Question:
Anyone have trouble getting a tummy tuck because of RNY and open gallbladder scars

My surgeon is concerned the tummy tuck scar could cross these two scars and create a triangle of skin cut off from blood supply. Anyone else face this and if so was some alternative incision used or did you just give up?    — Belinda H. (posted on July 14, 2004)

July 13, 2004
Belinda, my surgeon told me exactly the same thing. I am scheduled for September 23rd. I am going back to see him before then. He said he could definitely get rid of the lower "apron" and would do what he could with the upper part. He said I would look much better and my clothes would fit better. Alsp, I have heard other people that had multiple scars (WLS, gallbladder and C-section) and they say that everything went great. My surgeon has a wonderful reputation and I trust him very much and I know he will do a great job. Sherry
   — Sherry P.

July 13, 2004
It must be just the way your PS is going to do your TT. Mine (and alot of PS do) what they call an anchor cut... this goes from hip to hip but it also went down from breast to public... This in fact didnt CROSS my RNY and it actually made my RNY scar smaller.
   — star .

July 13, 2004
I don't know, but couldn't he excise the old scars if he is worried about blood supply?
   — koogy

July 14, 2004
I'm assuming you are not getting an anchor incision. I had the anchor incision and both my open WLS/drain/g-tube scars and former LAP gallbladder scars were removed. The only scars I have now are from the PS's I've had. Many people just get the horizontal cut and it ends up going across their WLS scar and there haven't been problems so I wouldn't sweat it. If your PS is super concerned about it then I would find another PS that is used to dealing with WLS patients. JMO
   — zoedogcbr

July 14, 2004
I had an anchor-incision TT and couldn't be more pleased! At first, I fretted about the large vertical incision from breastbone to pubic area and thought, "well, so much for my tiny little lap RNY scars!" However, the plastic surgeon explained that all those little incision sites PLUS my huge diagonal scar from the traditional gall bladder surgery from years ago, would be completely removed with the TT surgery. I traded several scars for one long one which is now only a fine white line....not even noticeable when I wore a tankini last summer! Not everyone needs or benefits from an anchor incision...it seems to work best for those of us who were pretty apple-shaped and carried alot of our weight above the bellybutton. Ask your surgeon about all your options and it might be worth the time and effort to seek a second opinion just to ease your mind. Best wishes!
   — Diana T.

July 16, 2004
Many thanks to all who answered...I will discuss this with my surgeon further. All of his patients (that I've known) have only had the extended bikini line incision. But then, most of them don't already have the scars we have.
   — Belinda H.

July 23, 2004
Hi. The old gallbladder scars are a potential problem for TT. What your surgeon says about blood supply is correct. I have performed TT with the scar, but cannot get quite the nice flat results because of the crossing incisions problem. If your gallbladder scar is so low that it could be removed, then no problem. This is unusual, however.
   — DrL