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Today I celebrate the 5 year anniversary of having had surgery with Dr. Capella to remove excess skin that occurred after weight loss. (260 lb at my highest down to 169 lb.)

I am at a good place in my life. I am grateful. But it was not easy.

As you can see from my pictures here, my scarring and healing has been challenging.

On the day that I had my surgery, Dr. Capella’s right hand man, surgical assistant, Scott had called in sick. Apparently that hadn’t happened in the 8 years that they’d been operating together.

The procedure they developed is one that others break down in to several separate operations.

I wanted to do it, with the assurances and seeing his successful record, in the one fell swoop!

I’m not sure who was in there to help..I know I met all the folks who were in the room, but I don’t remember their names. I don’t know whether my outcome would have been different, but my guess is that it would have been. I only share this to show that unexpected things can happen in surgery. Folks considering any procedure need to have their eyes open. I also should mention that Dr. Capella offered to fix any issues gratis with a few prerequisites; I would need to weigh the same as I did after the surgery-169lb. ( I am as of today 179lb.), and I would need to pay for the hospital fees and all but Dr. Capella’s fees if I went ahead with a revision.

All of this said, I am still glad I went down this road—scars and all.

I am a 58 year old woman today. 

I was unable to figure out a healthy relationship with/toward food and still feel that my weight loss surgery journey is one that I have no regrets about.

However, for any younger person, or older person reading this who is still deciding how to proceed with difficult extra weight that makes them uncomfortable or unhealthy, I would hope that you pursue the solution in a “non- diet” way before surgery. My mind was ruined by all the diets I had been on since I was 7 years old. When you can’t think in a different way, and food is either “good” or “bad”, it is very hard to makes friends with “listening to your body” and having a healthier relationship to food choices and body image. 

There are many healthy heavier folks and many unhealthy skinny people. Society makes it very hard to resist the message of Thin = Good. We’re changing though. I see that. I see confidence coming in all sizes.

Anyway, I just wanted to share an update. I don’t know how many folks do that here.

When I was researching whether or not to proceed, I wanted to read other people’s stories.

I am definitely not “done” with my weight issues. I could stand to lose more weight. Of course. 

My blood tests show me in a pre-diabetic place and my cholesterol is a bit too high. (Diabetes runs in the family.)

However, I do not need or take any medications. I want to keep it that way. My main goal is weight maintenance at this point. 

Acceptance of my imperfect self. I want to live, and do, without food being top of mind all the time.

I have a more balanced life now.

My goals are to keep exercising—I mainly walk- keep being mentally healthy—have reasonable goals—and not ever hide out, like I used to. 

I’d like to get into the 160’s and of course lower would be nice….but mainly it is staying under 180 and maintaining. 

I eat as a vegetarian and still aspire to be vegan. Both for animal welfare and because of my insane love of cheese! 

It would be helpful to just take that off the list of foods I eat. Mainly I want to be kind to myself. 

That has never been easy. I hope this helps someone.

All the best, Ingrid

SURGERY DATE SCHEDULED with Dr. Capella!!! On January 25th, I'll be getting a body lift (or tummy tuck revision?), brachioplasty, flankplasty and mastopexy. OMG. I'm nervously excited. I want to plan carefully for this. In previous surgeries I've found that I get constipated and that is HORRIBLE. Gas after surgery is the worst pain too. It sounds so ridiculous, but it is the WORST. I'll be looking in to getting a lift chair, and making sure I have the house stocked with food my husband can easily make for himself and lots of soups and easy stuff for me. Also having plenty of gauze, tape, surgical gloves for handling the drains and comfortable clothes. Does anyone have other suggestions? I'll continue to scour the boards for other people's experiences and tips. 

I've been a member since 2013, and finally today posted in "about me" my whole history with pictures. From my first roux en y in 2001 to my current situation deciding how to deal with dog ears I got after 2014 abdominoplasty and hernia repair. Dr. Taub, who performed the surgery is scheduled to repair them on Dec 10, and to perform a brachioplasty (arm lift). In doing research, I found many mentions of Dr. Capella. Since I now live in NJ, I thought at least I should get a second opinion, and I did. Based on what we discussed (I explain more in my "about me"), I am now considering a body lift as well as a brachioplasty, flankplasty(I think that's what it's called) and breast lift. It would be a huge decision! I'm trying to get as much info about Dr. Capella's record so that I can make a good decision.

I don't know if my post and history will help anyone, but it is there to do that. If my story resonates with you, and you have advice about Dr. Capella or anything else, please share :-)