jo ann c troupe

First, congratulations on your great weight loss & having a date for the next step! If you're just having a panniculectomy and not a full Tummy Tuck, the recovery shouldn't be too bad. The muscle repair they do in the TT is the most painful part! You'll definitely want to get up and move around frequently, just like after your bypass. Drains are uncomfortable, but caring for them isn't bad. I'm sure you'll do great!

I'm two years yesterday from my gastric bypass and have my pann in two weeks (June 30). I'm pretty nervous and have heard so real horror stories but also have heard how much it is worth it. Thanks for all who have come before on this site and posted positives and pictures. My biggest fear is taking care of the drains I have to come home with and that the hospital stay is so short. How long do I have to stay in/or near my bed? I know all of us are different in our recoveries, but I would appreciate any insight you wish you would have known then that you have learned. Two years ago I was 280 and now 125.....so greatful and looking forward to this new "adventure"
Freelee

I have done a lot of wound vac dressings in my nursing career. I love wounds actually. If it's not alarming you're good to go.

Yes swelling and Fluid giv it months. I suggest touching base with MD about machine.

Thanks for the responses. Now I have a couple of questions for those of you who have completed the process. Anyone use a portable wound vac? How do you tell if it is working? Most of the time it sounds like a gieger counter and which makes me think it is leaking, but when it is silent (rarely) I feel like it is not working. I still have it at home as well as the two drains which I understand may take from 1-2 weeks to be removed.
Also, I came home 10# heavier than I went in, and 3 1/2 # of skin was removed. Is this normal and is it all fluids from the surgery? When can I begin to see it go down? I am walking and up and around. I love the way my stomach looks and my feet are not swollen anymore.
Anxious to see the end results......do you go down a size in clothing and how soon?
My surgery was Fri (June 30) Today is Tues (July 4)....Happiest 4th of July wishes to you all!!

Yes BIgdog Bryan I totally agree with you !

Thank you My quote for the upper tummy was $9000 that is just the doctor fee not including Hospital Fees I think I just might have to search around I'm in Seattle Washington area and have BCBSIL anyone in the group in my area??

Great topic for me to observe, since I may be at the point of a "clean up on aisle 5" with the belly bag and such. I am starting to research this subject, and I do agree that the full Tummy Tuck is the way to go for me, with some Lipo on the new man-boobs as well (might as well look good AND feel good).
Thanks to all of you for the honest info and feedback.

If your insurance is covering the panniculectomy, I know that some surgeons will let you self pay the difference in cost to have a full tummy tuck. The panniculectomy won't do anything to improve the area above the belly button, it's just removing the skin below. Good luck!

Would anyone who's had this procedure share pictures I'm really concerned about the fat above the belly button that won't be touch. unfortunately I can't afford to do a Tummy Tuck ... I had my weight loss surgery in 2013 and have lost 80 lbs and exercise about 3 times a week and can't get rid of the stomach fat

My MIL had this done. She had a HUGE flap that was removed.. 30lbs! They did remove her bellybutton, but either way the scar will be similar. It'll be horizontal (probably will curve up some), right above the pubic hair. Hip to hip.
The recovery is about 6 weeks, typically.

Excision means to be cut off
Subcutaneous tissue means stuff that's under the skin
Lipectomy means cutting out the fatty layer that is attached to the skin
Infraumbilical means below the belly button.
So basically they cut skin and fat, leaving the muscle underneath untouched. I assume your bellybutton won't be touched either.

Hello all I was recently approved for a panniculectomy code 15830 Excision,excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue ( includes lipectomy) abdomen,infraumbilical panniculetomy has any one had this procedure ? I'm not understanding all the medical terms

I hope so! I feel like it took it pretty easy today. Spent the whole day in the lazy boy watching Zoo. Yet tonight the sore spot is soooo sore [emoji24][emoji24] I got some natural anti-inflammatory stuff from my natural path doctor to help! Cause it's getting really annoying [emoji30]

I wore mine from Nedico for 8 weeks - sized down and neither were hard! Swelling was hard. Best healing

Hi! This is basically the same one my surgeons office gave me, except it is knee length (not cafe). Only issue is it's likely a size too big. So I wear it and a binder with Velcro 'arm's that I can wrap around and adjust. They have ordered me the size smaller and it should be here tomorrow (back order). I wear them 24/7 basically, besides showers and changing clothes. When I confirmed how tight the compression should be with the surgeon, he said 'tight!! But not causing blisters'. Was yours that tight? The garment I have like the one you had, I can easily get it one by myself - no issues. They always ask if I need help, like it should be so tight I can't get into it myself, lol.

Did you ever get pretty intense pain from swelling? Like in one specific spot?

Thank you,
Erinn

I had a LBL w/fleur de lis in February. I was in full body compression from day 1 and wore it 24/7 for 6 weeks. I still had swelling, but it was much better by about 4 weeks. This is the one that was recommended by my surgeon https://marenagroup.com/fbm-capri-length-girdle-with-suspenders/

I saw the doctor yesterday, they sent me for an ultrasound to be sure there is no Fluid building up or something else wrong. Tech said everything looked ok. Pain was fairly moderate yesterday except when I was out of my compression garment for shower and appointment it started coming back.

This morning I can feel it again Just tightened up my compression garment, hopefully that helps.

If it wasn't for this annoying pain I'd be doing really good! I guess it could be worse.

I am not able to take anti-inflammatories due to very severe ulcerative colitis which they now think is crohn's instead.
I'm glad that your doctor is seeing you tomorrow. At the very least it will be peace of mind that all is OK.

Thank you for your reply!
I have an appointment to see him tomorrow. I have a similar Velcro binder with 3 'arms' to wrap for comfort. They also provided a body suit with zippers on both sides but it's too big and will be getting me the next size down tomorrow.
I don't mind the swelling and can deal with it, but I'm just concerned about the pain in this one particular spot. The incisions are great and are causing no pain at all!
Did you take anti inflammatory meds?

Not sure how the method of closing has an effect on whether or not drains are needed.
Even with drains (1 out after a week, other out around 3 weeks) I had swelling for about 6 months to a year, first three being the worst.
To give you an idea of the amount of swelling, I was a size 00-0 before TT/Panni. After surgery, needed 4's for quite a while, then slowly moved down in sizes. Had somewhere around 10-20 lbs of swelling!! Don't remember the exact amount anymore.
Make sure that your surgeon is aware of the swelling/pain you have.
The compression that my surgeon gave was an elastic belly band with velcro, so it could be adjusted to what I felt I needed. Similar to this: https://www.abdomend.com/products/Abdominal-Surgery-Recovery-Products/hem-it-in-belly-band-support.html
Since you don't have drains, you can try a firm control waist nipper or bodysuit. It may be a tad too soon for those, depending on how they feel for you. They can be found at Walmart and Amazon.
The longer you wear compression, the better the final result. I wore waist nippers & bodysuits for a year. I looked at it this way, this is my only shot and i want the best possible result, so wearing them was a small price to pay.

Again, make sure your doctor is aware of your pain level, he/she may want to check the swelling. You don't want to have Fluid building up inside causing infection & further swelling or possibly ripping sutures.

Hello,
I had a lower body lift with fleur de lis Tummy Tuck and Lipo on August 15. They took off 15lbs of tissue. It's been up and down since. I had the staples removed yesterday and as of today I'm only taking Tylenol and Advil.
My doctors office is sending me a third compression garment as the first one is so tight I'm in pretty much constant pain from it pressing on the swelling. And, although, second felt good, I guess didn't have enough compression.
I cried this morning because I just didn't realize how long I'd feel like **** and having to be relying on other people. I have a 2.5 year old son and I just feel useless right now. Over the last 2-3 days I don't feel like anything has improved. The swelling is very painful. I did not have drains as they did some special quill stitch.
Question:
1. How long till you started feeling better?
2. Did you have trouble getting the compression garments just right?
3. How did you tackle the swelling? They told me I can take Advil now, but with RYN I didn't think we could.
Please help with any words of wisdom!
Thanks,
Erinn

Yes they are but they are very well made - Do not lose shape or anything. And very comfortable if you need to wear them 24/7
After getting the first one - It was so good I got one from them for every surgery - It made me feel so protected, I would never use another brand to be honest - Yes they may cost more - But I believe the people who designed them really thought about getting in and out of them after a surgery etc.
I have had quite a few of these and never had a problem with them.
One of my surgeries my Veronique garment had not turned up at the hospital, I was given some binder thing. Was so uncomfortable - And I swelled more than with these on -I could not wait until this was found and I could get back into the Veronique item that was just fantastic. I had no swelling problems at all in these. Would always rate them 10/10

Yes I looked at this site as well and agree. To pricey for me. I will be needing sleeve compression when I have my arm surgery in early 2018.

I wasn't aware that binders were used often. Any idea what the "best" binder is? I am going to research this a bit more, thanks!