Question:
Any Open RNY over 1 year post-ops?

I am interested in how your scar looks about 1 year or so after surgery. Is anyone willing to share a picture with me? Do you still need to treat the scar with anything? Or has it pretty much healed all the way? My doctor told me my scar will only be about 3 inches long. He is doing it open, but stilling using his LAP instruments. Anyone else have a very small scar? Any info is welcome -- Thanks!! :)    — sibarra (posted on January 23, 2003)

January 23, 2003
You're a lucky one!! Only a three inch scar for an open surgery??!! Mine is 9 inches long...I was slit from the belly button up to my bra line. I am only 11.5 weeks post op, but my scar is red and lumpy, I have a G-tube scar about the size of a dime on my left side, a JP drain scar on my right side, and 35 "staple dots" up and down each side of the incision. I am curious what this will all look like in a year. I don't treat my skin in the area with anything, only my regular moisturizer after a shower/bath. You're very fortunate, the smaller the incision, the less pain and chance of hernia you'll face. Good luck! Hugs, Kim S. Open RNY Nov. 4/02 (-76)
   — Kim S.

January 23, 2003
Hi! I had an open RNY about 20 months ago. The scar itself is about 3.5 inches long. Probably all but 1.5 inches has faded to a faint white line. Ask my husband: I've been known to use makeup markers and draw a little daisy on top of it! It's really not that bad. I have seen some people whose scars you can barely see; I just have a tendency to get kinda thick scars. But again, it's truly not bad. Good luck!!
   — Mary Ellen W.

January 23, 2003
I am a keloid former. Thick, red, ropey, sorta pulling, tight & burning? I've had them injected so they lie flat, and used Scargo to fade the color. They're ok. No bikini in public places, but then, I'm an old bat anyway. My husband, life is no fair. He had 2 surgeries in 5 days, had a seroma, and never touched his scar. You can barely see it even when he holds his tummy into the light. Some of us scar well & some of us have to make a BIG deal out of it! LOL! It's ok. I'll take the keloid on a flat tummy vs no keloid and a tummy that preceeds me into the room by 15 min.
   — vitalady

January 23, 2003
When I had it, my one year old RNY scar was a faded pale line. It got removed when I had my tummy tuck, and now I have that faded pale line. The scar is no big deal.
   — Cara F.

January 24, 2003
Hi Sarah, I don't have any pictures of my scar, but I am just about 1 year post-op (1/31/02 open RNY), down 94 lbs (on my scale, doc's scale is usually less). My scar is still as long as it was immediately post-op (about 7 inches) but it is very pale. I constantly show my husband and kids (but they don't care to look!!). I've even shown people interested in the surgery. I've been thinking about taking a picture of it, for when I talk at a group meeting. Good luck!
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 24, 2003
I am one year post op today. My scar still looks like a battlewound.
   — Gremlin Q.

January 25, 2003
Hi, I have had 3 surgeries, one open VBG in 1992, my gallbladder out same year and now the RNY open 4/10/02. Your scar will never shrink, trust me. It will fade considerably, but it will never shrink. Coincidentally, my most recent scar from open RNY is beautiful, much neater and healed up much quicker than the VBG scar.
   — bevewy

January 29, 2003
I do have pictures of my scar, but unfortunately I can't send them rigt now due to some computer problems, but I am 14 months post op and my scar is very light and is very pretty according to all the plastic surgeons I have seen. Every one of them have commented on how good of a job my surgeon done to have such a nice scar. (that made me feel better because personally I thought it was ugly) The scar is nothing compared to the loose skin. If you don't get any picyures sent to you let me know and as soon as I can I will e-mail you some. Good Luck!
   — Lynda T.