Panniculectomy

Hi there. I'm 2 years post op rny and I have lost 120 ish pounds. I went for my two year follow up today and my surgeon wants to take off all the excess skin. I was just wondering what all of your experiences were with it. I've heard it's really rough. I am a critical care nurse by trade so I am suspicious of things anyways lol. He already told me I can expect to be out 4 weeks. Does anyone have any thoughts, experience or input? 

Are you saying your bariatric surgeon want to perform your panniculectomy? Did he show you before/afters of people he has operated on? I would be wary of letting my bariatric surgeon do this. Does the appearance of your tummy afterwards matter to you or do you just want to get rid of the skin? Personally I would want a plastic surgeon who has a lot of experience with bariatric patients operate on me, which is what I did. I wanted to look good after my skin was removed. Looking worse would have devastated me.

I agree with Laura, not only do you want a skilled Plastic Surgeon you want one that has "extensive" experience with the removal of skin from Bariatric Patients.  It's a skill unto it's own!  Post this on our Plastic Surgery Forum for more input from people that have had PS.  

Keep us posted on how you are doing.

The bariatric surgeons in my group do panniculectomies too and they are skilled general surgeons - but I wouldn't let any of them touch me with a 10 ft. pole when it comes to actual plastic surgery.  That is NOT their speciality, they aren't trained in it so what you are going to get is a "slash-and-sew" surgery without a whole lot of finesse.  I guarantee you won't be happy with the final result.  

You're a nurse so do your reserach, ask around and insist on someone who has extensive experience in doing plastics on patients who've lost more than 100 lbs.  You don't want just any garden-variety plastic surgeon.  That would be as bad as letting a general surgeon do your panni.  

Good luck!  

Aside from who does your surgery, here was my experience.

I had 33 pounds of skin removed.  I lost my belly button in the process.  Its ok, I was not going in for a plastic surgery result, i was going in for a skin removal to make it easier to move.  Right after surgery i was in SOOOOO much pain, and the pain was pretty bad for about 4 days.  I had a staple closure, and 2 drains.  the drains stayed in for 10 days.  I was definitely unable to do much physical stuff for at least 3 weeks.  I got tired really easy too.  But again, I had 33 pounds of skin taken, so my body was in a lot of shock.  After the staples were taken out and the drains were gone I was pretty happy!  My girlie bits still need work, and I am not getting my plastic surgery done till I am at goal, but I can move and have no more problems with skin rashes.  One of the best decisions I ever made.

On the 'flip side' of Amy's experience, I had lost 125 pounds, and then had a hip-to-hip abdominoplasty with a plastic surgeon.

I had an out-patient procedure in a fully staffed surgical center with anesthesiologist, nursing care, etc.

I got a new belly button, abdominal tightening --- and my surgeon called my Bariatric Surgeon before my surgery to discuss my Band Port placement -- and agree on that.

I had no drains and a pain pump --- which left me relatively pain-free for the first several days.  I lost about 3 pounds of skin.

I rented a medical recliner for a month -- it was delivered and picked up for about 150.00 and made sleeping and moving around much easier than trying to get into my rather tall bed.

I went back to work at 10 days post op -- doing office work from home.  I was not allowed to lift more than 10 pounds for about 6 weeks.

I was driving myself around by about 5 days post op -- but not very far or very long --- mostly on extra-strength Tylenol by that time.

I paid 6,500.00 in Southern Arizona (3 years ago) --- and for that price, I had my surgery and then post-op, my surgeon saw me at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months.    I am thrilled with my results and the follow up I got.

I'm not having the surgery to be pretty. I'm having it to be healthy. Just like we all had weight loss surgery....... Right? 

Well, I am certainly not considering myself 'pretty', but I wanted a flat stomach with a belly button.

Look at pictures of the difference between a general surgeons panni compared to a specialists abdominoplasty, make your decision and go for it.

I self paid for WLS and 2 reconstructive surgeries.  I sacrificed to have the funds to do it and am grateful that I was able to do it.  I didn't do it to be 'pretty' but I also didn't do it to end up disfigured, and in my opinion that is what the panni alone would have made me.

I initially had weight loss surgery for my health, but I will admit vanity plays a big roll in keeping the weight off for me.

I wanted to look and feel "whole" again when I had my plastic surgery. Looking disfigured would have been a constant reminder that I had spent too many years damaging my body. Feeling normal puts my mind at peace.

If you are honestly not worried about how your tummy looks, then do what you want. Just be aware of how it could affect you mentally if it turns out bad.

ETA- Looking at your old posts, I see you are only 29. You have a lot of living left to do. Really think about living the rest of your life with a not-so-pretty panni.

My tummy tuck was not to be pretty, but to increase my self-esteem.  My plastic surgeon is an artist and my stomach and new belly button are pretty.  That was a bonus.