Your opinion please.

Do what the Dr. wants. I know him and he will do a great job for you. He is a wonderful surgeon and looks out for his patients.
I went open for the same reason and I wanted him in there looking around and feeling the chitlins.
Tell Steve I said hi.
kp

Just curious why you would chooose open??

I didn't even know I had a choice.  Most docs opt for the lap unless it looks like it can't be done.  I would never opt for the open.  Lap is so much less invasive and you will heal faster.

I think the word your looking for is Stoma . Open they will use the upper most part of the stomach which has greater resitance to streching out. Dr Wood did this to me and I believe they call it the Micro pouch.  Google it i think it will explain the difference. I had open and did have a hernia which made it eaiser to get the tummy tuck after losing over 200lbs.. I was glad i did mine open.. just my opnion.

http://gastricbypass.netfirms.com/micropouch.htm

Paul

I am a patient of Dr H's. I love him of course. He gave me the option to when I had surgery but suggested the open over the Lap. In the open procedure he can get to your "parts" better. I did have a scar but I did not have a hernia after the surgery. I was approved for my tummy tuck after almost 3 years and losing over 160 pounds. I was at 327 the day of my surgery. He based the type of surgery that he was to do on me with the results of weight loss based on Open vs Lap Band. I was very pleased with my results. If you are worried about the scar you can use mederma or cocoa butter after it heals to help it. I have used it on my TT scar and it does wonders.

Dr H did open on me and ended up finding cysts on my ovaries that I did not know was there. Also he was able to look around more to check everything out. If I would not have had open I trult believe that I would not have known about those cysts and have had the chance to be able to monitor them like I do now.

Make sure to call the office and ask lots of questions. You need to make sure you are well educated about the choice that you want to make. I know that the girls in the office will answer any questions that you have. Also read your binder. There are lots of answers in there.

Suzanne
send me a message if you have any other questions.

I had mine done open. I  have had no complications. My recovery went really good, was only off work for 2 weeks ( desk Job). No hernia. Everyone is different as far as healing and recovery. I am very happy with my decision to have it done open . would not change a thing. good luck to you. DeAnn