Today I had a Dr. consult regarding Plastic surgery, when the Dr. started talking about lipo on my tummy, I asked how does that work around my port area? He asked me when I was having it removed...I think I stood there shocked because I didn't realize you could do that. I know I've herad of someone getting a smaller port put in after she lost weight it buldged out on her. Is getting the port out once at goal an option?

I told my Dr. I'd have my port forever unless it got infected or something.

So he said okay I'll have to be really careful and not go in that area..But thats where it seems to be poking out the most. So I dont want this flat belly with a ball of fat around my port. I know thats hopefully not what it will look like but you know mental picture thats what I got lol.

PB,

Remove your band port? Oh my gosh, not for reconstructive surgery!

Let us hope you keep your band and your health - I hope I can keep mine as long as I need help with weight control (unless I get an RnY bypass, that will probably be forever.) To be honest, that surgeon doesn't sound as if he knows a lot about the LapBand. I don't know anyone who had their band port completely removed for cosmetic or reconstructive surgery - it might get moved down with a Tummy Tuck, but that's it.

If you can, try to consult with a Cosmetic Surgeon who has experience with LapBanded patients. (Ask your LapBand surgeon if he/she is local who they recommend - some bariatric surgeons have a colleague whose handled more of their patients and that's a powerful referral.)

I did consults with 4 Cosmetic Surgeons but finally I picked the one who had done more LapBand patients and who worked closely with my Band doctor. He had done Lipo on plenty of Band patients (never poked a port yet) and also many Tummy Tucks/Abdominoplasties on Banded folks. He wasn't fazed at all. I saw his work on other band patients and I was very comfortable. My LapBand and I survived the Abdominoplasty and thanks to him, I didn't even need an unfill before my procedure.

It's exciting to hear how your consults are going. You're already shapely contoured and symmetrical - if you do decide to have cosmetic work, you're gonna have a dynamite shape.

Hopefully once I put these surgeries behind me, I can restart my belly dancing classes again, and one day maybe I'll have some belly-baring pics to add like yours!

Happy Band (and Life) Journeys To All.

Well, that mental picture you were talking about....I have exactly that. I had TT back in November along with lipo of upper abs. My port sticks out so bad. Dr. Ortiz said when I hit my goal, I can have it moved to under the muscle, but he never said anything about removing it. NO WAY! The way I look at it is the lump I have on my belly is WAY worth it to be able to lose weight. I have no idea what it's going to look like when I lose all the weight, but as of now, I don't care very much.

Hmmm ... I asked this when someone else here had a problem and had their port removed.

When you get to goal, does your band stay in place and you can have the port removed - but what if you gain weight back, can they redo it with no problems? From all Ive read so far its pretty easy to do?

If the band is a permanent thing or until you have to have it removed, can the port just stay there and no problems? Do you just quit getting fills? If you get a smaller port are there any problems for fills if you gain weight back?

As my date for my new dr and approval gets closer each post of things like this I have more questions - is stuff like this addressed in meetings or at office visits?

I would think that removing the port would be a bad idea. If you need an adjustment in the future, whether it be a fill or an unfill, you'd have to go through surgery again to get it.

I'm with Sho, I think you should find a doctor who's got a better idea of what to do with a port than just "not touch it". I've heard lots of times that the plastic surgeon can kind of nestle it in with the muscle, or move it to a better location, or even have a band surgeon standing by to switch the current port out with one of those low profile ports.

Yep, Marimaru's right. Get 'em done together if you can.

I think a Lower Profile port is the way to go - I've recommended that those who are considering switching to one, get it done when they have their Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck). That way you can get the smaller, lower profile port done simultaneously rather than having separate operations like I did (slaps forehead).

Miper: I'm confused. Did you have your TT in November then your LapBand this April 2006? Most surgeons want you to wait until you have the LapBand first before getting cosmetic work. And if you just got your port - how is it 'sticking out'? After less than 20# loss? That's usually a by-product of having lost so much weight that the old flab that covered the port is now lost so the port is more prominent.

But if you got banded this year or last, you probably already have a lower profile port, right? It's pretty rare to have a port sticking out a few weeks after surgery - so maybe I'm confused on what you're saying. Either way, even AFTER cosmetic surgery, your port shouldn't be protruding. You don't have to be at goal to get it moved to where it's not sticking out, but I'd probably wait to get closer before I had any more cosmetic work.

Happy Band (and Life) Journeys To All.

Newsho-who and where did your cosmetic surgery?

Plunder bunny-sounds like you should keep looking for someone who's done a lot of surgeries on lap band patients. Just my very humbe opinion. BTW you look fabulous!!!!!!! I love your pictures.

I had my TT 8 weeks ago with a very experienced Dr. He had done heaps of lap banded patients and is still very wary when he does TTs on them. He cant stretch the skin as far down because it puts tension on the port and he couldnt lipo certain areas on my belly because of the port meaning he couldnt do it the other side either because it wouldnt match. If I could do it all again I would have had my port replaced with a low profile during my TT because he then could of done all the stuff when the old port wa removed. I dont have a flat tummy because I have the port and my surgeon told me that. I wasnt looking for perfection anyway just improvement but to do it again I would have went the low profile route. Be very careful having Drs do lipo on your abs with the port.