wow.. i can't believe i am writing this... i am a new person and love the way i look... i have had no problems except gas.. he he... but oh well i can deal with that.. just not others lol...i had a tummy tuck a year ago today... and it was the best thing i could do for myself as far as physical appearance and self esteem.... i am almost 48 years old.. and i wear a short top and low cut jeans so my belly can show... and i love it. oh yea i had a tatoo put on the lower part of my back with my loving husbands name in the center of the tatoo... so i can show that off 2... i love it.. when men look at me now.. i know it is because they think i am nice looking .. not because they are thinking how fat i am... i can't wait to be 50...... and sexy..!!!!!

hey there- my size 8 body looks like crap naked- anyone do the surgery thing? and what? and how much? I'm thinking tummy tuck breast lift, and enlargement (miss my boobs!!)

I can't believe it's actually been three years now since I went to Spain and had my Duodenal Switch. My weight has fluctuated a bit but not drastically. My lowest weight was 125 and I now am at 137 and holding. For the most part there are no complications. The only big difference mostly is that there is more intestinal bloating than before. I have found that Devrom and Beano do help a lot with the problem. Thank you Dr. Baltasar for giving me the best years of my life! Maryann B Kansas City area

Good job Penny. I know this is a hard thing to do, but I know your life and mine are so much better. I have been the same weight for 1 year now. need to lose the last 40-50 lbs, but they tell me that can be done by taking off the excess skin. Have a great week.

Hi, Angela and Maryann. I would love to hear from others this far post-op. I had a lap BPD/DS on January 24, 2001. My recoery was remarkable, as was my weight loss. Labwork has all been fine. Then, last November, I had a rare but potentially deadly strangulated internal hernia! I had emergency surgery, in which 3-5 feet of intestine had to be removed (it was dead or necrotized), I required 5 blood transfusions.... I thank GOD to be here today! I recovered well (thanks to everyone's prayers) but developed an incisional hernia (the second surgery was open). So, I just got home (4 weeks post-op) from an incisional hernia repair and full abdominoplasty (good news was I got my abdominoplasty done!!!!). I return to work in a few weeks (I teach) and still have so much to do!!! All those last minute back to school errands for myself and the kids (I have a six and four year old). I'm holding steady at 160 lbs/bmi 23. I'm so happy to be here - I never thought I'd get this low (I actually was 25 lbs LIGHTER after the emergency surgery! Now, that was getting too thin for me. I miss having my butt and thighs actually decrease, but my face was so drawn and thin - everyone was commenting how my skin was pale, etc.). I'm healthy and all my labs are fine! I'm just recovering from this latest surgery with my kids at home this summer. A shout out to all us oldie post-ops and hope to get to know everyone better! All the best, TEresa