Pannilectomy

Hi I had RNY in April of 2012. I'm now approved by ohip for a pannilectomy. I'm not upgrading due to costs. I was 360 pounds and have maintained my weight at around 185 for a year. The dr thinks that I would benefit greatly from the pani removal. 

My question is had anyone just had this without tummy tuck? Will I look ok or will it look weird. I've tried to look for pictures of before and after but can't find my similar before pic.

what is it like for recovery? I've heard a lot of negative and would feel better knowing someone else's experience.

thank you

I had just a panniculectomy without tummy tuck.  I still have a fat roll around my waist and to be honest undressed I think I do look a bit strange - lopsided or something.  However dressed is good.  But finding well fitting pants is very difficult as my waist is big so I need the larger size there but my stomach is flat so there is a lot of excess material.  However I do NOT miss that apron!

Yes, some people look a bit odd after just a panniculectomy if they have lots of excess skin and/or fat remaining above the belly button because they end up with a flat lower belly and then a "poofy" upper belly.  For other people it doesn't look funny at all (at least not with clothes on).

I lost 190 pounds (and carried a lot of it in my middle so the apron of skin hung down well onto the top of my thighs), and had just a panni removal originally (insurance covered it). Although it bothered ME a lot, I definitely could have lived with the "muffin top", but I opted to pay out of pocket to have the full tummy tuck done.  I had a significant complication after the tummy tuck,but I am still very glad that I did it.

Even though the incision line is huge for a panniculectomy, there is no muscle cutting, so there is minimal pain and it heals quickly.  The only part that hurt significantly for me beyond the first week or so were the very end points on my hips because when I bent or twisted, those spots got pulled. I wore the binder the surgeon gave me only because it kept those from pulling. The second drain (which stayed in for a couple of weeks) was the most annoying part of yeah surgery for me.  

I am surprised that you have heard so many negative things about it.  It was by far the easiest recovery of any "open" surgery I have ever had! Perhaps the people who had the bad experiences have never had any other open surgeries where they cut muscle (and only have lap surgeries to compare it to)??

Lora

Thank you for so much info. Do you meand that after the pani I could get a tummy tuck later down the road when I could afford it. I thought that if I had this now that would be the only chance. That they couldn't go back after that large scar.

thank you

They likely WON'T cut the panniculectomy scar again, but that doesn't mean that you cannot have a tummy tuck. When I had mine, it was a "reverse" tummy tuck Where it is a true "T" shaped incision instead of the traditional anchor cut.  So I have the top of the "T" right under my breast (so it isn't visible) and the midline incision that not goes to my waist.  No incision at all between my waist and my belly button.

Lora

I saw photos of people who had a panni and I am sorry to say it is not pretty as a tummy tuck.  I went in for a tummy tuck after I had lost all my weight.  Are you sure you are done losing.   I would give it more time to get closer to your goal.  Shop around.  If you have insurance many will cover TT if you have rashes that are bothersome.  I had a rash that wouldn't go away. It itched a lot.  I would shop around for a better price with a good doctor.  If it were me, I would wait until I could do it the right way.  I have the pretties tummy in the world.  Really my belly looks like a bikini model photo.  No I am not bragging.  I am actually amazed they took all that flab and made my belly so I didn't have a stretch mark at all.  This is my own personal opinion.  Unless you are 6 ft tall 185 is no way near goal.  Work out get closer to goal and do what will make you happy in the end.  You have a pani now and lose more weight you will have more flab and probably end up with another pani or tummy tuck.  Sorry to give you bad news but the picture I saw many years ago, the lady was in your shoes.  It was horrible.  It looked like she had a shelf.  

Brenda

What a nasty response filled with little snide put downs. You say you aren't bragging, but if looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck-it's a duck. The OP gets to decide her goal, not you. Bully for you in that you don't have a single stretch mark left; you must have had them all on your excess skin and nowhere else, thereby removing them all when you had your excess skin removed.

There is another board member here *****gularly posts bikini pics of her TT. She does have stretch marks showing, although her TT is very good. Having stretch marks left over doesn't mean the plastic surgeon isn't skilled or someone didn't lose enough.

I agree RosyKate.  Who does this woman think she is saying the OP isn't at goal?

After you getting SO bent out of shape with another poster for insensitivity to their friend who had WLS, I am very surprised to see this, Brenda.   It really doesn't show you in a good light and if it's your idea of support ... you might want to reconsider!

None of us have a right to determine others' goals or put down those who don't meet our measure of success!

You took the words right outta my mouth.

To Brenda, wow. That is all.