What is a panniculectomy?
A panniculectomy is a surgery to remove excess skin and fat from your lower abdomen. It’s often performed on people who have lost a significant amount of weight or who have a large “apron” of skin hanging down.
While a panniculectomy can certainly improve your appearance, it’s often performed for functional reasons, too. Excess skin can cause skin breakdown, rashes, and infections. The goal of a panniculectomy is to resolve these issues and improve quality of life.
Why get a panniculectomy?
People often seek panniculectomies after losing a lot of weight. Bariatric surgeries like gastric sleeves or duodenal switches, along with diet and exercise, can result in a dramatic weight loss of anywhere from 50 to more than 225 pounds. But, along with the weight loss can come excess skin.
Too much skin can lead to irritation, rashes, infections, and even skin ulcerations. A panniculectomy can resolve these issues and significantly improve your quality of life.
A panniculectomy is also a good choice for addressing certain skin conditions caused by an overhanging abdominal apron of skin, with the goal of improving skin health and reducing discomfort.
What to Expect Before and After Panniculectomy
Pre-Operative Considerations
Before you undergo a panniculectomy, the surgeon will evaluate your overall health to make sure you’re a good candidate for the procedure. If you’ve had previous abdominal surgeries, such as C-sections, the surgeon will take that into account, as those surgeries can affect the results.
Post-Operative Expectations and Recovery
Right after the surgery, your results may be hidden by swelling. Typically, you’ll start to see an improved profile within a week or two.
You will have scarring, and it may take many months, even a year, for the scars to fade.
It’s vital to follow your physician’s instructions for a successful recovery. You’ll need to protect the incisions as they heal by avoiding anything that would put excessive force on them, abrade them, or stretch them.
If you have any shortness of breath, chest pain, or unusual heartbeats, seek immediate medical attention.
It’s important to remember that surgical outcomes aren’t guaranteed, and it’s possible you may need a second surgery to achieve the results you’re hoping for.
To Conclude
A panniculectomy can dramatically improve the quality of life for people with excess abdominal skin. It’s a surgery that addresses functional problems and can improve the appearance of your body.
It’s important to go into the procedure with realistic expectations. You’ll want to understand what the recovery process will be like, what complications are possible, and how to take care of yourself after the surgery.