Question:
Anyone had OPEN RNY and wish they had LAP RNY?
Could those of you who had OPEN RNY tell me how long(inches) was your incision when it healed? Did it fade or is it still visible? I know the recovery time for LAP RNY is shorter, but a surgeon I perfer only performs OPEN RNY. I am 20 years old and I have this image in my head that when I have children, the OPEN incision will look like a giant stretch mark...(and I do not need anymore...lol) Anyone have horror stories about thier OPEN incision. Is true that there are less complications, (like leakage) if the WLS is performed OPEN because the surgeon can really see what he/she is doing? All insight is appreciated. Please Advise. Thank you — Shayla527 (posted on June 2, 2003)
June 2, 2003
First off, no it's not true that there are less complications if it's open
allowing the surgeon to see more. My surgeon only offered open at the time
but was training to switch to lap - said you can actually see BETTER
because everything is magnified! My incision is long - about 12 inches and
had 38 tiny staples that hurt like the dickens coming out. But, I chose
the surgeon I felt comfortable with and took what he offered. I'm pleased
- the scar is way worse than the fat. I can hide the scar, I never was
able to hide the fat. Oh and with Lap the incident of hernia decreases
significantly, however, I've not had a hernia in 10 months from the
incision...just the one that was in my low abdomen pre-op.
— [Deactivated Member]
June 2, 2003
My surgeon prefers LAP and I was lucky that, even though I weighed 500
pounds and had a BMI of over 61, he did mine LAP. He explained that there
was less blood in the LAP because the incisions were so small and that,
therefore, his vision was better. He also explained to me that he felt
that the easier time of recovery meant that patients got out of bed much
faster which decreased complications and improved recovery. (I talk about
what I perceive to be the differences between open and LAP at
http://steverevere.tripod.com ). But, ultimately, you need to have the
procedure that you feel is right for you.
— SteveColarossi
June 2, 2003
My surgery was march 26th of this year , I had open ..My scar is 12
inches long . Its my badge of courage and I wear it proudly . I agree with
the last poster ..a scar is eaiser to hide than the fat . If I could have
had it done Lap , I would have ..I had scar tissue from previous surgeries
that prevented that .. I am just so happy that I was able to recieve the
surgery .. kinda like having a baby ..you want it vaginally but if you have
a C SEC you soon dont care just as long as you have a healthy baby ..how it
got here is really insignificant after its all over . I have lost 49 lbs in
a little over 10 weeks .64 more to goal . Love Ruthie in Sc
— ruthie
June 2, 2003
I had open RNY and my scar goes from right below my Zyphoid bone (just
below the breasts) to my navel. I consider it a badge of honor now!!! It
makes me remember where I came from and what I have been through. At the
time I really wanted lap but I didnt want to wait too long for a date so I
chose open. Dont get me wrong it hurt a lot......but my friend who had lap
and no pain from surgery had a sticture and an obstruction. It require two
more surgeries that did hurt a lot. I have had ZERO complications and I
have no regrets about having it open now. The scar does fade with time too
so it really isnt that big of a deal. The hanging skin you will have will
be more of an issue than the scar!!!!! Good luck to you. Wendi Open RNY
9/19/02 down 130lbs
— lovemonterey
June 2, 2003
whoops just read my reply. I meant that the scar is way BETTER than the
fat :>)
— [Deactivated Member]
June 2, 2003
hi shayla,
i had open distal rny because my surgeon through my insurance only
offered open. i would have loved to have lap because i hear recovery time
is much less. but i would not give up the surgery just to have lap. mt scar
is about 9 inches long and down toward my belly button has fadded a lot. up
towars the top it is thicker and about 5 inches of it keloided. if you have
a choice go lap if you don't, don't sweat it. it really wasn't all that
painfull either. best of luck, kimberly 11/12/02 319 -95lbs
— kimberly T.
June 2, 2003
Open has a long term lifetime risk of incisional hernia. Some say 30% of
opens get a hernia. Whatever the number its very common. Hernias require a
follow up surgery for repair. Opens big incision increases the risk of
infection since so much of our insides are exposed to the air. Lap has less
pain and faster recovery. My surgeon says he can see better with LAP since
everything is done under microscope.
— Sam J.
June 2, 2003
I had open, and my scar is only about 4 inches long. It's still a little
dark and raised at this point (7 weeks) but it doesn't bother me at all.
— Jim F
June 2, 2003
My Scar is also about 4 inches long, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide. I didn't
have staples, so there are no little tiny marks along the side. I wouldn't
say it looks like a stretch mark in any way...it's just there! It's no big
deal. Better to go with the surgeon you are most comfortable with even if
he only does open. If you like your doc, you'll do better I think.
— thekatinthehat
June 2, 2003
— Ali M
June 2, 2003
I can't report on a scar because I am only just under a month out of
surgery. But I can tell you that the initial incision is from the
breastbone all the way down to the naval. I think the idea of a speedier
recovery makes the idea of LAP appealing to almost anybody. However, like
you, my surgeon is only doing open at this time, and while LAP may be
ideal, there are certain benefits to having open. First, as someone who
lost her mother to ovarian cancer, which often is not detected until it has
spread throughout the body because it has few unique symptoms, there was a
certain amount of comfort in knowing that my surgeon would be able to see
inside of me and be able to detect anything that might be lingering
undetected inside. Also, as opposed to not having the surgery at all, open
wasn't a bad option. I'd do it again in a second.
— Amanda S.
June 3, 2003
My Open Scar (8 weeks out) is about 6 inches long. No way it would be
confused with a stretch mark, it (oddly) looks like I had surgery there :)
I just say "I had heart surgery, but at the time, my heart was in my
stomach." :)
— [Deactivated Member]
June 3, 2003
I had regretted having open vs. lap until my friend had her lap RNY six
weeks after I had my open. I had my surgery on Tuesday and was out and
about by Monday. She had her surgery and was in pain for almost four
weeks. My incision is from belly button to breast bone and I show it to
everyone, it is like my battle wound. I am almost three months out and it
has already began to fade.
— Marcy S.
June 3, 2003
Your preferred surgeon does open - then that should be where you go. I was
fortunate that my preferred surgeon does lap. I have a friend who is 10
years younger and had hers done open - she struggled to come back to work
after 5 weeks. Subsequently, she had to have 2 EGDs for dilitations, and
her gallbladder removed (and,ironically, MY surgeon took out her
gallbladder laparoscopically! She was back at work in 1 week after that!) I
was back at work full time on the 12th day after my lap RNY and never have
had any problems. (As for the surgeon "seeing" better with open
as opposed to lap - if your surgeon is well trained in laparoscopic
surgery, there is no difference, and if memory serves me, I think I was
told that they can "zoom in" with the camera during lap surgery,
to get a magnified look, which can't be done with open.)
— koogy
June 3, 2003
I kinda feel I'm all by myself here, but nevertheless, I'm especially happy
that I had my WLS LAP RNY. It's really a personal decision as well as what
YOU feel would be better for you. Your surgeon also has a part in this. My
particular surgical team just happen to do what *I* wanted. I couldn't
stand the thought of having to do wound care or bandages,, etc. *I* can
only say that whatever route you chose to go, make sure you are
"transected", that way you may have less tendency to have a SLD.
I researched for 3 years before I decided what I wanted. It wasn't about
what the insurance company said, or what my friends or anyone else said, it
was about what I wanted (I had my own personal reasons). The thing you need
to be concerned about is, am I completely satisfied or have confidence in
the surgeon I have selected? Is this the ONLY WLS he is skilled to do? Does
he have an Aftercare Program? Am I able to get in touch with him/her pretty
quickly? I have a six-page set of questions I made up to make my final
decision. Every one of my questions were answered. My insurance (according
to the horror stories-BCBS of Georgia-PPO) paid EVRYTHING except for
$300!!My surgeons were not even in my network. I chose these surgeons
because of the skill and the ability to do other WLS's. WLS is now in the
limelight, so-to-speak, and many surgeons are jumping on the bandwagon, but
be sure your surgeon is board certified. Ask about the number of patients
he has operated on. There is a lot to consider whichever way you decide to
have the RNY...Just research thoroughly, and be absolutely sure of the one
you choose to do your surgery! I'm praying with you on it! I had no leakage
(the test for leakage is done while you are in the O.R. under
anesthesia-before going to recovery) and I had another one done on day 2.
Recovery time is shorter, you can return to work sooner, less pain...but
there are some not to good stories about LAP RNY as well. It really depends
on the person, his or her health and the surgeon selected. I had a minor
complication that had nothing to do with neither of my surgeons, but was
the anesthesiologist. Read my profile. I'm doing great now and have
pictures to!! Best Wishes to you~I know you'll do fine! LAP RNY 9/3/02
265/159/115-126 Hadiyah, a.k.a.~~
— yourdivaness
June 3, 2003
Hi! If my Doctor preformed WLS through my nose & was still as
successful, I still would've chosen him! He is a pioneer in this field
& has been performing these types of surgeries for at least 20 years.
It was his experience, personality, follow-up care & genuine care of me
that I liked. As far as the scar is concerned, mine is about 5 inches
long, from 2-3 inches above my belly button & up. I keep telling my
husband that when I reach goal I'll have it made into a tattoo of a
butterfly.... Go with a doctor you trust and is experienced. Good Luck!
Love, Karen
— Karen H.
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