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A panniculectomy is a surgical procedure designed to help people who were once morbidly obese but who have successfully lost massive amounts of weight and maintained that weight loss for a period of time.
When a person is extremely heavy, their skin overtime has stretched to accommodate the added fat. When this same person has changed their lifestyle and lost massive quantities of fat, the skin often does not shrink naturally to fit the new, fit body. The result is that the person must carry around with them large folds of skin and excess fat. The panniculectomy procedure is the solution to this problem. |
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Panniculectomy: A Surgical Procedure for After Massive Weight Loss
When a person has these excess folds of skin, they experience difficulty walking, sitting, or even standing. The folds of skin can extend down as far as the knees, hang on the hips and hang from the lower back. This can cause medical problems such as rashes, skin ulcers (bed sores), back problems, and other skin disorders.
A panniculectomy is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon that simply removes the excess folds of skin and fat. Unlike the tummy-tuck or abdominoplasty, the muscles underneath the excess tissue are not tightened. Often, a patient may elect to have this surgery performed in combination with another type of surgery such as the tummy tuck, a hysterectomy, abdominal wall repair, or hernia repair.
Generally, a plastic surgeon will perform the panniculectomy only in cases where a person has lost significant weight and maintained their weight loss for one year or more. Occasionally, the surgery may be performed as a post-pregnancy procedure, if a really large amount of fat located below the navel remains after normal post-delivery weight loss.
Generally, the surgery is performed in a hospital and the patient is placed under general anesthetic. The recovery may require one day to one week of hospital care, depending on the specific medical condition and concerns which differ from patient to patient. Less often, the plastic surgeon may elect to allow the panniculectomy to be done on an outpatient basis, as long as the patient is otherwise healthy.
During the panniculectomy surgery, the plastic surgeon makes a vertical incision from the lower sternum (commonly called “breast bone”) to the pubic bone. Another incision is frequently made horizontally along the pubic bone area. The excess folds of skin and fat are removed and the incisions are closed using stitches or staples. Drains may remain in the incision to drain fluids from the surgical area but these are generally removed after a few days.
After surgery, a person who has had the panniculectomy procedure performed will be required to follow exactly some post-operative instructions. These include limiting exposure of the incision necessary and only sponge baths may be allowed for a period of time. The drains, if left in place after surgery, must be emptied, cleaned and cared for properly. Dressings protecting the incisions will also need to be changed.
Most people who have this surgery experience some pain, swelling, and bruising. Medications can be prescribed by the surgeon to control the pain and swelling. During recovery, the patient should perform no exercise and lift nothing weighing more than ten pounds. They may also be required to wear a medical garment which holds the skin close to the body to help ensure proper healing resulting in the person being delighted with their new body.
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