I am a non-op.  I lost 120 pounds through diet, exercise - weight training with a personal trainer, bikram yoga and spinning - and thyroid medication.  I have maintained my weight loss for several years by following the same diet and exercise program I followed while losing weight.  Weight training is THE key to losing/maintaining. 

I was introduced to this site while obtaining a consult for plastic surgery.  I've since had a LBL, BL/BA, removal of one breast implant, thigh lift, thigh liposuction, brachioplasty, labiaplasty, back and hip liposuction, revision of my LBL, revision of my breasts, revision of my brachioplasty and more circumferential thigh liposuction.  Total spent so far $55,000.  Was it worth it?  Maybe?? (I waffle between maybe and probably not).  I love the tt results of my LBL - my abdomen is flatter (it's actually concave) than anyone I know - even my skinny friends; my butt is saggy and asymmetrical but hopefully will be fixed w/the revisions; my boobs have been a nightmare, look much better than pre-op but still bad, we will decide on the outcome later; thighs are smaller but still look terrible although I don't think the best PS could make 'em look good; arms look great in long sleeves but scars are HORRIBLE, will probably never wear short-sleeved or sleeveless ever again.  Overall I do look BETTER just not sure $55k better although the money is the least difficult part of the PS journey.
I just had my last surgery.  My butt looks fab even with swelling; hopefully it will stay fab!  I'm sore from all the lipo but it's not bad.  My boobs are BIG and high and fabulous!! I hope they don't drop very much.

Timeline
early 2005 - began losing weight (thyroid meds)
2005 - continued to lose weight
Spring 2006 - lost the last 35 pounds
Spring 2007 - consults w/plastic surgeons
Sept. 7, 2007 - LBL/BL, limited liposuction - John LoMonaco, MD
Jan. 18, 2008 - BA, thigh lift and liposuction, brachioplasty - John LoMonaco, MD
early February 2008 - breast implant infected (NIGHTMARE)
March 13, 2008 - breast implant removed - John LoMonaco, MD
July 24, 2008 - labiaplasty - Paul Vitenas, MD
August 18, 2008 - labiaplasty revision (OMG!! hurt like HELL ) - Paul Vitenas, MD
September 4, 2008 - redo boobs, revise butt lift part of LBL, circumferential thigh lipo, revise brachioplasty dog ears, lipo back and hip fat - John LoMonaco, MD

PS experience
I followed all post-surgical instructions.  I didn't have any complications with my first surgery - LBL and BL.  I was in phenomenal physical condition before surgery, which made a huge difference.  Really no pain to speak of; it was SO much easier than I expected but keep in mind that it is a BIG surgery and everyone has a different experience.  I did have considerable swelling for quite a while.  Lymphatic massage does wonders for swelling!

I had complications with my 2nd surgery.  Arms weren't a problem - no pain, hardly any swelling; thighs - incisions weren't a problem - but pain from liposuction was INTENSE well actually a better descriptor is: EXCRUCIATING, no other problems other than swelling; BA - no problems until 2 weeks out and then major problems which resulted in one of the implants ultimately being removed.  I had a HOLE in my boob for 5 months......HORRIBLE, RIDICULOUS, MIND BOGGLING!

Pain of PS procedures (on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being horribly painful)
Everyone has a different pain threshold; I have a pretty high tolerance for pain.
LBL/BL - 3 (I had a morphine pain pump @ hospital and On-Q pain pump until about post-op day 3)
Brachioplasty - 2 or 3
Thigh lift - 2 or 3
BA - 0 (until the hole opened up and the implant was protruding - then about a 5)
Thigh liposuction (near knees and inner thighs) - at times, a 9!  Unbelievably painful!!
Labiaplasty - 6 or 7
Labiaplasty revision - 20...OMG!!!  WTF was I thinking??!!    Results are perfect though.  PERFECTION....ain't nothin' that makes me happier....the pain was totally worth it.
6th and final stage - redo buttlift portion of LBL; redo boobs; liposuction to back and hips; circumferential thigh liposuction; revision of dog ears on right arm - at elbow and armpit - pain level not bad, mostly just uncomfortable; some pain in my right boob, probably from all of the scar tissue.  Lipo is the most painful part of this surgery - probably a 4 or 5.

Some of my favorite quotes
"A girl should be two things:  classy and fabulous."  Coco Chanel
"Never forget to dream."  Madonna
"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of someone else." Judy Garland
"Taking joy in life is a woman's best cosmetic."  Rosalind Russell
"Take care of the luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves."  Dorothy Parker
"Cultivate your curves ~ they may be dangerous, but they won't be avoided."  Mae West
"Big girls need big diamonds."  Elizabeth Taylor
"Your negligence is not my emergency."  Ann Stern
"Culture eats strategy for lunch."  David Page