I had the surgery in 1999 and lost nearly 200 pounds. It was one of the best things I ever did for myself! I have gained some weight back, but I am ALIVE and still doing so much better than I was before the surgery...I was a size 32+, went down to a 14 and am now at a happy, seemingly semi-permanent 20. I am very tall, so it works fairly okay on me...I plan to get back to a 16/18 this year though and, thanks to everything I have been through, I know it is possible!
I spent nearly a year after the surgery rebuilding my life and eating habits. I didn't follow every rule, but the weight came off so fast that I could barely keep up- thank goodness for elastic waist pants! It was a bit of a trauma at first- I lost quite a bit of hair and had some problems getting back into eating solid food, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I had a lot of medical problems that simply disappeared- asthma, diabetes symptoms, etc. My back problems all but went away. I was able to do things and go places I had all but given up. I had strange heart things happening that disappeared. I felt simply FAT before. Yuck.
One downside (really the only one of any consequence) is this: I did not lose weight and suddenly become able to wear a sexy swimsuit...I had rolls of loose skin that were pretty gross- arms, legs, breasts, stomach. That's a major reason why I don't mind having gained back a little bit...it filled it out a little and I don't feel quite so gross and alien-like. Fortunately, my husband couldn't care less and respects the surgery so much that he is not nearly as bothered as I have been at times. I'd lose the gained weight a LOT faster if I knew there was a possibility of liposuction...but we can't afford it. All in all, I look at it in context: I would rather be alive than svelte.
