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Hello All: I was invited into this forum by...
Hello All: I was invited into this forum by someone who commented on another post. I am new to realself. I started visiting the site when I begin to research Plastic Surgery options for my excess skin.
A little about myself, I am 31 year old from the 215 area. I am 1 year post op of Gastric Sleeve. My journey begin when a friend of mine secrectly has surgery and shared details later as she begin to drastically drop weight. I then started to entertain the idea of WLS, which I had never before. As far as I can think back, I have always struggled with my weight. The highest weight that I have recorded with my PCP is 300lbs.
In Summer 2011, after much research I picked a surgeon and started the WLS process. I completed all test required and was at the end of my 3 month weight management which was required by my insurance. Upon scheduling my final procedure before scheduling my surgery date, to my suprise I found out that I was pregnant! PREGNANT ME? NO WAY!!! lol I thought at that point it was a sign that maybe the surgery was not for me. I went through with my pregnancy, in May 2012 I delivered a healthy baby girl. I pondered if I should call to find out if and how I should continue with the surgery process. I finally made the decision to. When I called I found out that I only had to complete what was not done and restart the three month weight management that was initially required by insurance. (It expired at 6 months) Sure no problem as I was determined to be a healthy mom for my new daughter. The weight management program did not require much, just a phone call each month with the nutritionist. Now that everything was done, I now had to wait for the insurance company to approve. I GOT APPROVED IN NO TIME!!!! Wooohooo I was scared and excited in no time. Still out on maternity leave (I took 6 months off with my daughter) I was eager to have the surgery done before returning to work in November. My original surgeron was only scheduling well into december. I was disappointed! I went all this way to not be able to have the surgery because I couldn't afford to take more time off. Sigh! Talking to the surgery coordinator she says, " I have a cancellation, but its with the other surgeon" I will take it. So on August 25, 2012 I arrived for Surgery! Nervous, NOPE! Not at all. I was so excited to be starting this new journey. Not knowing what to even expect! I was diving head first. Said a prayer and left it all in GOD's hands.
I can't say that this process has extremely hard for me. But it could also be the reason that I have not reached my goal of 175, because I'm so laid back about it. My highest weight was 300, My surgery weight was 275, and my current weight goes between 198-203 daily. I will be at goal by the time may get here which is when I am planning to have plastic surgery done. I am overall satisfied with my results. I consider myself to be a very slow loser but that's okay with me. Being in some of the facebook weight loss groups I use to really get down about my slow progress, on the scale every morning, and really beating myself up! NOT ANYMORE. This is a life style change for me.
Please feel free to ask any questions. Thanks for allowing me to share. I am sure I left somethings out but will add later. I will also add a few before and after pictures as well.
A little about myself, I am 31 year old from the 215 area. I am 1 year post op of Gastric Sleeve. My journey begin when a friend of mine secrectly has surgery and shared details later as she begin to drastically drop weight. I then started to entertain the idea of WLS, which I had never before. As far as I can think back, I have always struggled with my weight. The highest weight that I have recorded with my PCP is 300lbs.
In Summer 2011, after much research I picked a surgeon and started the WLS process. I completed all test required and was at the end of my 3 month weight management which was required by my insurance. Upon scheduling my final procedure before scheduling my surgery date, to my suprise I found out that I was pregnant! PREGNANT ME? NO WAY!!! lol I thought at that point it was a sign that maybe the surgery was not for me. I went through with my pregnancy, in May 2012 I delivered a healthy baby girl. I pondered if I should call to find out if and how I should continue with the surgery process. I finally made the decision to. When I called I found out that I only had to complete what was not done and restart the three month weight management that was initially required by insurance. (It expired at 6 months) Sure no problem as I was determined to be a healthy mom for my new daughter. The weight management program did not require much, just a phone call each month with the nutritionist. Now that everything was done, I now had to wait for the insurance company to approve. I GOT APPROVED IN NO TIME!!!! Wooohooo I was scared and excited in no time. Still out on maternity leave (I took 6 months off with my daughter) I was eager to have the surgery done before returning to work in November. My original surgeron was only scheduling well into december. I was disappointed! I went all this way to not be able to have the surgery because I couldn't afford to take more time off. Sigh! Talking to the surgery coordinator she says, " I have a cancellation, but its with the other surgeon" I will take it. So on August 25, 2012 I arrived for Surgery! Nervous, NOPE! Not at all. I was so excited to be starting this new journey. Not knowing what to even expect! I was diving head first. Said a prayer and left it all in GOD's hands.
I can't say that this process has extremely hard for me. But it could also be the reason that I have not reached my goal of 175, because I'm so laid back about it. My highest weight was 300, My surgery weight was 275, and my current weight goes between 198-203 daily. I will be at goal by the time may get here which is when I am planning to have plastic surgery done. I am overall satisfied with my results. I consider myself to be a very slow loser but that's okay with me. Being in some of the facebook weight loss groups I use to really get down about my slow progress, on the scale every morning, and really beating myself up! NOT ANYMORE. This is a life style change for me.
Please feel free to ask any questions. Thanks for allowing me to share. I am sure I left somethings out but will add later. I will also add a few before and after pictures as well.
photos
I wanted to share some of my before and after pics with you all.
Pictures to compare my progress.
Hey girls... so since surgery I've been feeling great about my body and it really changes every day. I've been in my stage 2 faja for about a week or so and I'm already on the last set of hooks. My back still aches a little but that's getting better by the day as well. I take pictures almost every day. I stand on the mirror and just look at my body. I am so in love with my results. I can't say it enough but I couldn't have picked a better surgeon. Fatima Almonte was everything that I needed. Her and her staff are simply amazing. So loving and caring. Compassionate for their patients. Since I've been home I talk to them via whatsapp at least twice a week if not more. I've had my 5th massage which is like heaven. I go to my next this Saturday and when i tell you the masseuse hands are the best. I fall alseep every time. Yesterday I decided to take updated pics and compare them to my preop and 3 week post photos. My mouth dropped. So I decided to share.
Provider Review
Dr. Beekley
Awesome doctor, very caring, great staff.