New and NEED Information

Hello everyone.  I am new to OH and I need some information.  I am nowhere close to WLS because my wonderful HealthChoice won't pay no matter how much I would benefit from surgery.

What I need right now is a panniculectomy - I have an extremely saggy tummy and major spinal issues that make this a medical necessity.  I have been searching the internet for information on surgeons in the OKC area who perform this procedure but I am coming up empty.

I have found tons of surgeons who do the TT procedure but none that list panniculectomy as a procedure that they include.  Has anyone had this procedure and, if so, do you know a good and kind plastic surgeon?

Thanks for your help!

Pam

I had a tt and a panni ...This is the deal no surgeon will preform a panni on an overweight person..due to if u gain weight u stretch the skin. Most cosmetic surgeons preform a panni its part of the list they just dot seem a need to advertise it causemost folks will want a tt.
Dr. Cynthis Nydick in Norman, Oklahoma is a general surgeon but has performed pannis with good results. try her...but again I dont see a surgeon doing it unless it a medical need IE constant infections and rashes  and they have to be documented. Plus your insurance company might see it as cosmetic and then wont pay...

Thanks for the information!  I know that they are reluctant to perform the surgery on someone who is still overweight but I can document medical necessity.  I have severe arthritis in my lower spine in addition to a history of persistent problems under the skin fold caused by trapped moisture and inverse psoriasis.  When I had my back surgery back in 2009 the neurosurgeon was very pro panni because it would help the spinal pain.  I have been to the doctor a bizillion times with the rash/infection yuck stuff that everyone thinks is yeast.  I have even had doctors biopsy it because they were going to find out what this stuff is.....  It never ends and I am tired....and going down hill. 

All I can tell you is this I had excess skin hanging fown to my knees and under medical advise I was given a tt and panni.
The biggest hurdle I see is getting insurance to pay for it. OMG its like a crime to getting it approved. IF you have medicare or medicaid...basically you can forget it unless your doctoe will give a referral. THERE are new skin holders or girdles that help hold the excess skin up away from the rest of your body.
What I did before surgery is I would buy kitchen towels and have them under the rolls of skin to help keep it dry and i also used nitasin powders. I know what you are going through! The skin when removed was 35 pounds by itself.
Like I said try Dr. Cynthia Nydick in Norman and see what she tells you. I will say this most cosmetic surgeons will not perform surgery on you if you have alot of scars in the abdomin area. The first surgeon I talked to wouldnt even "talk" when I told him I had 10 prior surgeries..They wont touch it cause of the scar tissue...Please let me know what you find out...