NSV = Non Scale Victory

I have been attending the WLS support group offered through Rockwood Clinic weight loss surgery group. They offer once monthly support groups for their patients both pre and post ops. They have guest speakers and offer lots of cool information and help keep us on track.  This months was especially exciting because my Favorite Plastic Surgeon Dr. Dallas Buchanan was the guest speaker.  He asked me a few months back if I would like to attend with him and maybe help answer any questions people had about the process.  I gladly said yes!

Tonight was the night!  Dr. Buchanan spoke for over an hour and answered tons of questions from everyone.  He was his awesome charismatic and compassionate self and put everyone at ease!  I truly hope that he gets lots of inquiries from this event!

But that wasn't the cool part for me at this event!  Here is my NSV story.  So during the course of the questions it was brought up that some people that have weight loss surgery never get to goal weight.  They butcher their stomachs, change their anatomy, and someone how still resort back to bad habits and never hit goal weight.  This resonated with me because when I was a pre-op I was fearful that I would never lose the weight.  That I would fail.  And as I was sitting there I came to full realization..... I didn't fail.  I SUCCEEDED!  I lost 165 pounds.  And I have kept that weight off for 18+ months!  I did it!  I worked really hard and changed my life.  I never gave up.  I keep pushing until I succeeded!

After the meeting ended a few people stopped to ask me some questions since I have been through the process of a tummy tuck.  One very nice lady told me that she was shocked to learn that I was ever an WLS patient.  She told me I looked great and that she would have never known that I had any surgeries.  I was completely shocked and blown away.  I felt so validated!  I have SUCCEEDED! People can't tell that I ever weighed 340 pounds!  I am just a normal 39 year old beautiful woman!

It also was so awesome to be asked by Dr. Buchanan to showcase his work!  LOL!  He did such a BEAUTIFUL job on my tummy tuck that I am thankful every single day for his talents!  I am not shy at all about showing my scars, my nice flat stomach or the fact that I can wear a string bikini and the scars don't even show!  Dr. Buchanan is AMAZING!  And my flat stomach makes my breasts look great too! A few people have asked me if I got my breasts lifted when I did my tummy tuck.  No I did not!  Dr. Buchanan just made everything else on my torso look so amazing that my breasts are showcased perfectly!  Thank you So Much Dr. Buchanan!!!!  And Dr. Buchanan... if you are reading this... I would be happy to help you in any way in the future!

Thanks for being amazing Dr. Buchanan!