HELP-PANNI VS TT

 Except when you look it up on the internet there are so many different things involved. Thanks for your input.

They are NOT the same thing.

A panniculectomy will technically only remove the apron of skin below the belly button. Oftentimes, you will be left with no belly button at all and no contouring. It is a removal of excess skin.

A tummy tuck generally removes the original belly bottom and excess skin above and below. It includes tightening of abdominal muscles, a newly constructed belly button. It includes a raising of the mons pubis and contouring of the skin.

Some doctors will work with insurance ... And if the panni is covered, they will negotiate with you for the additional work.
Some will even take compensation for the panni, but do the additional work at no charge ..... But technically they are doing more than a panniculectomy.

You should be completely clear about what the surgeon is going to do, how long they expect it to take, how much you will have to pay, how long you will need to recover, etc. get it in writing.

panni is removal of the pannus...TT is the cosmetic stuff

I would ask your surgeon to see examples of his work. Before/afters of people who started out like you. Some with a panni and some with a TT.

I am so thankful for my muscle tightening. I know I would not have been happy with just a panni.

Laura

 Thanks for your input. That is what I am trying to figure out-if I would be happy with just a panni. He said he tightens the muscles if needed but who knows-thinking a plastic surgeon would be better to go with then a general surgeon.

I think alot of it is how its worded. If you go to a plastic surgeon its usually not covered by insurance. I went to the surgeon that did my RNY and he did a panni, im cut like an upside down T, so he took all the panni and above my waist line and tightened my stomach muscles and the insurance covered it. Now im not sure all bariatric surgeons do this type of thing but its worth checking into. Im sure aplastic surgeon is a little more artistic with a scalpo than a bariatric surgeon, not sure.

 Thanks for your input. My bariatric surgeon does do pannis. So are you happy you had your bariatric surgeon do it-or do you wish you would have gone to a plastic surgeon?

Im only 2 weeks out and so far it looks good, he took 4.5 pounds of fat and skinn. I am waiting until the swelling goes down to make my final decision weather Im happy or not, so far so good.

 THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INPUT. I GUESS THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU HAVE TO TRUST THE SURGEON - AFTER ALL HE IS THE ONE WITH THE KNIFE  - THANKS AGAIN-WILL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE SOON. 

 I just had a tummy tuck Wed and it was an extended one so it went on my back on both sides to get the love handles. He also said the mons would be lifted and even the thighs to some extent (I think outer thighs). He said he lifted my butt a little too which I was not expecting since I got an extended tummy tuck. I'm still swollen so I can see my stomach no longer sits on my thighs when I'm sitting but I haven't gotten a good look at my back/butt yet since they only took the binder off yesterday to replace the gauze.

I definitely needed a tummy tuck though because I had extra skin & fat above my belly button that looked awful. I'd find out for sure what all he does when he says "tummy tuck" because my Dr even did some lipo in various places.