Question:
I am looking into the lap procedure and the RNY. I know I will have extra skin
Since I will need a panni and or tummy tuck does it make sense to get a lap ? What are the benefits of getting the lap if you need more invasive work for the panni and or tummy tuck. If I get a lap could they do the panni at the same time or does that defeat the purpose ? — Lynn W. (posted on December 18, 2001)
December 18, 2001
Hi, If you are talking about whether your scar from an open surgery will
show even after a tummy tuck then the answer is yes. The scar for the
gastric bypass is above the belly button. the scar for a Tummy tuck is
covered by your underwear. They remove skin in the shape of lips under your
belly button and pull everything down then give you a new hole for your
belly button. so the open gastric bypass scar would be pulled down but
would still show. hope that wasn't too confusing. I got all the tummy tuck
info from watching TLC's "Personal Story". good luck.
— M. S.
December 18, 2001
Laps spend fewer days in the hospital, generally 2 days here. Less pain and
faster recovery. The MAIN advantage is that opens are at a 30% chance of
getting a hernia, laps near zero. I didnt want a second surgery so selected
lAP.
— bob-haller
December 18, 2001
If you are having weight loss surgery, wait until your weight is stable
before you have a TT because there will be loose skin after you lose weight
that was too tight to remove at the time of surgery.
— blank first name B.
December 18, 2001
Open scars are nasty. My Lap scars are at 5 months small red areas with no
incisions visible. They are lighter red than they were and are likely to
disappear altogether with time. I dont really care, but am amazed at how
small they are. My wifes at 10 days since her surgery look even better. I
told her just yesterday she will be in a bikini in no time. She DOESNT like
bikinis! Then a friend told her the same thing!
— bob-haller
December 18, 2001
Okay, Bob, you obviously haven't seen MY scar! LOL!! My scar is not nasty
at all. I am 11 months post op, it is a very small/thin pencil line about
4 inches long. It is a very light pink and is still fading. My surgeon does
not use staples. He uses skin glue and therefore, the line is extremely
thin. It is noticable, however, and now that I am at goal, there are times
when I wish I didn't have it. I never planned to be a bathing beauty, but
just wearing a sports bra for aerobics would be nice. (when I START
aerobics! LOL) Also, post op I followed my surgeon's instructions, and I
have no hernia. My surgeon says that my chances of now developing one are
extremely small. Shelley
— Shelley.
December 18, 2001
Whether to have an RNY lap or open depends on which type of surgery your
surgeon does, your weight, and your health. Some surgeons have a more
difficult time performing lap surgery on the extremely obese (600-700 lbs)
or more. The open scar from an RNY is NOT nasty. Mine is a lovely shade of
pink and although I can't wear a bikini without it showing, I've never
wanted to wear a bikini anyway! Don't worry about the open scar. After you
lose 150 pounds you'll be so happy that that scar will be a blessing to
you. Good luck!! Oh, also, you probably wouldn't want a tummy tuck with the
WLS; because you'll be losing so much weight that you'll have hanging skin
again in a year.
— [Anonymous]
December 19, 2001
I had open rny. My incision is about 3 1/2 inches long and healing nicely.
My doctor prefers open, and I trust him. He's an extremely skilled
physician and does lap on other procedures. Personally I rather have one
small scar than 6 or 7 little ones scattered around. But thats just my
feeling. I think for younger people, vanity plays a bigger role. I don't
think it really matters though. Sometimes this lap vs open debate becomes
almost as tiresome as the rny vs ds ones.
— [Anonymous]
December 19, 2001
— georgiacarol
December 19, 2001
Ok I too object to the "open scars are nasty" comment. My scar
is 2 3/4 " long and fading fast, I have very pale skin too. If you're
worried about an open scar, check out some of your Dr's patients. I'm sure
they'll show you, I get asked all the time by pre-ops. There are good
reasons to have a lap surgery, but I don't think scarring is one of them.
Just my $.02!
— [Anonymous]
December 19, 2001
To add my 2 cents, I'm much happier that I had the open RNY. Maybe some
doctors do it differently, but usually the lap procedure entails creation
of the stoma by staple. The open allows creation of the stoma via suture.
Thus, the open RNY has a much more stable stoma, much more likely to stand
up to any attempted "stretching" and breakdown over time.
— [Anonymous]
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