happy with my results. Both docs at Cosmed have gotten rave reveiws @ plasticsurgeryjourneys.com (a support group for people traveling aborad for plastic surgery). I reccommend you check out that site as there are first hand experiences posted there (including horror stories).

Luckily, I did alot of research and am very happy with the results!

No more hanging skin and I finally feel "normal".

=)

Congrats, MaryMary !

Good for you!!

I'll be headed there for ps in about a year.

Glad to know the trail is blazed.

Lisa

Mary -- I'm so sorry you are having this trouble ! May you be completely well again very very soon!

The OCC angels are gifts from God, I think (and I'm not that religous!). I'm glad you were in their

very capable hands.

Dont give up ! You are your best advocate when dealing with doctors who are not associated with

the OCC !

Keep us posted....we are thinking about you!!!!

Lisa

Hi! I am arriving at San Diego airport on April 23rd at 7:49 pm if thats any help to you -

I'm not leaving till Friday night - so I doubt that would help you on the return.....

Lisa

I am going to Cosmed in TJ (Dr. Quiroz) on July 20. I am getting a breast lift with inplants for $4400. I have heard alot of good things about this doc and feel comfortable with him after having my consult.

Hey Housecatgirl !!

Can you give us an update ???

How did it go ???

thanks!

Lisa