Pannus Removal - Letting Go...??

I've had a big tummy for as long as I can remember. I had an apron beginning in my teens, and it grew and grew over the years. I always carried most of my weight in my belly (and the rest around my face, it seems). Since losing most of my excess weight, it's all hangy downy, and I got to a point awhile back where I began to feel it was like my size 5X clothes - and it was time to get rid of it. At this point, I've had consults with several plastic surgeons, and I've selected one and had a final consult with him. I'll have a series of three operating sessions, with a couple of procedures each time. I've planned to begin in January 2008. As the time approaches, I'm surprised that I am having a hard time dealing with the very idea of my belly skin being gone. I don't really know how to explain the way I feel. I don't like it, never have. At this point, I have a terrible time finding pants to fit me. It gets in my way at the gym, even with the highest strength compression garments. From way back, when it seemed it was with me to stay, I accepted it, along with the rest of my physical self. And recently, I thought I had accepted that it was time to get rid of it. But as the time approaches, I find myself freaking out about making such a drastic change to my body. I just cannot imagine what it will feel like to run my hands down my front and have them run straight across my tummy to my thighs. While I love the idea of that in one way, I just cannot quite imagine that being me. So I'm curious, have any of you who've had or considered a panniculectomy struggled with losing what's left of your formerly big bellies?

Well I am about to do what you want to do on aug 22.  I am very obese and bedbound because of my panni. I can not have the wls due to only having medicaid and mississippi won't pay. Mine is so extreme that if I could stand my stomach is only a few inches from touching the floor. I do want my gone more than you know but I understand some of your questions. Like what it will make my body shape look like and I have never been without it and what it might feel like with it gone. Maybe I can at least give you some ideas with my experience I am about to go through. I have too spend several weeks in the hospital to due this because of other problems mine is dangerous. You most likely will only be a couple days. Anyway I am leaving monday morning to be admitted. Since we are neighbor states here I am sure you have heard of UMC in jackson, ms maybe. So if you have any questions just let me know Hugs, Legina

Good luck to both of you! I wanted mine gone, never had second thoughts.  I know you will be much better off without it.

Thanks, Bonnie! I know - there's no doubt I'll be better off without it. It really is like my old size 5X clothes - I didn't need them anymore, and I sho' don't need all this floopy floppy flappy skin! I'm counting on my head to catch up like it's doing with the rest of the changes so far. Glad things went well for you!

Wow Legina! I will be keeping you in my thoughts & prayers on the 22nd. I hope your panni removal goes great & gives you some more mobility - there will be NO STOPPING YOU! :-) Thanks so much for your reply.  I have been wondering about my shape also, and at my last visit, with the PS help, we bunched things here and held them up and in there, and with two mirrors, I was able to ask him my questions about what some of what we'll do will leave my shape like. Kinda made me wish for that computer imaging where a couple of clicks of the mouse and POOF! Different! I will be checking to see how you are doing. I wish you all the best! Glad you'll have the laptop so you can keep us posted as you're able.

Ok, I can't read this without wanting to help some way. I think that you need to contact some lawyers to fight for you. This is affecting your health. They have to cover the removal of at least some of that tummy if not the WLS. I would not give up. I would write EVERYONE, senator, president, lol. I would be their worst nightmare. He**, I will do it for you! 

YES! I totally understand - I wanted it gone, but had a kind of grievieng process as well, I felt  like I was losing a part of me, and it took a while to deal with even after plastics - I was glad it was gone but yet feeling the loss.  It takes time to make the mind body connection to really know that this is your new body and incorporate it into your self image.

I sometimes tell people I see a stranger in the mirror - and often a different stranger every day :-) It really does take time for mind & body to catch up. It helps to hear from others who've been there. Thanks so much for your reply.

My therapist tells me that it takes 4-5 years at the new weight for the mind to catch up with where the body is and have a more realistic perception of our body image.   I wonder, with all my plastics  and the drastic changes with that iff that also dellays because  I am in a state of constant change and have been for aalmost 5 years now.

I didn't have a huge panni, but I was happy to have my excess skin GONE! It didn't really hit me that part of my body was out in the trash until I watch Dr.L holding it in his hand last week on Big Medicine LOL! Then it was kind of creepy.  This Monday I get to watch them throw out my butt LOL.