deena

I reently read an article that said a complete nd total body lift was $50,000 here in the US. Knowing how much effort, cost, and post op care goes into the procedure, I don't think that's to bad. Arms are much less and shouldn't be more han $3-4g. Lots of doctors are hesitant about doing them because it leves a vsible scar...So what, beats bat wings. There is a Doctor Simmons in San Diego who does the best thigh lifts I've ever seen. I think I'll have a consultation with him about arms when I'm ready...which will be immediately after I loose the weight...I'm being banded at the end of September and can hardly wait.

Hi, I've worked with plastic surgeons for over 20 years in California and my late husband was a plastic surgeon. So I know many of these south-of-the-border doctors personally. Why? Because they attend the same training seminars right along with doctors from Europe, South America, Canada, and the U.S.A. Many of the Mexio doctors are trained here (Tulane Medical Schol, U.S.C., and UCLA just to name a few) and some are trained in Europe (University of Vienna, etc.). I'm sure there are some bad ones, but that can be said about anywhere. I had a friend who went to TJ for face work, a lift and a peel and the work was excellent. I had a friend who went to Brazil for a face lift and neck lift and the work was awful. I had a client who want to a supremely qualified plastic surgeon in Hemet, California and she was given the worst eye job I've ever seen...so there you are. I will say that the private plastic surgery hospitals in TJ are very clean and well staffed with a high ratio of qualified nurses per patient. I hope this information doesn't reach you too late to be of help. Good luck, Deena

I have checked out surgical weight loss at great length. I've chosen the ALB for several reaons: it is the healthiest and least invasive surgical procedure, recouperation time is nominal, side effects are minimal, it can be reversed, and it has the fewest complications with the greatest success rate. I studied the band that is used in France and the one that was developed in Sweeden and chose the Adjustable Lap-Band instead: it has the US Pattent so the doctors here are most familiar with it (the only doctor I could find in California who knows the French band is in San Francisco), it has been used for many years with a low incidence of complications (most of which are minor), and other bands that are available out of this country seem to have no design benefits or user benefits that surpas those of the Lap-Band. I chose the TJ clinic on the highest reccomendation: I've worked with plastic surgeons for over twenty years so I know lots of them and not one said anything negative about Dr. Ortiz, most were very complimentary of his cinic and his skills; I've a dear friend who heads the the facial, head, and neck plastic surgical department at one of the most elite and prestigeous universities in the country and he had only good things to say about Dr. Ortiz....In fact the ony doctor who said a dicouraging word was tying desperately to get me to come to him for the surgery and his charge was more than twice that of Dr. Ortiz. I hope this helps with your choice and I wish you the best of luck.

I'm scheduled for surgery 9-30-05. I hear many of you say how relieved you were once you could eat a little yogurt or cottage cheese...I'm big time lactose intollerant and the pills for it don't work unless I take 6 oor 8 of them, and even that's iffy at best. Anyone have any suggestions? I've never found any lactose free cottage cheese or yogurt. Thanks, Deena

After reading the information given here I'm even more excited than I was before, if that's possible. But I have soooooo many questions that I probably can't even begin to list them. Please, any advice, help, information, pointers as far as what to do before and what to do after surgery: food, beverages, vomiting (!!??), etc. I'm sure from the vast accumulation of experience you'll all have some great pointers and I'd sure appreciate it if you'd all take the time to share them. Someone mentioned a liquid protien diet pre-op. I'm unaware that it's necessary to do that. How about liquid Slim Fast afterwards? Would that work or is it too much too soon. Clear broth sounds good, how about diet dirinks like Tropicana's reduced sugar OJ? And what's the best eating scenario before surgery? To anyone who resoponds, hank you all so much in advance for helping. {{Oh, by the way, my cat jumped on the keyboard and pushed something so this letter was sent incomplete the first time, sorry!}}

After reading the information given here I'm even more excited than I was before, if that's possible. But I have soooo many questions that I probably can't even begin to list them. Please, any advice, help, information, pointers as far as what to do before and what to do after surgery: food, beverages, vomiting (!!??), etc. I'm sure from the vast accumulation of experience you'll all have some great pointers and I'd sure appreciate it if you'd all take the time to share them. someone mentioned a liqu