POSTED UNDER Gastric Sleeve Surgery Reviews
5'5", 205 Lbs, Single Incision Gastric Sleeve, Dr. Fernando Garcia at Tijuana Bariatrics - Mexico
UPDATED FROM soamyzing
3 months post
The mental part setting in (12 weeks 49lbs)
soamyzingMarch 9, 2016
WORTH IT$5,250
Almost 50lbs and more than half way to my goal and I'm not seeing it very much. I see the difference but I think I expected 50lbs to be more.... The mental part of this surgery is really getting me down these past couple weeks. But I knew it would. I was told and I read it and I'm prepared. And my loving boyfriend is prepared. We are staying positive and letting my brain catch up on its own time. I just hope that I don't get to my goal and think I'm still fat. At the end of the day I feel healthier and more comfortable and I'm so happy about that! I didn't believe it when people told me I would be happy and sad about my weighloss by now I get it! On a good note, I bought not only a swimsuit but a bikini and I feel ok about wearing it in the house. I'm buying a cover up just in case though. ?????????? (also no more selfies in the mirror. Bad angles bad lighting bad reflections. Let other people take your photos always!)
soamyzing's provider
UPDATED FROM soamyzing
1 month post
6.5 weeks out 35lbs down
soamyzingJanuary 24, 2016
Everything's going great! Really having issues getting my vitamins down but trying! Eating 1/4 cup 2-3x a day and a protein shake. (Premier protein) down 35lbs.
Replies (5)
January 24, 2016
I missed you by a day. I arrived 12/10/15 to San Diego around 9pm because my flight was delayed, got picked up on time, got to the hotel. I was check in promptly and atalia called me to meet her at the lobby at 6.45am the next morning. Anyways, everything went smoothly and I really loved the attention and care I got throughout my stay. Dr Garcia and other doctors were awesome. Will recommend Tijuana Bariatric to anyone and everyone that needs a second chance. Have lost 50 lbs since 12/11/15. I wish you all the best.
January 27, 2016
Thats so funny! I am glad that your experience was as great as mine. Atalia was really great! Congrats on the weight loss! I can't wait to hit 50lbs!
February 28, 2016
Hi there, congratulations on your decision and how well you are doing. I'm scheduled with Dr Garcia in March for single incision. Can you please tell me how big the staple area is on your belly button, and why there are scars above and below your single incision? I'm very worried about scarring. Thanks in advance for any information or advice you can give me.
February 28, 2016
The dots around my belly button on all 4 side is from previous piercings. If you look through my photos you can see the incision with staples and without. I had a total of 4 staples below my belly. He cuts all your belly button inside and down below it. You cannot see the inside incision. Just below. There is also another tiny incision for the drain but it is very small and I can't even find it anymore. I suggest silicone scar patches and silicone gel. If you can afford it, have a doctor back home remove the staples later in your healing (10-14 days) instead of the first week while in mx. I think that really helped also. Lastly one thing I wish I did was have my gallbladder removed. I worry now that if I have to have it removed they won't do the single incision and I will end up having multiple scars anyway :( 25% of patients have to have it removed after surgery. I'll post new photos soon. You can barely see my scar now. Also I'm down 50lbs.
February 28, 2016
Wow! Congratulations on your loss of 50 lbs. That's incredible. Thank you soooooo much for the feedback and advice. I'm scared and excited. Just out of curiosity, why do patients need their gall bladder removed?
February 28, 2016
By the way, your scar is healing beautifully. The six week photos are incredible! :)
March 2, 2016
Here's what I've read: "Gallstones commonly occur with rapid weight loss. Up to 50% of people will develop gallstones after gastric bypass surgery and these are usually harmless. However, gallstones can cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, requiring surgery. About 15% to 25% people require gallbladder removal after gastric bypass surgery." I haven't had any issues yet but the more I follow girls o Instagram who had vsg the more I see they have had it removed and it freaks me out, but only because of the scars. Just would suck to pay $1000 extra just to get scars later :(
February 28, 2016
Congrats! Do you find you have any loose skin? Hard to eat in social settings? Any other unexpected side effects? Thanks!
March 2, 2016
I've been very lucky that I don't have loose skin. (That needs surgery- my thighs aren't "tight") But I'm still in the beginning of my journey. My breasts have not gotten much smaller but the skin is looser and they're not as full. I plan on having a left and possible implants later down the road. It's definitely more difficult to eat in social settings. I find that I try to make other plans with my friends like tea or smoothies or hikes. if I do go out to dinner with the group I'll order an appetizer and take most of it home. My boyfriend's been great and usually he'll order a meal and then let me eat off of it which is more than enough. My friends all know about the surgery so they don't make a lot of comments but waiters and waitresses are constantly concerned that I didn't like my meal. So far everything else has been really great. No side effects. I've been able to tolerate most foods. (Not strawberries) Getting the vitamins and water down is quite difficult. I was very very fatigued in the beginning but now that I have gotten my protein intake up it has helped drastically. Mentally this week has been a little hard shopping for new clothes. I like to shop online but kept going back between plus size or regular size clothes and not knowing what I needed to buy and I started crying. My doctor said my brain wouldn't keep up with the weight-loss I just never imagined not being completely happy about it. Don't get me wrong I love my new body I love my new weight I guess I just don't realize how thin I've actually gotten. This was the best decision and it's positively change my life!
May 6, 2016
Hi! You have great results! Can they remove the gall bladder in conjunction with the single incision sleeve, or can it only be removed when complications arise? Are the statistics you state the same with gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgeries or is does one have better odds? This is the first I have heard of this and now I am concerned. Also, at what point did you start working out again? Karen told me 1 to 2 months, but I have heard she might not tell exact info. How long did you do your pre-op diet for too? Thanks for any info and for your review. I love this website because it is so helpful to follow the journey to get a real feel for how it will be.
UPDATED FROM soamyzing
14 days post
2 weeks post op
soamyzingDecember 22, 2015
New week new diet. I almost skipped the second week diet all together. It was hard. I hate isopure and I'm trying other things. This week I'm also starting my workouts. Got my staples out and it looks better. Starting serums and silicone patches now to get rid of the scars.
Replies (5)
December 22, 2015
you had staples???
December 23, 2015
Yeah they did 4 staples on the bottom of my belly. You can see them in my previous post. I left them in longer so I didn't need the steri strips. I like the way staple scars heal. I feel it's less noticeable on my skin.
December 24, 2015
When you say skipped second diet what do you mean sweety?
December 24, 2015
Skipped is the wrong word, I mean it was too hard to get the full liquids down so I stayed on my week one diet for a few extra days and then tried the second week diet again. It worked out better the second time I tried! I don't think my new stomach was ready for full liquids yet.
December 24, 2015
Oh ok know I understand plus that helps lose more weight, have you started on your vitamins? Let me as you did you have this new medication inserted inside of you thats called On-Q Pain Buster its suppost to be a narcotic medication that you pull out on your own once your at home on the second day?
December 24, 2015
I stayed at the hospital for about 3 days and then a hotel for 2 that a nurse came to see me in. While in the hospital they provided the pain meds via IV but once in the hotel I think I took one pain pill. The pain wasn't bad at all.
Replies (4)
Hey! Congratulations on a fantastic weight loss! You look amazing :) It's been a year since your surgery, and we'd love to hear from you again. How are you doing now?