Panni questions

Hi, I am to have my panni removed on May 14th and have a few questions.  I read on here that a few people wore P.J. bottoms instead of a nighty.  I would prefer that but wonder if the incision will get in the way.  Did you have to wear a binder?  and if so for how long?  Did you lose a dress size?  I am not sure if i will as I am in size 8 pants and the fit great on the legs and a little snug in the waist.  I figure what will probably happen is size 8's will probably just be big in the waist as that is what they are removing so my legs will likely stay the same.  Does that make sense.  I am so excited about getting the skin gone but very nervous as well.  Thanks,

I just had my panni done 3 weeks ago.  You can see my before and after pics on my profile.  The PJ pants won't bother the incisions because of the binder you will be wearing.  I strongly recommend buying a 6 pk of mens tank tops to wear under the binder so that the binder doesn't rub against your skin. 

My PS told me to expect to wear the binder for 6 weeks.  But at my post op checkup he told me I could take it off after only 4 weeks if I wanted to but I could also leave it on longer if I wanted to.

Too early for me to tell if i've lost a pant size or not because of the swelling.  I'm not planning on looking at new clothes until at least 6 wks post op but people on here have told me that even buying at 6 wks to only buy a few things b/c a couple of weeks later they could be too big, so I'll be shopping conservatively.

I can totally understand being nervous, but you will be fine.  And you won't believe the difference in your body.  Don't forget to take before and after pics.  I still look in the mirror and it's like I'm not looking at my body - and i'm only 3 wks post op!

Any questions feel free to ask away.

Good luck and wishing you a speedy recovery.

I may be in the minority, but I never wore a binder after my panni.  My surgeon didn't want the pressure on the skin that needed to re-establish blood flow. 

As far as pants go, I generally wore long night shirts or loose dresses for the first couple of weeks.  That was what was more comfortable for me personally.  My incision was a bikini line incision so when I did start wearing pants it was never an issue.

I went from a size 26 before panni to currently a size 18/20.  I have to say it was the second best thing I've ever done for myself healthwise.

Debbi

BTW- I've got pics on my profile set to friends only.  If you'd like to see them send me a friend invite.

Can you add me as a friend?  Your post caught my eye cuz I too am not to goal and had a TT no muscel tightening and was curious of your results.  I am 2 months out and still swelling like I am 4 months pregnant sometimes and just curious of your pics.  I guess I was not sure how to add myself to your friends list.  Thanks.

Well, I had an abdominoplasty w/ no muscle tightening on March 5th so almost 8 weeks out and I can say that I had to really think through the panties and pants that I wore/wearing w/ and w/o my binder.  I should preface w/ the fact that I am not at goal and started at a size14/16 and have an hourglass figure...very short hourglass.  So, I got the mens tanks..definitely a great idea and wore them under the binder.  I got pretty bikini panties to wear after I got done w/ the binder at 4-5 weeks out.  I was told I could wear a girdle type after that point if i wanted to but didnt have to wear anything if I didnt want to.  So, I tried the girdle type w/ my granny panties and that didnt work, I tried bikinis for awhile and that was o****il now.  I am used to having a waist so to be swollen so much that I look like I am 5 months pregnant...no joke and to have my already big booty/hips/thighs swollen too I could barely fit into my draw string cargo pants.  I do not wear dresses cuz I have very thick legs/ankles (in my family we call them cankles) so that was not an option.  I just now am wearing yoga pants that are a little tighter around the waist, not just draw strings.  I got into my jeans about week 6-7 but didnt feel too good until this weekend.  I could also see my swelling around my hips/thighs/booty were better too.  I have not been wearing my girdle thing for about 10 days cuz I saw it was pushing the swelling into my hips and thighs and I feel much better not wearing it now.  I could see that after the swelling has gone down to where I have a waist I will need a size less.  However, I was tempted to break out my old maternity clothes cuz that is how pregnant I can look sometimes.  I also noticed if my waistband on my pants is not tight enough then my pants will fall below my tummy, like how some pregnant woman wear their pants anyway.  I am not used to that but I am not buying any new clothes for at least 2 more months. 

I couldnt be happier w/ my results thus far and can not believe that you can tell I am a girl again not just packing my pants nor did I realize how bad the pannis had made my shape look.  Anyway, I would like to get my waist back but otherwise if nothing else changes I will be the happiest woman on the planet.

The panni incision will go from the middle of your hips on eaach side and down along the bikini line so wearing pants will not bother the incision at all except on the sides of your hips.... but if you wear loose, soft cotton pants you should be fine.

I wore a binder for about 4 weeks, but had VERY little swelling.  I mostly wore it to keep clothes from rubbing again the tender spots on my hips at the ends of the incisions.  I dod NOT wear it at night at all, though after the first week.

Lora

I had panni removal with hernia repair, muscle realignment, and tightening. I am 3 weeks today and I'm still wearing the binder and still have fluid draining from the opening where the last drain was removed 6 days ago!!

The doctor had to cut my binder down a panel because it was too long for my torso and kept bunching up and biting at my waist. It still bunches some, but it's not as bad now.

I've got to wear compression of some sort for another three weeks, though he did say if I had a high-waist girdle or other compression garment I could wear that instead of the binder as long as it doesn't stop at my waist; it needs to come up to my ribs.

Pictures will be taken tonight for the 3 week post-op comparison.

Susan