Does a higher BMI make a difference...Lap vs. Open?

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone knows if a higher BMI makes a difference as to whether they can perform the surgery laprascopically? I would really like to have mine that way due to the shorter recovery period. I a little worried about being off work too long. Lori

All dr's are different. In general I have found the lower BMI's get the LAP. However... I am at 78 and I am getting mine done LAP so it can be done but they need special tools. And any LAP procedure can turn into an open if they run into problems once you're on the table.

Well, I have a bmi of 78 also.I will be having mine LAP. I have seen Rebecca G.post that it takes twice as long with LAP,well my surgeon takes about an hour.Now if it only takes 30 mins. for open count me in lol.I think that we should all tell our story,but unless we know for sure we shouldn't post facts were not sure about.People"hear'things and they might give people the wrong info.

My surgeon told me that an open prcedure for someone my size would take an hour and a half and that a lap procedure would take three to five hours. In general, lap takes longer because the doctor has to make several small incisions and manoever tools inside the body. With an open surgery, the anatomy is laid out and the operation generally takes less time. This is what my surgeon told me. When I read the original post, I provided information from my own experience and told the poster that the best way to know what her surgeon would or would not do was to ASK HER SURGEON. If you don't like my answer or you think I'm wrong, think whatever you want. In the end, a surgeon is the only person any of us will ever get real medical advice from. It's not like you're going to get an open surgery if you go to your doctor and tell him that someone on the Internet recommended it. I know exactly what my doctor told me. It's pretty condescending to tell people what they can and cannot post. It should go without saying that we're all just relating our own experiences and that real medical advice should come from a doctor.

Come on now,I didn't even say you couldn't post this or that. I SAID people shouldn't post things they don't know is fact.I am not going trip on what you wrote.I don't want to get stupid and keep going back and forth so you win... I give up.So sorry you got all bent out of shape.Have a nice day anyway! KATHY

The higher the BMI, the more potential problems with anesthesia. A lap procedure takes twice as long to perform as an open one, so some doctors tend to be cautious about that. I had an open surgery. I was up and around after about two weeks. No matter how they perform the surgery, it's a huge change. I've had a lot of fatigue, even after my incision healed over. Your metabolism changes a lot, and your body takes a while to adjust. Of course, the best way to find out what your surgeon will do is to ask her Good luck.

Lori, I have a MUCH higher BMI than you do. I had my surgery lap. I guess it depends on the surgeon and your health. My surgery took almost 3 hours. Jenn l

Thank you everybody for sharing you stories and wisdom. It really means a lot to me as a pre-op. I sincerely believe that knowledge is power! Lori

Lori, My BMI was 55 and my surgery was done lap. The surgeon expected it would take about an hour and a half. I was in surgery over 8 hours because I have a "very long abdomen" and the surgeon found a hernia. But the recovery was a piece of cake. Way easier than c-sections (which were also easy), really, very, very easy. Good luck, Carrie