Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

Hi everyone !

Has anyone had an abdominal panniculectomy after WLS? I scheduled mine for December but wondering what recovery looks like and how it compares to the pain/recovery from Gastric Bypass Surgery. Any thoughts/input would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Sarah

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had a lower body lift 14 months ago (which is the whole lower body - not just a panniculectomy). Recovery from that was much tougher than it was from gastric bypass. I had hardly any pain at all from bypass surgery. The first week of LBL recovery was pretty painful. After that, it was more discomfort than pain. But it was all worth it in the end. I'd do it again.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

How long were you out of work/how long do you suggest taking off work?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm retired, so that really didn't apply to me. However, after my LBL, I was out & about and driving about 10-12 days after the surgery, I think - so you may be OK with taking two weeks off.

Granted, I still had a lot of discomfort, but at least I could drive and get out by then..

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you! That’s very helpful

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, SaRose said:

Thank you! That’s very helpful

oh =- I should have added that if you're not going to be having muscle tightening or liposuction as part of your panniculectomy, your recovery is likely to be easier. Those two things can be pretty painful (I had both)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

On 9/20/2019 at 2:39 PM, catwoman7 said:

oh =- I should have added that if you're not going to be having muscle tightening or liposuction as part of your panniculectomy, your recovery is likely to be easier. Those two things can be pretty painful (I had both)

How long was the surgery?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had two - first one was a lower body lift. I think that one was about four hours. The second was an arm lift and a breast lift - he also made incisions down each side from my arm pit past my waist (to get rid of "side boob" and pull off some of the excess skin that was under my rib cage that he was unable to reach during the LBL). That surgery was six hours long.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

On 09/20/2019 at 08:50, SaRose said:

Hi everyone !

Has anyone had an abdominal panniculectomy after WLS? I scheduled mine for December but wondering what recovery looks like and how it compares to the pain/recovery from Gastric Bypass Surgery. Any thoughts/input would be appreciated!



Thanks,



Sarah

How did it go? I’m scheduled for panniculectomy on October 1. Really nervous about the pain & afraid I’ll look weirder.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, JohnGraySmiley said:

How did it go? I’m scheduled for panniculectomy on October 1. Really nervous about the pain & afraid I’ll look weirder.

It went well for the most part, I am happy with the results, though I didn't realize they would have to move my belly button to make it look more normal because of the removal of access skin. I will say that there was a concern during my hospital stay as I continued to lose a lot of blood, and there was discussion of a blood transfusion, however after the third day, my hemoglobin stabilized and so there was no need for a transfusion luckily. I had some lightheaded/near fainting moments within a week of the surgery, but nothing after that, and I've always suffered from lightheadedness due to low blood pressure. The drains were uncomfortable, but not as bad as I thought. One was removed three weeks after surgery, and the other about 4 weeks after.

A few things I wish I knew prior-

Showering on my own was impossible, as I couldn't get my arms above my head for about a week post-op.

I don't know why, but even now, 9 months later, I still have some pain when wearing pants the fit around my abdomen (such as jeans, or a belt) but it has lessened over time so I'm hoping it'll take care of its self with time.

Definitely identify some loose fitting clothing while you have the drains in, so you can be comfortable and if needed you can go out in public.

I hope all this info helps you. Please let me know if you have any other questions!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, AmyVanRose said:

How much do these surgeries cost? Does insurance pay?

I was told when I started researching plastic surgery about three years ago to expect about $8000-$10,000 per procedure. If you want the complete lower body lift (front and back), that counts as two procedures. But a basic panni is just one procedure. I did four consults, and that estimate pretty much rang true. Prices have probably come up a bit since I looked three years ago, but it doesn't seem like they've come up by much.

whether or not insurance pays depends on your policy. Some companies don't pay anything at all (mine didn't). Some will if you've had medical issues with your excess skin - for example, chronic rashes - that don't respond to more conventional treatments. So if you do have issues with your excess skin, be sure to see your doctor so it gets documented. The insurance company will want to see a trail of documented evidence before they decide to cover it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

23 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

I was told when I started researching plastic surgery about three years ago to expect about $8000-$10,000 per procedure. If you want the complete lower body lift (front and back), that counts as two procedures. But a basic panni is just one procedure. I did four consults, and that estimate pretty much rang true. Prices have probably come up a bit since I looked three years ago, but it doesn't seem like they've come up by much.

whether or not insurance pays depends on your policy. Some companies don't pay anything at all (mine didn't). Some will if you've had medical issues with your excess skin - for example, chronic rashes - that don't respond to more conventional treatments. So if you do have issues with your excess skin, be sure to see your doctor so it gets documented. The insurance company will want to see a trail of documented evidence before they decide to cover it.

23 hours ago, AmyVanRose said:

How much do these surgeries cost? Does insurance pay?

CatWoman7 is definitely right. I did nto plan on having plastic surgery when I planned on my Gastric Bypass. I knew my body wouldn't fully recover, and I would have a "pouch" of fat, but I was okay with that. I started getting really bad infections under my belly, where my skin would overhang and also in my belly button, i was provided powder by my surgeon to help with the itching/pain, but it was constant. I ended up visiting my surgeon for three months in a row, they documented the issue, and my insurance covered my surgery almost completely, but it all depends on your insurance.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

On 09/05/2020 at 11:00, SaRose said:






It went well for the most part, I am happy with the results, though I didn't realize they would have to move my belly button to make it look more normal because of the removal of access skin. I will say that there was a concern during my hospital stay as I continued to lose a lot of blood, and there was discussion of a blood transfusion, however after the third day, my hemoglobin stabilized and so there was no need for a transfusion luckily. I had some lightheaded/near fainting moments within a week of the surgery, but nothing after that, and I've always suffered from lightheadedness due to low blood pressure. The drains were uncomfortable, but not as bad as I thought. One was removed three weeks after surgery, and the other about 4 weeks after.




A few things I wish I knew prior-




Showering on my own was impossible, as I couldn't get my arms above my head for about a week post-op.




I don't know why, but even now, 9 months later, I still have some pain when wearing pants the fit around my abdomen (such as jeans, or a belt) but it has lessened over time so I'm hoping it'll take care of its self with time.




Definitely identify some loose fitting clothing while you have the drains in, so you can be comfortable and if needed you can go out in public.








I hope all this info helps you. Please let me know if you have any other questions!


Update: During my pre-op appt my surgeon decided it would be best for me have a Tummy Tuck or liposuction to get all of my target areas. So I went with abdominal liposuction and bilateral flanks. Surgery was 2 days ago. That only included 6 incisions vs. hip-bone to hip-bone.

It was an overnight stay. Pretty painful. Surgery date was 10/1. I’m wrapped in tons of bandages so I can’t see the outcome just yet.

He removed 3750 ccs of fat. Praying I love the outcome.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×