Question:
What to do about panni pain?

I had a pretty large apron pre-op. But to my recollection it didn't cause my back pain unless it was low back. I'm now 6 almost 7 months out, down 95 pounds, and my apron really hangs now. My problem is, I constantly have a mid back pain. Right under the ribs on both sides. For a while I couldn't figure out why I was having this pain. Had my kidneys and everything checked. Everything was fine. Now, I'm thinking it is from my stomach hanging. And my boobs hang to my belly button. Everything has went south. I'm hoping to have corrective surgery, but until then I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this. I wake up in the morning with it, pretty much constantly throughout the day. My stomach hangs even when I sleep on my side. All I do is take pain pills for it but I don't want to keep taking them forever, I'd hate to loose all this weight only to find that my liver is failing from the pain meds.    — K T. (posted on April 7, 2002)

April 7, 2002
Sounds like a medical necessity procedure to me. Many people (a plastic surgeon told me) that have lots of weight to lose have 2 surgeries. One to have the panniculectomy and the second one to "sculpt" later when all the weight is lost. Breast lift without a reduction typically isn't covered, but I do know people who have had it covered due to rashes and the droopy breasts cause back pain.
   — ZZ S.