Surgeon left me dazed and confused about my surgery Tues,

You have researched your surgeon and feel comfortable with him. I would be suspicious if he made you lots of promises and garantees of bodily perfection. Just accept that he will do the job and if you need follow up procedures to acheive the results you want, that's just part of it. I had a panniculectomy in April and am pleased with the results except I have a little pooch in the front due to a pooch above the belly button. I have a beautiful incision line, no puckering or dog ears. I have no muffin top and a beautiful waist on the sides and back.  I saw my dr Monday and he said that the skin there is good and to diet and exercise and let my body heal. He said to see him after the first of the year and we will discuss lipo and anything else. He told me what I could reasonably expect from that. But like your dr he couldn't make any definite promises about the panni surgery, there are too many unknowns. The thing about the belly button is how stretched the umbilicus is from your stretched stomach. Sometimes the umbilicus is so badly stretched that it "dies", however if the umbilicus is viable and healthy it is an indication of how your body will heal after surgery and less chance of skin and tissue necrosis. It took time to gain the weight and it took time to lose the weight, just look at your new body the same way, it's a process. Also, try not to focus on specific parts of your body and what you dislike, it's hard and I am talking to myself here as well as you. We are often more critical of ourselves than others are.