Question:
Question formed another way: Have you went in for Lap w/ a c-section....

....under your belt (pun intended) and 1) wound up being able to continue with lap or 2) wound up being opened? My doctor said there is an apron-like thing that floats inside and sometimes it will heal with the prior scars and when they try to do lap, they wind up having to do it open because it's in the way. Just wondering what kind of stats I'm looking at here. I've had one c-section and that was 19 years ago yesterday. Only other surgery on belly was my tubal and that was through my belly button.    — Nell C. (posted on June 24, 2002)

June 24, 2002
I guess it depends in how bad the adhesions (inside scarring) is. I had 2 bikini cut c-sections, lap gallbladder removal, lap tubes tied then an emergency bikini cut hyst. and was able to have my wls lap. Are your cuts vertical or bikini cut? Maybe that would make a difference, who knows. Good luck to you.
   — Cinna G.

June 24, 2002
I agree with the previous post. I also had 2 bikini cut c-sections. One in 1995 and one in 1998. In 2001 I had my Lap. RNY. Two months ago, I had a tummy tuck which my c-section scars are now combined with. But it all depends upon how you were cut before. Being that it was 19 yrs ago, many c-sections I believe were vertical. If you were cut "bikini-line" style and your surgeon is still telling you that you need to have it done open, then either there is another good reason behind why he wants to do it open or you might need a second opinion. Good Luck.
   — Gina L.

June 24, 2002
I do believe it all depends on how much scar tissue and adhesions are present. I had 3 c section and I had the Lap done on March 22nd of this year. The doctor said there was scar tissue and it took a little longer getting through but she was able to perform it lab. Hope this helps. Good Luck.
   — Chris9672

June 24, 2002
You are so right! Back then they were doing a lot of c-sections vertical. How I lucked out, I'll never know because I was in the Army and had it done in Germany and those doctors did it bikini cut! Plus it was an emergency. So maybe I'll be okay with the lap surgery too but I'm prepared for the worst just in case........Thanks for all the responses!!!
   — Nell C.

June 24, 2002
I had vertical C-section 25 years ago and a tubal ligation through my bellybutton 7 years later. My open RNY was 6/17 with no problems. Good luck!
   — Loretta E.

June 24, 2002
I had a bikini c-section scar and another horizontal scar on the right side of my abdomen from exploratory surgery 19 years ago. I went in for lap RNY in May but when my surgeon got inside of me, I had serious scar adhesions from the c-section. She had to open me in order to fix them, before she could do the RNY part.
   — Jennifer A.

June 24, 2002
Hi, I had a vertical c-section and a bikini cut and a tubal thru my belly button. I had lap rny two months ago and did fine. When he started my surgery there was a lot of scar tissue, but he fixed it first, then continued with the lap procedure. Good luck.
   — Tina P.

June 28, 2002
One more thing that you need to consider here is this: about the time of your c-section, it was popular to do a vertical(naval to pubic) cut on the skin, yet once inside, the surgeon would actually cut the muscles and uterus bikini cut. You really need to know what was done to you INTERNALLY, because the scar you have on the outside may not match the scar (scar tissue/adhesions) that you have on the inside. Many times the scar tissue formed from going into the belly button for the tubal is more of a problem than the adhesions from a c-section. Good luck.
   — Tracy P.