Because most of your opinions are respected...

[O'Mac]

What do you guys (and gals) make of cosmetic surgery? Most importantly, what do you think of lipsuction and similar weight loss operations.

You see I have a bit of a problem in that I suffer from Bronchial Asthma. It's not a terribly debilitating condition, but it does affect my general health by not allowing me to lead a more active lifestyle. Bascially, I can't run very fast for more than a few minutes before my lungs start to bleed. Any intense exercise that has me taking in a lot of air through my mouth is pretty much out of the question for me. I can only do so much dieting and staying as fit as I can, but often my weight fluctuates no matter what is done. Recently, I lost around 35 pounds over the course of 6 months, but quickly gained 15 of that back in the span of a few weeks.

One option I have been considering lately is surgical lipsuction. I'm not a fan of the stomach stapling and would rather the fat be taken out all together. Has anyone gone through the procedure themselves or even considered it? Thoughts are always appreciated.

 

[Netzach]

What do you guys (and gals) make of cosmetic surgery? Most importantly, what do you think of lipsuction and similar weight loss operations.

You see I have a bit of a problem in that I suffer from Bronchial Asthma. It's not a terribly debilitating condition, but it does affect my general health by not allowing me to lead a more active lifestyle. Bascially, I can't run very fast for more than a few minutes before my lungs start to bleed. Any intense exercise that has me taking in a lot of air through my mouth is pretty much out of the question for me. I can only do so much dieting and staying as fit as I can, but often my weight fluctuates no matter what is done. Recently, I lost around 35 pounds over the course of 6 months, but quickly gained 15 of that back in the span of a few weeks.

One option I have been considering lately is surgical lipsuction. I'm not a fan of the stomach stapling and would rather the fat be taken out all together. Has anyone gone through the procedure themselves or even considered it? Thoughts are always appreciated.

I don't know a lot about this procedure and if there are health benefits associated with it and to what extent. It doesn't seem like it would prevent the weight being regained, the way that gastric bypass does.

I know personally four people who have had gastric bypass and whose lives were very much changed for the better. They had all gotten to very extreme and dangerous points.

You might do well to talk to your docs about this idea, lipo may be the right thing for you.

I don't really have any theoretical issues with cosmetic surgery to a point. I don't think boob jobs are a good idea for 16 year olds, but I do think that a boob reduction might be appropriate for someone that age who is in a lot of chronic pain, so I'm not a person to say "never ever" or get up in arms about it.

Drugs are overused. It doesn't mean they're not the right thing to do 90 percent of the time. Cosmetic surgery is overused. It doesn't mean it's not the right thing to do 90 percent of the time either.

 

[shy slave]

I know very little about the procedure.

We had a reality TV show here that showed you it being done, but despite being a nurse I was too squeamish to watch.

If I had the financial ability I would have liposuction and a tummy tuck done without hesitation my stomach looks offensive ever since I had children, at the time my GP said it was the worst he had seen (Oh yes, he knew how to make you feel better about things )

Many people from the UK are travelling abroad to have these things done due to cost, but I have no idea what the standard of care etc is like compared to anywhere else.

There are always horror style articles in women's magazines about it going wrong, but the never say the 1000's that work out well.

If you it improves your lifestyle and gives you a better base line to work from to maintain your health then it seems like a good idea.
But if you have any concerns or think it will not make difference to how you feel about yourself then perhaps it is best to wait.

What does your girl friend think of it?

 

[Evil_Geoff]

Haven't had any experience with lipo personally, I am not aware of anyone in my circle of friends who has had it done. I have one friend who has had a gastric bypass done but that is one of those "measure of last resort, to be used in extreme cases only" type procedures. He has had tremendous results with it, having lost (last time we spoke) over 250 lbs. He is, literally, half the size he was. Skin removal surgery will be done once he reaches his target weight, but even with the excess folds of flesh, he looks so much better, he's so much healthier.

As a means of weight reduction I don't object to liposuction on anything other than cost vs effectiveness grounds. Yes, a good liposuction will make you lose weight. But if you don't change your eating habits and activity levels, you will gain the weight back to where you are now, possibly even more so.

You don't have to run, walk. Use wrist and ankle weights. Gradually build up your endurance. 10 minutes, 20, 30, 45, 60... You burn the same number of calories walking a mile as you do running it, it just takes longer to do it. Ride a bike. Swim. Make love. LOTS of love. Sex is a good cardio work out and fun to do as well!

*grins*

Take the advice from an old, fat, balding, ugly, just had his chest cracked open and his ticker overhauled bastard. If you want to do the lipo, you have my blessing. But change the lifestyle to maintain your results for the long term. Avoid the bypass!

 

[O'Mac]

Thanks for the posts so far, everyone. As mentioned by shy, while there are stories of surgery gone wrong, there are far more successful cases than not.

In my case, any surgery would be the last resort. I can't say I don't do enough exercising as it is, because I easily walk over an hour a day doing trips to and from work, and work itself is a strenuous task with LOTS of heavy-lifting. I also have a bike and biked to and from work in the summer as well, so there is no doubt in my mind that i'm getting enough physical exercise. It's just that I've really plateaued lately and can't seem to lose anymore weight. That's why I'm considering lipo.

 

[Miss Diva]

Hi O'Mac

I had lipo suction done on my thigh and knees about 10 or 15 years ago and I loved the results. My legs were really bruised, lucky it was winter so i wore pants the whole time. I bruise easily. In addition my surgeon stated that my skin was quite elastic at the time which was great. I healed quite nicely. I had the surgery on a Thursday and was back at work on Monday. The surgery was out patient. I drove there in the morning, my mother came with me, and I was out by noonish. I took the extra day off just in case.

He did tell me that I would still have to be careful as he took out the fat cells but some still remained and those could get fatter if i gained weight.

Please IM me and we can discuss further.

I am not sure why you want to have lipo though.

Miss Diva

PS: Have you tried Pilates. I do it twice a week and noticed a HUGE difference in my body. It would be great for you as it is not strenuous but a very gentle yet deceptive exercise. Also try to do a modified version of the South Beach Diet. I do my version that fits my lifestyle and I find it tremendous hel.

 

[FurryFury]

I think people should do what they want to do for themselves if, they can afford it and it won't harm them too much. However I have a terror of being anesthetized, so I won't personally be signing up for any voluntary surgery, ever that includes that.

Fury