You ask me for my story and I ask – which version should I tell? How much of the heartache, disappointment, and self-deprecation do I focus on? Or do I focus on the great joy, love, achievements and success I have experienced? The later certainly has outweighed the former. So why have I focused and put more weight on the former? No pun intended. As a child I was raised in a family with much love, excitement, chaos and food. Being one of 12 the challenge was to be noticed and of course liked. I remember being the designated baker and would bake all of the birthday cakes or other treats. “If I do this they will like me”, I would rationalize. Continuing this practice I would try to woo friendship with cookies, cakes, etc. While I was not an unusually large child I matured early and therefore quickly stood out as much larger than my siblings or friends. So in my mind, I was “fat”. I tried a litany of diets and plans to become what I believed was the right size. Thus began the roller coaster in my weight. Throughout college – thinking “if I just lose weight, I will have boyfriends, friends, be popular”. Then when it didn’t materialize after the weight loss I would say – forget it and gain it back. Depression followed failed attempts and what a great friend food is – it’s always there and at least temporarily fulfills only to be followed by depression which of course was followed by more food. In my early 20’s I was blessed to meet my husband – a wonderful godly man who loved me regardless of my size. I always promised myself I would not be heavy in my wedding pictures and successfully lost weight and at least for a few days I was at my goal weight at 135lbs. After the wedding I continued my roller coaster and my weight went back up topping out at 228. In addition to the extra weight I had 4 c-sections leaving my body an embarrassing blob. The year I turned 50 – I decided it was time to take charge. I hired a personal trainer, lost 50, ran a half marathon and changed my habits. At that point I decided that the greatest gift I could give myself was a healthy lifestyle and being a good steward of the great health my genetics offered me. At that point I decided to visit Dr. Pousti and improve my body-image even more. I have been thrilled with the results – as has my husband. In no way is this the solution to a life of roller coaster rides but it has moved me closer to being who I believe God created me to be. So the life of heartache, disappointment, and self-deprecation…it will always be an excerpt in my life but I have chosen for it to be a footnote instead of a key chapter. I’m choosing, instead, to write new and revised versions. I have been blessed, loved, cherished and that is where I choose to live. Thanks for you and your incredible staff playing a part in this new edition.

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This 47 year old male patient from Chino Hills, California had Lap Band surgery and lost about 98lbs. He found Dr. Pousti while searching for a board certified plastic surgeon and was impressed with his experience with abdominoplasty surgery as well as surgery after weight-loss.

After his weight loss the patient was left with a moderate amount of excess skin around the abdominal wall.

The markings are gone over with the patient in a full-length mirror. The incisions, scar locations and exact procedure are reviewed with the patient as well.

Markings are performed and show where liposuction will be performed during the tummy tuck procedure.

Above, you can see the port that was placed during the Lap Band Surgery.  The port will still be functional after this tummy tuck procedure.  Once the patient is in the Operating Room, additional markings are made to show where the muscles will be brought together to create the desirable waistline.

In OR after muscle repair is performed

After the muscle repair is completed the excess tissue is removed from the abdomen using cautery. A new location is made (in the skin) for the umbilicus and the incision is closed with dissolvable sutures.