Question:
Hernia repair/abdominoplasty ?
I'm scheduled for hernia repair/abdominoplasty 11/10/05 with my general (not plastic) surgeon. He says he can't promise that I'll have a navel afterwards. Has anyone else had this done & no navel left? Also is it still possible to continue to lose weight after these procedures? I've lost 138 lbs., am 17 months out of WLS & would like to lose 60 more pounds. Have a 3 1/2 yr. old to keep up with. Husband will be off work for one week after my surgery to help me. I was very blessed with no problems with my WLS, laproscopic. But am extremely anxious to hear from others who've had this done & their experiences from it. Please share your thoughts with me. Thanks in advance — Debbie K. (posted on October 18, 2005)
October 18, 2005
Hiya, I have had both. I'm from Chicago, my name is Linny, you can email
me at [email protected]. I have had 4 belly buttons, and finally the
last one worked. I have a great Bariatric Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon,
Dr. Lawrence Zachary. I went to him in 2000, and we decided on a 5 year
goal. I have had 12 reconstructions, with about 70 different procedures.
Would I do it again, you bet. But only with my Dr., for me he's the best.
Hugs & Luck Linny
— LindaCohodes
October 18, 2005
Debbie:
Im recovering from the exact same surgery with my general surgeon too. (3
weeks postop) My surgeon said Id have no belly button either but ended up
giving me one anyway. Its so cute!!! I have had relatively no pain at all.
The only problem is that since I didnt hurt, I began doing too much too
early. I had my first pain postop at 2 1/2 weeks!!! Remember, dont be dumb
like me and do too much. No lifting or straining for weeks. (Ask your
doctor for his recommendations!) I had help postop for 1 week too. You
should be fine. I still think my open gastric bypas 13 months ago was much
harder than this! Good Luck! Leslie
— leslee4567
October 18, 2005
I too had this done this past may. They removed 6lbs of flab and I actually
started losing weight again after this because by sewing up the hernia....I
started to feel full faster again since there wasn't as much room for my
pouch to expand...I suppose! I went from 153 down to 138 within a fcouple
of months after surgery. ALthough because of my bad eating habits I
fluctuate between 142 & 145. The worst part of the surgery for me was
the hernia repair. I had a 32 in incision that never gave me any pain. (the
drains were no picnic though). The muscles in my tummy felt contracted all
of the time and caused a alot of pain...once he prescribed me valium for
muscle relaxation...(I took it for 1day) and I hardly needed pain meds but
a couple times a day...compared to every 3-4hrs. I would look into that. As
gar as the belly button goes...I was told that there is always a risk of
losing it but I don't think I would have cared. I don't like the look of
mine. Because of the scar around it...and it being a darker color right now
..it kinda looks like a butt hole...LOLOL sorry for that! Plus if I had
to lose my belly button to get rid of the 6lb apron...it still would have
been an awesome trade off. I wish you losts of luck. I have pics on my
profile of my TT if you would like to look. I don't have recent ones but I
have before and after ones.
Julie
— J. Stinard
October 18, 2005
I'm not sure I understand why you are having the abdominoplasty while still
losing weight? My surgeon and insurance won't even consider approving the
surgery until you have 6 months stable weight. Aren't you worried about
having to do it again after 60 more pounds weight loss? As for the belly
button issue, I've heard a lot of post-ops talk about not having a belly
button any more so this is fairly common. I would just advise you to think
a little more about having the tt before you are done losing weight.
Carmen
— kccjer
October 19, 2005
I just had hernia repair and abdominoplasty September 23, 2005. I lost my
belly button. I kinda miss it but I am adjusting. I hoe I start losing
agaion. but I am still swollen and tight in the belly. A week later pn
follow up visit I ended up beiong re-admitted to hospital wioth a fever and
nfection. I am now doing IV antibtics. I am not hurting near as bad from
infection but I know its going to take me long time to recover from every
thing
— missturtle
October 19, 2005
I know someone who wound up without a navel, but she went to a plastic
surgeon and he gave her one.
— Novashannon
October 19, 2005
If you are planning on loosing more weight; I would wait. If you have it
then go and loose more weight you'll undo what you have had done... (loose
skin). Most PS (Plastic Surgeons) want your weight stable with no more
weight loss plan before they do it. As far as having surgery; why are you
have your general surgeon do it? A general surgeon is good for the hernia
repair but I would certainly use a PS for the abdominoplasty. You go to a
specialist for weight loss surgery you should do the same the PS. Tho some
can loose the belly button for various reasons you should still be able to
have one. Or if not the PS can make you a 'new' one. As far as recovery.
It can take up to 4 weeks; after one week you will still have drains and
you'll not want to be lifting either.
— star .
October 21, 2005
I worked with a plastic surgeon who patients came to after having surgery
with aregular surgeon to have a belly button made because they felt they
looked funny and unnatural.I wouldnt have abdominalplasty with anyone other
then a plastic surgeon. thater alot more then removing 6-10pounds of
escessive skin..there is alot of muscle work involed. alot goes on ubder
the skin you never even see, but you sure will feel it when its all done.
All the Best! Tracey
— traceybubbles
October 21, 2005
Im all for doing the hernia and tummy together. One recovery, one
downtime, one exposure to anesthesia and a better result cosmetically for
sure. Some PS are board certified in both general and plastic surgery and
can do both surgeries.
— DrL
October 23, 2005
Deb,
Two things. Yes I have heard of the no belly button thing, but usually the
surgeon will only do that if you have had damage in that area and the blood
vessels are week or you have scar tissue there like as in an umbilical
hernia. Second thing. I kind of have to answer your question with a
question. If you plan on loosing more weight why are you getting TT now. If
you loose more weight after you have had your TT your skin will just get
saggy again. Most surgeons suggest you wait up to 2 yrs. Post-op before
having TT or anything on that order so that you have lost all the weight
you are going to before they perform the surgery. My suggestion is to wait
until you are further post-op before you make this move if you can help it
17 mo out is still to early especially if you plan on loosing more weight.
Your WLS Sister
Jo Michalko
375/160/140
— Jo_Michalko
November 1, 2005
MY DAUGHTER HAD THE SURGERY DONE, HOWEVER, HER DOC WENT AROUND THE BELLY
BUTTON AND SHE LOOKS GREAT, THEY REMOVED 15# OF SKIN FROM HER ABDOMEN AFTER
SHE HAD LOST 100# BY HERSELF WITHOUT WLS. GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND SEE IF THE
DOC CAN GO AROUND THE BELLY BUTTON.
— genie J.
November 1, 2005
Debbie -- good luck with your upcoming surgery! I had an abdominoplasty
(with a plastic surgeon) in November of 2001, and with it came my man-made
belly button. I wouldn't have cared whether they hadn't given me a new one
-- even with the 100-plus pounds gone, at 45 and after two kids (and two
C-sections) my string bikini-wearing days were long behind me in any case.
I was off work for a month, and the hardest part of the post-op period was
not being able to sit up straight (I sort of had to curl up with my feet on
a stool) for the first three weeks to avoid unnecessary stress on my
incision. Other than that, it was a piece of cake -- and not being able to
sit up or lift anything heavier than a coffee mug eliminated being able to
do nasty household chores like floor scrubbing, laundry hauling, and
vacuuming. If nothing else, that experience means my sons will make some
lucky ladies good wives someday! If you follow what your doctor says, and
rest (I know, nearly impossible with a 3-1/2 year old), you should sail
through the post-op. And you'll lose whatever they take off with the
abdominoplasty (for me, it was about 12-15 pounds), and, if you keep on
doing AFTER what you were doing BEFORE with regard to your diet, you should
continue to lose, although maybe not as fast in the initial stages as your
body heals. Good luck!
— Cheryl Denomy
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