panniculectomy

My husband said no nude pictures of me on the internet  so he would only take pics of my arms.  I will get him to take some after pics of my arms and I'll post them.
I know having before pics posted by others really helped me but I guess the arms will be better than nothing. Debi

Oh I can totally understand that!!! Will look forward to seeing your arms! Again, so glad to hear you are doing so well... its a relief to hear it!

I just posted a before and after of my arms on my profile. The surgeon said that was as small as he could get the top arms because he wouldn't go past the elbow.
He was trying to get the top arms to match the lower arms in size. I've been really swollen the last 2 days and even my legs are swollen. Tell me what you think about my arms and be honest please. I really wanted them to be smaller than they are but they are an improvement so I can't complain too much. Debi

I think your arms look incredible really!!! What a HUGE difference, just wait with swelling going down even better over time but already look dang amazing!! WOOHOO congrats and thanks for posting those Debi!!!

Thanks Melissa. I've seen your arms & I wish mine looked that good and you haven't had any plastics on your arms. I bet you're counting the days until your LBL, I'm really excited for you. It feels awesome not to have the hanging belly anymore.

Yep... the panniculectomy removes only the skin below the belly button... it does not include any muscle tightening or removal of any excess skin above the belly button.  If there is ANY way for you to come up with the funds to have ti all done at once, DO IT.  Because of financial and medical/surgeon issues, I ended up havign to have my panniculectomy first, a mons lift a month later (and let me tell you, having an extremely sagging mons with NO sgging belly is gross!), and then a reverse TT a few months after that.  Three surgeries was too many!  There are also not a lot of surgeons who will do a reverse TT (which is what you will need if you have already had the panni done but have excess skin above the waist)... and then you would have two horizontal incisions (one low from teh panni and one under the breasts from the TT) and one vertical one instead of just one vertical and one horizontal.

Lora

Don't get a panni if you can get a TT or LBL.  There's no comparison.  I know lots of unhappy people who have gotten panni surgery instead of a TT or LBL. 

Ok, I have to disagree slightly with some of the answers you have received so far.

The problem is that people use the term TT and panniculectomy to mean the same thing sometimes.  And a true "tummy tuck" involves tightening the muscles, this is true.

However, I just had a "panniculectomy" a week ago and they did remove excess skin and fat from above my belly button.  My insurance company approved the procedure as a panniculectomy.  I have the "anchor" cut which is an incision hip to hip and a vertical incision from just under my breast bone all the way down to my hip to hip incision.

So ask your PS very carefully what they will and won't do.  I visited 3 different surgeons, two of whom swore  up and down that insurance would not under any cir****tances cover the vertical incision/removal of skin etc.  The 3rd one, who is affiliated with the same hosp. as my GB program said he does them all the time and gets them approved all the time, and he was right.  So I went with him.

I had a pannislectomy and a hernia reapir and my insurance paid for the whole thing I just paid him out of net work  price which was 2k and I went to a surgeon that did a awesome job. I have a flat  tummy and he made me look  good. I went to surgeon that takes pride in his work it is not about him getting rich he is about getting people back to restored heath . Shop around for the best surgeon  that will suit your needs. I went to the doc  that did my lap band and he did use small staples and  sutured me closed  a combo My scar is really healing nicely for a  girl with olive skin. I had 13 plus lbs of pannis removed and he did fix my hernia which meant he sewed up my muscles as well. Ok my belly button is not very pretty as far a scar but that was the complication of a massive herna right threw my belly button but it does look better but I love my tummy. Will post new pics pannislectomy  soon. I have no muffin top
Lisa

I had a panni. She did it exactly like a tt, except no muscle tightening. Insurance will usually pay for it, if you have documentation of rashes etc. She tightened the whole tummy. I would pay for the muscle tightening if you can. My stomach is flat, but it would be flatter and a smaller waist if she would have done the muscle tightening.
My scar is hip to hip only, below the bikini line, my belly button looks great. They took 12 lbs off of me. I guess it depends on the Dr.