Question:
I had open rny and have a 5 inch scar from it, when the surgeon does the

panniculectomy he will pull the skin down. Does this mean my gastric bypass scar will be down lower? Do most surgeons excise the old scar? I am having a bikini line cut from hip to hip and hernia repair with mesh. My surgeon is very conservative with the panni because he doesn't want it to pull on the hernia repair. He will move the belly button up. What happens to the old rny scar? Thanks to you all!    — Mylou52 (posted on January 23, 2004)

January 23, 2004
Hi - I had a 12 inch long scar from my RNY that ran the length of my abdomen. After I had my tummy done and all that skin removed, I was astonished to find that I now had a three inch scar that starts much lower and is hardly visible. I also lost a couple of other old scars in all that skin removal. It's great! I hardly recognize my own abdomen.
   — Traci H.

February 4, 2004
My open rny incision was only about 4 inches long. I was so happy. When I had my panni (hip to hip)/incisonal hernia repaired, he did pull down the skin to tighten it. He gave me a new belly button as well. My scar went from 4 inches to about 7. However, I would do it again in a second. The scars do fade. Mine are still a pinkish color, but fading. Good luck.
   — Dawn H.