I had interviewed 6 doctors before going to TLC; when you first walk in the office is beautiful and very clean, the staff was beyond kind and helpful. Upon meeting Dr. Scarborough I had a lot of questions which he had no problem answering. He was so friendly and informative that by the end of the consult I felt so at ease, I knew this was going to be my surgeon. My work insurance covered a majority of my procedure but from the moment I decided to book my surgery, his staff handled pretty much everything for me and kept me in the loop the whole time. With insurance you have a checklist to complete before they cover the actual procedure the counseling, diet meetings, and extra testing (endoscopy and cardiac workup) insured my confidence in the safety of having this procedure done. The pre op and post op information/guidelines they provide you with are detailed and helpful. After my surgery, Dr. Scarborough recommends staying 2 nights to make sure everything went smoothly. The nursing staff at TMC Memorial Hermann was wonderful and Dr. Scarborough was always easily available at all times if I had any questions or concerns. My post-op was pretty easy, no complications and I say this because I believe if you follow their post op instructions your recovery will go by smoothly. It has been 22 months since my surgery and I have met my goal weight, as well as undergo cosmetic surgery to remove excess skin from the weight loss. I couldn't be happier with my decision to have TLC do my surgery! I would recommend him to anyone!
Hello to all I was desperately looking for some change when it came to my weight gain struggle. I have been overweight my whole life. The most I've ever weighed has been 270lbs and I am 5'7''1/2. I've done all types of diets from quick weight loss to cabbage soup. Two years ago I lost about 50lbs with traditional diet and exercise. I really lived a strict lifestyle with about 4 days of workouts and food measurements. And surprise..surprise gained it all back in a year. I was so discouraged. So I looked into to the gastric balloon. This is my second week. Its been challenging. Im struggling the most now with uncontrolled reflux and constipation. My journey so far Pre-op: preop weight 241lbs. 3 day liquid diet before. I lost about 5lbs doing this Week 1: Nausea was pretty bad. Phenergen suppositories helped the most but made me sleepy. I went back to work in 1 week. It was ok. My portions have dramatically dropped and cravings for junk food almost doesnt exist. Week 1 weight loss 13lbs Im currently now struggling reflux, but I will keep you updated
So far I have had answers to so many questions from wonderful doctors who has guide me. I am just about to get a Gastro Sleeve and wanted to know how much time should I wait before doing a TT & BBL. I am so happy with the support and learning ahead of time what to expect and how to do everything the right way. I will wait 3-6 months after having my gastro sleeve done to get a stable weight so see how much skin hangs afterwards. I do know I have to have enough fat to fill in my buttocks. So I will be asking again to these wonderful doctor when I am almost ready along with pictures! This is a great website love it! Updated on 3 Jan 2016: I am ready to do this procedure, yes I am scared nervous and I feel like its the beginning of a new me. I have done my diet liquid I have not lost much weight I retain much but anyways I am just waiting for the clock to tick so I can go to the hospital. I am taking everything step by step since this is not going to be my only surgery I'm looking to do more to myself. Hopefully this surgery is not going to frighten me out. I have a my meds and everything in place hopefully I recover fast to see results of weight lost in me. Updated on 5 Jan 2016: Hi today I am on my second day after surgery and I am ok, hardly any pain since I am on medication. People there is no fear of having surgery I have experience the best and I don't regret doing this surgery. Updated on 6 Jan 2016: Everything is fine so far I feel like I am recovering after 3 day Post-op I just have trouble with getting this gas out my belly is bloated and that's what really hurts. If you think its the pain of the small incisions the doctor makes you are wrong don't worry about that. I only feel bloated I am able to walk, lay, and sit down on my own. I am not feeling hungry at all I have to make myself have some liquids that have all the vitamins inside. The cool part of all this is I have lost 15 pds in these few days and its just been 3 days!!!! I was 235 when I went in for surgery and now I am 220 I am noticing this is becoming something amazing. I will keep you all informed about my transformation. I all by myself took out the ON-Q PAIN BUSTER at the hospital my nurse told me he was going to remove it and I told him, "No! I am paying for this medication to go home with me, I will take it out myself." The nurse was surprise how we are all educated, I was told by a nurse staff at my doctor's office to take it home for pain and I could take it out myself 2 days after and I did. It was not hard at all the wire is a bit long but no pain when taking it out. Updated on 13 Feb 2016: At the beginning I had some depression which is normal since I was use to eating everything I wanted. But, now its like I feel good and I'm able to see my results I' am about 210 lbs or less I don't weight myself frequently since I learned that not everyone will see the weight numbers drop which is true. I can fit in more clothes, now I eat what my body needs not what I want. I do find myself always eating now what my stomach tolerates. I'm becoming on my own more aware of what is ok to eat and what's not ok. Its a leaning process that your new stomach teaches you day by day. I now have more discipline in what I can eat and what not to. I am honest if I did not have this surgery I would still be eating and craving sweets and other foods I use to love eating. If you are really tired of being fat and one as this is the surgery you need, I was tired and I was determine to change my life. I am so happy I did it, I don't miss eating anything since I don't feel the same hunger I use to. Bottom line here is....."This is the remedy for all those people who can not stop eating like I did at once. I also found out I have more money saved since I'm not into all that about going to Chinese Buffets and restaurant. Love this new life style!!!! Don't think twice do it! Updated on 13 Feb 2016: My dream and next step after reaching my weight goal is to go to Dominican Republic for BBL and TT. Updated on 9 Mar 2016: I have been so happy with my results I am already 200lbs after being 238 before surgery. Its only been 2 months since my surgery I fit in more cloth then before. My stomach rules not my mind anymore, when my stomach says NO MORE its NO MORE!!!! I feel very happy and more confidence in myself then ever. I just need to work on drinking more water, I can tell you I am not experiencing no more hunger depression I go to sleep without eating the big plates of BBQ, foods I use to love I just no longer desire. I feel disgusted when I think I can eat like before, I'm not able to put in whatever I use to eat. I only have 2 bites of anything and that's it no more I just have that sleeve working doing it for me. This is the best thing I have ever done in my life, my children ask if I ant hungry I forget to eat at some point. I know what my stomach enjoys and its more greens specially lettuce. I love the change and if your thinking about getting this done do it don't be scared to make a positive change in your life. Updated on 29 Mar 2016: I am know able to eat with more confidence at the beginning I was not enjoying food. My stomach loves more veggies and healthy food, it seem like a long process but it has not been. I can't believe I'm about to be 3 months post-op on the 4th of April. I am able to fit in more cloth I finally got to wear a sexy dress and look good in it. I feel normal and love the results, I can see I draw more attention from people when I go out then before. I have been taking my vitamins and drinking plenty of water to avoid hydration. I do forget to eat sometimes I have to remind myself to eat. I drink a protein shake in the morning and all day I'm good. I eat real light food nothing heavy since I feel real full with just anything. Here I have posted new pictures of myself hope you can see the difference. Updated on 3 Apr 2016: I am shocked I lost weight I am 200.4 lbs been almost going on 3 months tomorrow 4/3/2016 I am finally getting out of the 200 lbs I had done exercise in 2015 for more then 6 months and I only had dropped 20 lbs getting only to be 215lbs. I was never able to get out of the 200lbs and the problem was I could not stop eating that was my biggest battle. The more I would do exercise the more hungry I would get at night and the weight was just gaining more. I would go to weight doctor clinics and take pills that would be stop you from eating and but give you a huge headache and dry mouth. I thought doing this would help me lose weight but, this took me to having aggressive migraines more complications. If you are one that does this stop that will make you gain more weight once you stop the medication. You will double up the amount you lost with so much effort. This is what make me seek another option and this is why I decided to do this surgery. I knew my problem was the big plates of meal I was eating and I could not stop that on my own. I needed help and I got the help I needed. I eat but I can choice what to eat and I do not get to choice how much I can eat. That's the best part of all I have that feeling of being full with a few bites and I can exercise and lose the weight I want to lose with success or own its own without exercise. It goes slow when you do not exercise but, I don't want to lose to much weight since my next step is a tummy tuck and a butt lift. I am saving for that next procedure mean while I'm taking it slow since he's you need fat to do that surgery. Well I hope this helps any who is wanting to do this surgery. Another thing is my feet shrunk I was a size 7 and know I am a size 6 amazing the way my feet also feels the effect. My back does not hurt anymore like before and my knees don't shake. Feel good and better then before. Updated on 18 Apr 2016: I am worried I'm starting to eat more, I need to stop and choice well my meals. Yes I don't feel hungry but that old me still keeps trying to make me eat. I do feel a different way of hunger not like before, I am very happy with my results. I am now 194 lbs but this weekend I notice I was able to eat a little more. To keep losing I must know how to stop it and yes I can. I need to keep busy and do more exercise to reach my goal. I lost so much weight in my legs and my stomach is dropping. I am becoming more saggy from my skin so I have to lift weights. Updated on 14 Sep 2016: I am so happy with my results, I have done so well after sx. I lost 70 lbs in 8 months I am now adapted to my new way of eating, I eat small portions don't feel hungry at all like before. I use to always be hungry not able to control my appetite, I see how many people struggle with the that issue. Everything I use to love eating now does not no longer drive me nuts, I control what I put in my mouth. I can not mix drinking any liquid with eating that's a huge no no! If you think you will do that believe me your stomach will feel all blown. Do I do excerise I'm not going to lie rare, I will disappear faster! I asked my doctor about me looking all boney and ugly. Doctor told me not to worry my own body will stop on its own where it needs to stop. I take PRENATAL VITAMINS since Biatric vitamins are so expensive, all my lab work comes back great! I do take Vitamin D aslo but need to check with your doctor, everybody is different. I do have lose skin from the weight that I lost. I have not lost no hair, I feel great! I am now on my next step going to get TT, BBL, and Lipo. If you plan on getting this sx the sleeve don't think it twice do it! You will never regret it, I eat much of what I want but very small portions, frequently. But continue to drop weight as I go, I want to lose about 30 lbs more hope to get there soon. I'm going to start the gym more often to tone up!
I has the biggest I had ever been I smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, I was short of breath after taking a shower and trying to dry myself off. I hit an all time low and decided I was way to unhealthy to enter my 30s. I decided to have gastric by pass at TLC surgery center in Houston. I was 250lb on Nov 26 2012 when I went in for surgery the first 4 months were the hardest for recovery, its been 2 years and im now 140 I went from 3x/sz 24 to medium /sz9. I would do it all over again in a heart beat
Tomorrow is my first consultation with the surgeon & nutritionist. I'm planning on having a surgery date before I leave! I've spent years building up to this moment. Unable to exercise. Watching my health getting worse. Dieting, loose a few pounds, gain that back plus a few more pounds. I want to play with the kids! Ride my bike. Wear cute clothes from off the rack on a "regular" department store! Still be able to breathe when I walk across a room! I'm tired of being depressed because of everything I CAN NOT DO! I HATE going past a mirror! Who is that fat, unhealthy girl? I don't want to be her any more! Updated on 7 Feb 2014: Visits went well yesterday and I left with my goal achieved: My new, healthier life begins Wednesday, February 26, 2014! I was so disappointed when I got on the scales only to learn I gave gained yet another 1½ pounds over the past 6 weeks. Just another kick to my self esteem. I am going to work hard on the mindset of seeing it as a confirmation that this procedure is the right decision. Updated on 12 Feb 2014: Whew! Day one is history! Today I clearly learned: Our society is obsessed with food! It's everywhere and the focus of most social gatherings. Diet Challenges: First day. I'm short one 8oz protein drink and 8 oz glass of water. I just could not eat as much as they wanted. I don't eat that often or that much when I am NOT on a diet! The 8oz of water I will drink during the night. CONFESSION: I have decided a few small oyster crackers would be divine in my broth! Lol! Updated on 20 Feb 2014: I am on Day 9 of my 14 day preop diet. I have only lost 4 pounds total and have been stuck here since Day 5. Anyone else have this issue? Updated on 21 Feb 2014: It is now Day 10 of my preop liquid diet and I have only lost 4 pounds. I haven't cheated by honestly thought I could hope to loose at least 10 pounds during this process. I spoke with my doctor's office today. They are not alarmed and say this is perfectly normal. Apparently your body goes into preservation mode & hangs on to the weight so we don't starve ourselves. Thanks body, but I AM starving for a great steak or Tex-Mex cheese enchiladas and a HUGE Coca~Cola!! Updated on 21 Feb 2014: Pardon my poor editing and too much help from auto correct in the last post! Updated on 23 Feb 2014: Went for my pre-op at the hospital yesterday. 5 tubes of blood donated, (lol) a urine sample, and a lot of instructions for Wednesday. Finally, a tour of the patient rooms and a great meeting with the nurses. We shared a few laughs and I left feeling more confident than ever this is the right choice for me. Updated on 1 Mar 2014: Day 4 Post Op. I had a textbook Gastric Sleeve procedure on Wednesday. Came home on Friday. Will update more in the next few days. Updated on 12 Mar 2014: My surgery was positively text book from the doctor's perspective. Minimal pain and no complications. I spent 3 days and 2 nights in the hospital. I had the absolute best nursing care a person could ever hope to have! Coming home to a quiet house was nice. I've been experiencing very unexpected emotions. Nothing I would describe as depression, just unexpected self doubt. Thoughts like, "I am going to be an awful exception to weight loss & not loose even with the sleeve as a tool." "I will never celebrate the incredible amounts of weight loss I see others celebrating 3, 6, 12 months out!" Many negative, self doubts that caught me completely off guard. I am told these feelings are not uncommon which is comforting and I will continue to work through them. My total weight loss at 10 days out was 20 pounds, with 4.6 pounds coming off in the 14 day pre-op two week liquid diet. So far, I believe the Sleeve was and will be a great investment in my health. Updated on 23 Mar 2014: My doc said he is pleased with my weight loss & recovery. He does not consider me to be a slow loser though I do. 26 pounds in 3 weeks and seemingly on a plateau which I understand is normal. Need more exercise and to get ALL my protein in, which is still a struggle to do. I want 50 pounds gone already. I want to be in One~derland!! My daughter gets married the end of May. I want her to be surprised and proud of me! Updated on 26 Mar 2014: Exactly one month ago today I invested in myself and had the VSG. Today I woke up 30 pounds lighter and more encouraged because I know the best is yet to come! Updated on 21 Apr 2014: Six weeks later. I don't see much difference but I have gone from a size 26 to a size 20!
Hello RealSelf! Long time lurker here, and I'm excited to start my own journey after seeing all of the good, bad, and ugly reviews regarding VSG & other surgical options for weight loss. First, I'll start off with a little bit of information about myself- I'm 28 years old, and like so many of you, have been dieting forever... nearly two DECADES now.... basically my entire life. I can vividly recall going on my first diet at the age of 11, and have been battling the bulge ever since! I have been on every diet out there at one time or another, and needless to say, despite them all, I have steadily and continuously yo-yo'd and gained weight. I believe at my height (5'2) my ideal weight is around 125- 130. In my adult life, I've gotten down to around 139, but my body has always insisted on staying in the 150's despite tracking every single macro, calorie, and killing myself in the gym for months. Because of the extreme effort I always had to put forth to maintain my weight, I had become discouraged and in the last few years, I have steadily gained weight due to lack of consistency with dieting and exercise. Surgery never crossed my mind because I was never eligible for it, but I reached my highest weight at 196 lbs, and it dawned on me that my BMI is actually high enough to be considered for surgery! Since I was absolutely fed up, I decided to take a leap of faith and inquire about the surgery. Because my sister had already had VSG, I knew the basics, pros, cons, and generally what to expect, so I started my journey and went on two consultations in December 2019. Based on reviews, facility, ancillary staff, locations, and bedside manner, I chose Dr. Terry Scarborough with Texas Laparoscopic Surgery in Houston, Texas. Here's a basic timeline- Dec 19th- Initial consultation + lab work (approx $500 out of pocket for labs + $60 for copay) Height- 5'2, weight- 192 lbs, BMI 35.1 (Barely made it!) Comorbidity- hypertension Dec 24- appointment with primary health physician to obtain letter of medical clearance/ necessity, 5 year weight history ($30 copay) Jan 9- Nutrition class ($50 out of pocket) Jan 12- Over the phone psych consult- ($40 out of pocket) Jan 21- Insurance submission Jan 23- Insurance approval Jan 31- EGD + Biopsies (findings- hiatal hernia, polyp, mild gastritis) ($1052 out of pocket) Feb 3- 2 week liquid pre op diet started Feb 6- Pre Op appointment ($790 out of pocket) Feb 17th- Scheduled surgery! (Out of pocket price to be determined) I am pleased and frankly shocked with how fast this entire process has gone. I honestly was thinking insurance would deny me since my BMI teeters between 33 & 35 and I only have one comorbidity, but here we are! My only complaint as of right now is how EXPENSIVE this all is despite insurance approval. I have a high deductible plan with Cigna, and so far they are still saying I haven’t met any of the $500 deductible. I will also have to pay the hospital once they contact me. Once all claims are submitted, I should receive refunds. I know this is a lot of information, but I want to provide a comprehensive review for people like me who want to know specific details of this process. Hopefully this helps people with Cigna or other high deductible insurance plans. ?Last things to do before surgery- Urinalysis, fill prescriptions, call the hospital for preop lab work/ schedule surgery time. It’s so close I can almost taste it! Will update here and possibly provide before/ after pictures! Updated on 12 Feb 2020: I’ve stuck to the two week liquid fast to the T, and I have to say I started this week a little fed up of these freaking protein shakes. I was (am) just tired of the sweetness, and while broth is an option, it isn’t great either tbh lol. But it’s necessary so I will keep at it. I had another Pre-Op appointment today at the anesthesia clinic which included another $700.00 down payment of the $2,200+ that I will owe for my 20% of the surgery. Note to everyone... if you plan on having this procedure “covered” by insurance, be sure that you don’t select a high deductible plan! With that being said, although I would like to be paying less out of pocket, this is worth the money to me. The pre op appt went fine although initially my BP was 165/119 (yes, you read that right) despite me having taken my blood pressure medicine prior to coming. They said that if it didn’t come down, the surgery would be cancelled. Luckily the next time they came back it was 156/98. I have hypertension, but this is definitely white coat syndrome. My BP is usually a lot lower at home. The rest of the appointment included them gathering medical history, getting pre op labs, an EKG, and explaining instructions/ giving me a run down for surgery day. I also got the CHG (chlorohexadine) soap that I am to bathe with the night before and the morning of the procedure. I am supposed to be getting a call Friday letting me know when the actual time is. It’s just a waiting game at this point! Can’t believe this is happening! Updated on 14 Feb 2020: Just got a call with my surgery time for Monday! I am to arrive at the hospital by 9 AM. The actual surgery will be at 12:30, but I was told that they typically run ahead of schedule, so they want me there by 9 AM. It’s getting realllll! Will update with stats & some pictures at some point. Updated on 17 Feb 2020: I’m headed to the hospital as we speak. I’ve bathed with the CHG soap last night and this morning and drank my 20 oz G2 last night well as this morning. I’m so ready for this!
My results are beyond expected! I started out at 260-270 BMI around 37 with untreated PCOS that lead me to being pre diabetic. Every person at TLC surgery was beyond amazing from receptionists, nurses, insurance verifiers, counselors as well as the classes provided made my transition for my life changing surgery so easy. Dr. Scarborough was so well informed and was always willing to sit there patiently while I asked hundreds of "What if" questions. My surgery was done at the hospital where I stayed for 48 hours which made me feel at ease. He stopped by 1-2 times a day to check on me post op and was easy to keep in touch with at all times. Once I went home my healing process was easy thanks to their detailed post op instructions provided. No complications from this surgery being that I followed dietary and fitness requirements as prescribed by the doctor. I got down to 130 after one year post op but gained about 15 from muscle. I have since I surgery to reconstruct my breast and stomach from the weight loss results. Updated on 6 Dec 2016: Updated on 6 Dec 2016:
Wow, I have 6 days to go before the first day of the new me. I am 46 years old and 5'2. I have herniated disks in my back and neck, breathing and sleeping issues, high blood pressure, takes a bag load of meds and just had a hysterectomy 3 weeks ago. My hubby recommended I have a breast reduction to ease my back pain. My argument was that's not going to resolve all the issues, losing weight would be mult-purposeful. A week ago I was 233lbs. Today I'm 218! I am welcoming any advice, helpful tips, and recommendations as I continue the's last 7 days. ....Anxiously waiting Updated on 13 Jul 2015: I think the biggest challenge I had were the Saturdays before the surgery. Because I had to do it during a holiday, July 4th.Barbecue,cheese & macaroni,etc. But I survived it. The biggest thing that really helped me was to journal. I wrote not only how I felt but primarily everything I did or drunk. For example, 9:00 Breakfast -Strawberry Protein shake Am/Bm, 12:30 Snack - jello, 3:00 Lunch - vanilla protein shake with water on ice, 5:00 snack- broth 7:00 dinner -Mixed Protein Shake 9:00 popsicle. So now I can continue and reflect on my journey to a new me. Updated on 14 Jul 2015: Yes, I've truly made this far by faith. I've made it through the rigorous process of getting approval. Made it through the classes, the tests, and yes even the 2 week of clear liquids. Thank you Lord! Now a few hours away, I will introducing a new me...Wow, almost here. Updated on 21 Jul 2015: Okay I've been posting my journey from the surgery date, I guess not in the right areas. But for the most part the first 3-4 days the gas was rough. Trying to learn my new body. Now It's the evening of day 6 I am on a full liquid diet for 14 days. What I introduce a new food I take the nausea meds first. My body loves the sugar free popsicles. Today I ate a Flintstone vitamin. Fine. I can still only drink 2 iz of protein shake an hour. Where I didn't like to drink water I'm craving cold water even through out the night. I lost 15lbs from the 2 week clear liquid diet. Then another 10 lbs from the surgery last week. From 235 to 207 today!!!! I go to my pre Op doctors visit tomorrow so I will learn how much does the doctor want me to lose & so forth. I wish everyone well and a speedy recovery.
