Kristin went from a size 32 to a size 2 after bariatric surgery.

Be sure to read Part 1 of this interview.

Interview, Part 2

Q: Why was gastric bypass the right solution for ending your obesity?

A:  The only other option at the time was having a Lap-Band inserted. It was too new a surgery for me. I wasn’t sure about having that inside me and at that time there was not a lot of long term information out there regarding it. One of the myths back then was its only good if you need to lose less than 80 lbs. Well I needed to lose a lot more than that! If I was going to do this it was going to be drastic. I felt I needed restrictiveness of the Roux-en-y gastric bypass. I knew my ultimate success would not be up to me and my willpower alone because my willpower had failed me time and time again. The surgery is a tool. It’s given to keep your weight under control, but it’s not a magic pill. It is an incredible tool which I used to help me reach my goal.

Q: You also had body contouring in 2005. Please tell us about that.

A: The decision to have body contouring was an emotional roller coaster ride of emotions for me; my body repulsed me now more than ever. I had even questioned why I had wls surgery. I looked better round and full rather than 100 year old woman. I had a bunch of undesirable skin hanging around. I would get terrible rashes and infections no matter how much I tried avoiding it.  I found this plastic surgeon (whose father is a wls surgeon, who better to go to!) who did what is called a “lower body lift”. It included a butt and outer thigh lift and an abdominoplasty. Last year I also had laser-liposuction done on my knees and my mons pubis. I have nothing to hide ha ha. That was very easy recovery. Now I can wear Bermuda pants and long shorts without my legs looking wrinkled stuffed sausages! I would still like to get my arms and breasts lifted and an inner thigh lift, maybe in the future.

Q: Did you have any complications during or after either of the surgeries?

A: Thankfully none! The lower body lift you go home with 6 surgical drains, 3 on each side of your body to remove fluid which accumulates within the incisions. I could not sleep on my back. I was sleeping in a recliner for almost 6 weeks. I started to be able to stand up straight at 4 weeks. The plastic surgery was not an easy recovery but was well worth every penny I spent!

Q: Please tell our readers about the impressive results you achieved.  

A: Looking back to my own personal transformation I am still amazed. I went from a size 32 to a 2! My bra size went from a 48 HHH to a now 34 DD!  I was a little thin in the beginning but I am steadily maintaining a healthy size 4/6. Gone away is high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, joint pain. I can stand on my feet more than 2 hours without my feet and back hurting. Results are not just a size for me but having quality of life is. I welcome having the energy and want to enjoy life, self-esteem, grateful that I can wear high heels and cross my legs! I embrace the new lifestyle changes, yo-yo dieting is over, having a normal BMI, do things I never could do before ( I became an EMT), I can go horseback riding (they have weight limits!).