panniculectomy vs. LBL vs. tummy tuck?

 Hey all, I'm new on this board, so sorry if this question has been addressed! I have quite a bit more weight to lose but I've already lost 200 lbs and am beginning to think about plastics at least to address the "freakishness" from the weight I've already lost. One of the worst places is my panni. It's so disgustingly huge, I look deformed. 

I know I'll eventually want an LBL. But not only do I still have weight to lose, I haven't had kids yet and definitely plan on it. But I NEED this panni gone long before that! I feel like if I didn't have my panni (or batwings, but that's another story) I would be so much happier with my body, even at this weight.

So, my questions: is it a waste to get an LBL or tummy tuck and then get pregnant? Has anyone had a panniculectomy? What does it look like? I'm afraid it would make the fatness/saggy skin around it look even more pronounced. UGH, I just don't know what to do! Any input would be much appreciated!

My gut feeling would be to get the panniculectomy now and wait for sculpting like a LBL after you are done and have had kids.  Of course, I am no plastic surgeon.  You could make an appointment and see what they say, I think that would be very much more helpful.  It really isnt awful, and usualyl free or cheep.

Hi Jenny, I've been researching plastics as I'm near the end of my weight loss. BTW, congratulations on your amazing weight loss.

A plastic surgeon would best be able to answer your question. It is my understanding that a LBL or TT will be stretched back out by a pregnancy. Everything that I've read states plastic surgeons prefer to wait till a women is finished having children. My guess is that if someone does have a LBL or TT, they will need further surgery post pregnancy to look tight again.

BTW, there is a body of research showing that patients with a BMI above 30 are much more at risk for serious complications from plastic surgery - surgeons prefer to operate on patients with lower BMI's. If I were in your shoes, I would wait to have a LBL or TT. I know it's tough to wait.

I would see a plastic surgeon.  I know that my bariatric surgeon has done the panniculectomy on some folks before their weight loss surgery so you may be closer than you think!

Personally, I cannot imagine having a TT and THEN getting pregnant.  My muscles is so tight that if I even eat or drink too much, I can feel the tightness of the muscle.  I cannot imagine how it would feel to have it stretched out by a 9-month pregnant uterus!

I had my panni removed before I had my TT.  Although the area below my navel was nice and flat, it DID make the excess skin above that look even worse...

Lora