Question:
SURGERY TO REMOVE HANGING STOMACH AT 300 LBS?
CAN I HAVE SURGERY TO REMOVE ALL THIS AWFUL SKIN ALTHOUGH I AM STILL AT 300 LBS?..I STARTED IN 2003 AT 445 LBS..HAD OPEN RNY & AFTER 1 YEAR WAS (AM) 300 BUT HAVE NOT LOST MORE...THIS HANGING "STOMACH" IS DRIVING ME CRAZY.. — BLSLIM77 (posted on July 21, 2007)
July 21, 2007
Hi Bonnie - I had your exact experience. I started at 440, lost 160, and
stagnated at 280 with a huge hanging stomach. My general doc, RNY surgeon,
psychologist, nutritionist, and plastic surgeon all agreed that a
panniculectomy would be beneficial and after a huge battle with CIGNA, it
was even approved. I was so happy! Unfortunately, I did not choose my
plastic surgeon carefully enough, though I did tons of research and
interviews. He just didn't have the experience/background to know what to
do when complications arose. I spent a year with an open, deep, at times
life-threatening gash across my stomach, which he didn't really know how to
handle. Some of my complications (according to the not so competent
surgeon) were due to the fact that I was still fat, didn't have good muscle
tone therefore circulation, there was a lot of necrosis. Over the course
of that year, I fell into depression and went back to all my old habits,
regaining 60 pounds. It did finally heal, though my body is lopsided and
eventually will probably need to be fixed somehow, though I'm very
disinclined right now. So now (4 years later) I'm back at 330 and still
can't get on track for dieting again. I LOVE having the stomach gone (even
with the re-gained weight, most of it seemed to go to my boobs and not
stomach - strange!), but I still frequently ask myself if it was worth it,
would I do it again? I know that I'm only one experience, and there are
others who were very successful, but it was such a traumatic time for me, I
had to share. It certainly is possible, but do a lot of research on the
plastic surgeon, make sure s/he's got background with WLS patients and
possible solutions for complications. I do blame the complications on the
surgeon for improper care, I think everything I went through could have
been avoided if he had handled things differently in the beginning. So if
you have a good surgeon, you should really be fine and you will LOVE it!
It is also possible that you might have to do it again if you continue to
lose and get to goal. Please feel free to email me directly if you want
more details. Good Luck!
— jen41766
July 21, 2007
On the new show Big Medicine this week, they featured a woman who had lost
200 lbs and weighed about 270...she had alot of loose skin, especially in
the pannus....her insurance co denied her but her surgeons agreed that a
skin removal was medically necessary so she could continue to get to her
goal weight.
— Sheri A.
July 21, 2007
Hi Bonnie, thanks for writing. There are many women who have a huge pannis
removed at a weight like yours. You do need to be careful because it can
and is a very big surgery. You may need it done again later, but I would
definitely look into having it done. I think the other post gave you some
wise advice. Not to scare you, but because of the amount of skin and
tissue still there, I would exercise the stomach muscles and work on
getting circulation there, and be sure you are as fit as possible in the ab
area prior to surgery. I did have a pannis removed but I was 130 pounds
when I had it done, so I was already small. Even so, it was a huge
surgery, the drain tubes and the time in bed was VERY LONG time. It was
about 3 to 4 weeks, and I will admit that I did not exercise for almost 6
months after surgery because walking with a huge surgery site like that was
just not comfortable. I had to re-start exercising. You should be
prepared for those things and fight for returning to losing weight. I did
not regain any weight, and have kept off my weight now since surgery in
3/04, so it was still successful for me. I did exercise like a wild woman
prior to surgery (after wls and prior to having the pannis removed), and I
think that help a lot with recovery from the pannis surgery. I think you
would like the surgery, but it is tough. I had a 22 inch incision on a
small body, yours may be larger, but even with my incision, and they only
removed a pound of skin from me because there was really no fat attached to
it, it felt like a ton removed, and it was so nice for the first time in my
life to have a flat stomach. You do lose feeling in the stomach, some for
up to a year, but I have never regained feeling in my lower stomach. That
can be a reality as well. It doesn't bother me, but it can happen. Choose
your surgeon carefully and be sure they are up on complications as well.
You want the best chances for a good surgery and recovery. Take care.
Patricia P.
— Patricia P
July 22, 2007
I think the big question is does this impede your exercise and therefor
your weightloss? If so then taking it off might be a huge benifit. Trust
me I know what it is like to stop moving and feel all the jiggling on parts
of you that keep moving! LOL I have been there. I have lost near 200lbs and
am currently in the low 150lbs range. I have gotten approval from my
insurance and will be having a nip/tuck this fall. Try looking on your
insurance carriers website for the actual preauthorization form. It should
spell out what needs to be met for them to pay. Also RESEARCH your plastic
surgeon! For about $50 (usually waived if you choose them) you can
interview your doctor. You are a costumer and they are selling YOU a
service, you are not the one doing them a favor my choosing them! They
should also be able to show you before/after pics of clients they have
done. Trust me they have lots of pics and for some reason I don't get
patients let them share their pics. Good luck!!
— tazthewiz23
July 22, 2007
The other thing to think about is that most insurance companies will only
pay for one surgery. If you need to have it done again later the chances of
them paying for it are slim.
Good Luck!
— Lost4Ever
July 30, 2007
I have the same problem, and my insurance company denied me, because they
say it is "cosmetic." It impededs my ability to exercise, and
also makes it difficult to buy clothes that fit, as well as depressing me.
Not many insurance companies cover it.
— Novashannon
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