Panniculectomy completed 11/10

[TLW 163]

All I can say is WOW! I thought I was prepared, but boy was I wrong. I have had 2 c sections, my roux en y, plus other surgical procedures, so maybe Imwas over confident coming into this. I am at day 5 and the pain is still a big factor. My incision burns and gets random sharp,shooting pain, my ass is so sore from sitting in a reclining position for the last 5 days. My back and neck are sore from being hunched over, and I am beyond tired. The swelling is substantial, and the drains are nor only gross, they hurt and I can't get them out until I drain less than 30 cc for 2 consecutive days. Right now I still have well over 30 cc of Fluid. On a positive note the surgeon said all went well and he believes I will be very happy with the results. I wanted to do a thigh and breast lift as well, but the insurance would only cover the Tummy Tuck, at this point I am am glad because I couldn't imagine even more areas of my body hurting at the same time. It is also allowing me the option to really think about if I would want to go through this again. One word of advise, keep the compression binder your surgeon gives you on at all times except the shower. It really does help with the support, and pain.

[sunnydeeliteful 91]

I hope you start feeling better soon! How did you get your insurance to pay if you don't mind my asking? I know I want one when I've lost some substantial amt of weight but I don't know how to approach my insurance co.

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[James Marusek 5,244]

It will get better over time but not overnight. It took me 6 months until I reached my happy state when all the problems seemed to melt away.

[TLW 163]

Thanks for the encouragement. I know it will get better, just having a rough start. I swear my Roux En Y was so much easier, but like my husband keeps reminding me it's not really comparable as this was a a very invasive procedure with and incision from hip to hip versus 5 small incisions.

[shedo82773 1,236]

I had my Panni done Sept 2015. I really didn't have much pain afterwards but...it may have been because I took my pain pills before I was hurting. My PS didn't give me a binder. I even ask the nurse to call him to make sure. I did come home with 3 drains but they were removed in 7 days. But I was really and still not totally happy with it. My PS told me that he would pull all of the skin and fat to the front and he also told me that it would take care of my FUPA. NOPE. I started asking him about my upper stomach right away because he cut me hip to hip and up straight on my stomach. He did remove 10 plus #'s. But then he told me that I needed Lipo done. If he would have told me that I would have paid the extra for it. Afterwards, he told me that he would give me a good price for Lipo and a breast lift for $6,000. I think he was making sure he had more business. My insurance paid 100% all except $8.00. I am not happy about him doing what he said!! I hope everything is ok for you. Oh yes, my skin is TIGHT!!!

[Babbs 14,680]

I had 2 consultations, but ultimately decided against a panniculectomy and breast lift. I can live with it for now. Plus I'm being a huge scaredy cat wimp.

Now once you're healed up and I see pics of how fabulous your stomach looks, I'll have second thoughts again

[sunnydeeliteful 91]

I had my Panni done Sept 2015. I really didn't have much pain afterwards but...it may have been because I took my pain pills before I was hurting. My PS didn't give me a binder. I even ask the nurse to call him to make sure. I did come home with 3 drains but they were removed in 7 days. But I was really and still not totally happy with it. My PS told me that he would pull all of the skin and fat to the front and he also told me that it would take care of my FUPA. NOPE. I started asking him about my upper stomach right away because he cut me hip to hip and up straight on my stomach. He did remove 10 plus #'s. But then he told me that I needed Lipo done. If he would have told me that I would have paid the extra for it. Afterwards, he told me that he would give me a good price for Lipo and a breast lift for $6,000. I think he was making sure he had more business. My insurance paid 100% all except $8.00. I am not happy about him doing what he said!! I hope everything is ok for you. Oh yes, my skin is TIGHT!!!

Congrats! It's a shame he wants to ding you for more surgery and money. I have united healthcare and they approved me for bypass in 10 days due to complications with my band. I'm wondering if I can get them to pay for my tummy reduction. What did you do to get your insurance to pay for yours. I'd really like your help if I may

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[Djmohr 6,965]

@@TLW

I hope you start feeling better soon. See.....I am not the only one. Plastics is very painful. I have had many surgeries in my life. I have plates and screws in 4 different levels of my spine. And that hurt like hell for a very long time. Plastics is a different kind of hurt. Think about your skin being pulled off the tissues. It burns, like really burns. I swear when i had my arms done in July, it felt like i placed both of my arms on the hot stove and left them sit there for 20 minutes. And that burning and itching was night and day for the first 3 weeks. I slept with ice packs on my arms....if you call it sleep. LOL

My arms look fantastic and it was totally worth it but even today, they still swell and they still dont feel normal. Which by the way is normal, LOL. It takes a long time to recover from these major surgeries.

My next phase is scheduled for January 19th. I will be having a full abdominalplasty with muscle repair, a breast lift and breast augmentation. It is expected to go 7.5 to 8 hours and i will be staying in the hospital this time. Although i am dreaming about the results, I am already very nervous about the painful recovery. I have enough pain in my body but my excess skin on my tummy and breasts are pulling on my back. Tightening up my core will definately help, and I get the benefit of looking better too.

Even with all this being said, it is absolutely positively worth it.

My poor husband, on week 3 of my arms told me I did not need to do this for his benefit. He did not like seeing my pain. I informed him although he may like the results none of it is about him. LOL.

I have been caring for everyone else since i had my first child at 16....that is how i ended up at 315lbs. Now, its all about me getting well and feeling fantastic. I have worked hard my whole life and i deserve it.

Thankfully, he totally agrees.

[livvsmum 2,368]

I hear you! I had a TT & panini in April 2015 & I was so excited to have insurance approve it that I didn't even really think about the pain. I WAY underestimated the recovery. I would say it took a full year to fully fully recovered & even now 1.5 years out I still have tightness & numbness. Not pain, just a weird feeling. Totally worth it though. Amazing results.

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