I just love the support that I’ve gotten from reading the messages on onelist. Almost any question I could have had will be answered here, honestly and supportively.

My stitches came out of my new belly button May 18, but we haven’t taken new pictures.

Dr. Igwe took out my stitches and I had to confess that I’m the one who has let everyone know about the new scar. He laughed and said that he couldn’t understand why he had to do a telephone consult with someone in Chicago wanting the new small incision.

I feel it is important to tell anyone who is thinking about having the surgery, or anyone who had it and regrets their scar that I WAS ABSOLUTELY PREPARED TO NOT HAVE A BELLY BUTTON AND TO HAVE A SCAR AS BIG AS NECESSARY. When I awoke, I felt as though I’d been given a wonderful gift from these talented men, and I am truly grateful that they could and did “experiment” on me. However, I would have worn my big scar just as proudly to have the change in my life that this surgery has given me. Every morning I wake up thinking about the weight I’ve already lost and I have to talk to that part of my mind that is already worrying about not gaining it back and failing one more time. I have to remind myself that my life will forever be different because of this surgery.

My daughter is contemplating the surgery and there is no guarantee that she will get the small incision.

I’m so excited, I’m already walking 1.5 miles each day. I have to talk myself into it every time I go, but I feel so good when I’m doing it, and soooooo good afterward that I try to remember that the next day when I don’t want to get out of my chair.