BeckyinTexas

I have been away for a while but now I'm back and I honestly would love to help anyone that might need a bit of encouragement. Heaven knows I've gotten my share from this site. If I can answer any questions, please let me know.

Thank you Dr. Schulman. As always, you answer my questions. You're certainly one of the good guys!

Hi everyone. I haven't been on the site in a long time but I am here now. I had my panniculectomy back in December and they removed 14 pounds of excess skin from my stomach. I also had 2 hernias repaired at the same time and recovery from that surgery was a little rough. I was out of commission for 2 1/2 months but am doing great now. Just to update on my weight loss, I have lost 323 pounds now. I'm hoping to have my thighs done soon and the doctor has estimated about 8 to 10 pounds from each leg so that will put me below my goal weight. I have no fill in my band and without being able to exercise up until this month, I had gained 5 pounds back but when I weigh next week, I hope that's gone. For anyone that has as long a row to hoe as I have, hang in there cause it can be done! It doesn't happen overnight but it does happen! I'm living, accent on living, proof that it can work!

Dr. Schulman...I haven't been on the site in several months but I'm back now with questions, of course. I had the panniculectomy done December 5, 2008. They found that I had 2 large hernias when they did the procedure so the doctor repaired them. It was not quite the walk in the park I was hoping for. I had to wear drain tubes for 2 1/2 months because of a huge seroma. Finally, the tubes came out and now, it's looking great! Even with all the set-backs with my surgery, I'd do it over again! Basically, it was the hernias that caused the most problems after surgery. Is it my imagination or have my thighs actually gotten larger since the surgery or is it now I don't have the fat apron hanging down covering most of the top part? It's gotten so bad, skin is sagging below my knees now. I've lost 317 pounds so the sagging skin is to be expected and I actually am thrilled that I no longer carry around 469 pounds but the excess skin is horrible and disgusting. Now to my question, just because I had problems after my panniculectomy, would you think that a thigh lift would be as bad? I'm hoping and praying to have an arm and thigh lift done. My insurance finally covered my panniculectomy but it doesn't cover the other surgeries at all even though I get rashes and infections in the folds of skin both on my thighs and arms. I hate sounding like a whinner because I'm so blessed to have lost so much weight and to have had the panniculectomy, but now my thighs look even worse than before. After my surgery, I had to go to a place in Dallas to get fitting for a special binder to wear and the woman that was going to fit me asked what type of disease I had to make my legs look like they did. I tried to laugh it off but it just made me feel worse. I now avoid full lenght mirrors at all costs. For anyone that might need a TT or panniculectomy, go for it because the results from that are fantastic! Someday I hope to be brave enough to post pictures so everyone can see. To sum up this LONG question. Could my skin be sagging more now after the panniculectomy? Also, can an arm lift and thigh lift be done at the same time to save on expenses? My first surgery was done on an out patient basis so I didn't have the expense of a hospital stay but if they could combine the two, would it probably require a stay? Thanks once again, Dr. Schulman, for all your help!

Thank you both for the information! It helps to know what to somewhat expect. It also gives me comfort to know that other people have done this and would do it over again if they had to. Makes me a lot less nervous. Thanks again.

My panniculectomy is scheduled for December 5th. I'm half freaked and the other half so excited I can hardly stand it. I have tons of questions and hope that someone that has already had this done can help me. Most of what keeps going through my mind is....how long is the down time; how bad is the pain; what limitations did you experience; will I be up and at 'em for Christmas; what can I expect afterwards; and last but not least are you satisfied with your surgery?

I've decided to start a thread about my upcoming panniculectomy. I'm nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs! It's strange what mixed emotions I'm having. I fought hard to get my insurance to cover this and I'm still amazed that they finally did but on the other hand, the surgery is scary. I sometimes look at myself in the mirror and can't even imagine what I'll look like after the fat apron is removed. My thighs will still be a mess but at least my stomach won't be hanging down nearly to my knees. I can hopefully throw away all my industrial strength girdles! I had hoped to hear from someone that had this procedure done but so far I haven't. I know it's probably trying to tell another woman about childbirth since everyone is different but I'd like to see what someone else went through so I can be better prepared for what to expect. I will post before and after pictures. I have to warn everyone in advance the before are horrible but the after hopefully will be amazing. I feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas to get here. If anyone can help me out with their experiences with a panniculectomy, please let me know. I'm not having a tummy tuck in combination because my plastic surgeon says I really won't need one. Good genes I'm thinking cause and a heck of a lot of crunches! Say a prayer for me that I won't drive myself and everyone around me nuts waiting for my surgery.

My panniculectomy is scheduled for a month from tomorrow and I'm half freaked and the other half so excited I can hardly stand it. I have tons of questions and hope that someone that has already had this done can help me. Most of what keeps going through my mind is....how long is the down time; how bad is the pain; what limitations did you experience; will I be up and at 'em for Christmas; what can I expect afterwards; and last but not least are you satisfied with your surgery?

Dr. Schulman...I finally was approved by my insurance for my panniculectomy. It only took 6 months and 3 appeals but I finally won! I'm scheduled for surgery December 5th. I haven't met yet with my plastic surgeon, other than my initial visit with him in April, but I have questions that are making me crazy right now and hopefully you can give me a quick reply. What is the down time usually for this surgery? I've been told by his office that it should be a 2 hour surgery and if all goes well, it will be a day surgery. Are drain tubes always necessary? If so, how long do they stay in? On a scale from 1-10, how bad will the pain be? I'm pretty tough, hopefully. I had bunion surgery 3 years ago and 4 hours later, I walked out of the hospital on my own and even went to get my prescriptions filled. My surgeons nurse said if I could do that, this should be a piece of cake for me. I've read everything I can find on the internet about this surgery but I do have these questions and hopefully you can help me. Thanks again for all your support and encouragement with this. It just shows that fighting for what you want so desperately can pay off...it has for me.

Thank you all so much! Now if I start getting all nervous right before the surgery....someone please just remind me how hard I had to fight to get this done. It's kinda weird, I'm so excited and so nervous all rolled into one. I keep thinking that a month from tomorrow...I can throw away my industrial strength girdles! No more having to make sure all the extra skin was tucked in place. To be able to look down and not see that hanging apron seems like a dream come true for me. I won't be having a tummy tuck in combination with the panni since my surgeon says that I'm lucky that from I have pretty good muscle tone, for my age, and that after I heal, some crunches will work wonders for me. He said I could do crunches every day all day and it wouldn't help get rid of the skin but they would certainly help tone me up. I'm also hoping that he'll do a little lipo on my upper thighs so I won't look so out of balance. But if not, I can sure live with that. I'm just so blessed! Thanks again for all the kinds words and support!

I am so excited to let everyone know that as of yesterday, I've been approved for my panniculectomy! I'm hoping to schedule surgery as soon as possible. I just want to let everyone know that might be fighting with their insurance about covering this procedure....don't give up and take it as far as you can and hopefully it will turn out like mine did. There were so many times I wanted to just give up but I finally made my mind up that I had nothing to lose and continued to appeal. Finally, it worked out for me. I had to meet with our internal insurance review board and present my case. I work for county government and it was our Commissioners Court that was the board. I didn't think I had a chance but it was approved 3 to 2. I am so ready to get this done. I can't even imagine how much better I will feel and hopefully look. Thanks to all of y'all for supporting me with this!