I am relatively new to the group and will be 4 yrs post op in Dec. Dec 08' I had a panniculectomy and couldn't imagine not having it done. If your extra skin is in the stomach it is most likely covered by insurance. Mine was totally covered as I had a large pannis that hung quite a bit. They took off 15 lbs of skin. Might be worth checking into with your insurance. Sorry to hear about the deficiences but as you said you have to be vigilant in taking those supplements. I am religious in taking mine but still am deficient in Vit D so have to take even more than normal. Can't stress enough to everyone that your insides are rerouted for life which means your aborption is changed for life so make sure you take those supplements daily. Hope all works out for you Leslie.

Sheila

Sheila,

Is a panniculectomy different than a tummy tuck? If so, what is the difference?

Thanks,

Jenny

Panniculectomy - tummy tuck - I've heard horror stories about how painful they are. How did yours go?

Abdomnioplasty is a tummy tuck. Panniculectomy is simply removal of the apron of skin on your tummy.

Abdomnioplasty moves around muscles, tightens them etc and requires extreme invasion via a single cut down the center torso,. The panniculectomy simply requires the removal of the apron skin.

IS the recovery painful though? More less or about the same painful as the by passsurgery?

Thanks for the advise on the vitamins. I take mine daily but have not yet had blood work done. I had surgery last September.I'm going t call my doctors office today and ask when I should get it done.

I am new to this group and pre op at this point. I have my surgery June11, 2012 and it will probably be the sleeve but I still joined this group because RYN and Sleeve have alot of the same issues I feel.
I find it interesting that many people after surgery do not take their vitamins. I was told by my bariatric program that I will have to take them for life and had to sign a contract saying I understood this and it cost $80-$100 a month and insurance doesn't cover this. I was also told to use only Bariactric Advantage or Celebrate brands since the program I go to has seen the best results with these two brands. My nut gave me a paper telling me what vitamins to take and when throughout the day. They also run labwork on you alot the first year and then 1-2 times a year after you are post op for a few years.

I'm glad I find this group!

I guess I'm late finding the group... I don't come here too often go more often to the GBS support group... I really appreciate this information about both the necessity of being vigilant about taking vitamins and keeping up with my blood tests.. I also would like to know about the pain of the surgery although to be blunt I feel like I will have to do it pain or not... hate the apron hanging and the burden on my back... Yuck... Of course that may get better as I continue on my way down... I had surgery in October and have lost a little over 60 lbs... with the 30 prior I'm grateful... not finding the weight coming off as fast as I want but hey... I want to wiggle my nose and say be thou gone... LOL

It's been two years since surgery. My blood is good, I always take the vitamins. I have gained back ten pounds and it makes me mad. I can eat things I shouldn't again. I've been trying to get it under control. Not happy that my bottom half seems to have collected the ten pounds. It's uncomfortable. I'm always hungry and eat every couple hours. I think that once my nutritionist told me to do that, I started gaining. I'm close to 200 lbs. and afraid. I lost about 110 lbs the first year and nothing since.

I'm 4 years post-op last month. My weight loss was never actually planned for the weight loss, but of course it would be a major benefit, but it was to solve my uncontrollable diabetes -- 5 insulin shots per day with dosage increasing every month -- yes, it worked! I came out of the hospital after surgery and have not had insulin or ANY diabetes medications since. My A1Cs are PERFECT! But I never lost to goal. I was put on track to lose 100 to reach a weight I hadn't weighed since junior high school (and I'm 60 just yesterday) -- I felt it unrealistic and never expected to lose that much. I lost 80 and people were telling me I looked like death warmed over. I look back at the pics now and realize, well, uh, yup, I sure did! I gained back 20 lbs around the 2-3 yr mark and literally woke up in a panic one day because my "new" wardrobe was getting tight. I had reached a point where I could eat anything I ate before (except milk) and it had been so fun testing each thing and finding out that I could tolerate it! Who the heck was I fooling???? I changed things overnight. There's nothing processed or artificial in my kitchen anymore. I use coconut oil for everything, and I cook with fresh, clean foods. In the last year I've lost about 17 of the 20 lbs, and I have rode my recumbent bike EVERY day for an hour for the last year -- got it for a Christmas present 2013. I know what I did wrong, and every time I slip, I get right back on the bandwagon. I'm healthier now than I was at 30 -- my blood work is PERFECT, my total cholesterol is UNDER 100. I take 2 Flintstones with Iron chewables each day (morning/night -- Flintstones are what my nut had prescribed) and a B-12 sublingual every morning. Three calcium citrate tablets per day (remember, if you use calcium carbonate you should consume food with it), along with fish oil and flax oil capsules daily. I carry a chunk of hanging skin on each side of my belly, right at hip level, and just pack it all in with good support garments -- it's annoying, but not anything I'd go through the pain and misery at my age to get rid of.
I'm hoping the next 4 years in this active, healthy body will be as rewarding as the last 4 years were!