Please note: RealSelf doesn’t have this procedure listed so I’m listing this under a panniculectomy because it’s close enough.
Last October I had lipo done to my entire abdomen area (see previous review) and went back yesterday for some minor lower abdomen lipo and skin removal. Sonobello calls it “EX” which is sort of like a panniculectomy in the sense that it’s lower pooch removal but not as involved. This was strictly a lower belly skin removal. There was no upper ab skin tightening or muscle repair.
This is a fairly new procedure for Sono Bello so I didn’t see any reviews or photos online but looking at panniculectomy photos gave me a somewhat idea of what to expect.
Surgery: TOTALLY awake which was fascinating. Same idea as lipo - drugs to make you relax and lidocaine to numb the area. The PS had 2 nurses instead of one which was necessary because of the intensity of skin removal. IV put in to keep fluids level. The PS did some minor lipo to the lower abs to make me as tight as possible and threw in some lipo near my belly button since it’s flattened from all the weight loss.
POST SURGERY: same sort of discomfort as lipo. When I had my last procedure I had upper and lower abs, waist, and bra rolls done so just having pain in the lower belly now is a WALK IN THE PARK. Didn’t even need pain meds until tonight because I tried to move around today. I have some stitches along the incision site that will dissolve and just wearing a binder until day 4 when I start wearing a garment.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: I am SO HAPPY. Doctor Delia is amazing and the staff at sonobello is just unreal. It’s only day two and I am swollen as hell and look so damn good. I’m sucking in a bit in my before photos because that’s what I tend to do because of being uncomfortable with my body but because I can’t right now the “after” photos are raw and real. Totally fascinated by being awake - I was hanging out the whole time without a care in the world. Any time I had discomfort, Dr. Delia would numb that area a bit more.
RECOVERY: week off from work (non-negotiable), 2 weeks no lifting over 15 lbs. and light exercise after about 4-6 weeks
RECOMMEND THIS PROCEDURE: ONLY to anyone who is looking to tighten lower pooch skin who is at their goal weight or close to it. This is NOT a tummy tuck so you have to have realistic expectations about it. I’ll still have loose skin above my belly button but I’m okay with that. I’ve just worked so hard for my body (lost 80 lbs) and wanted to finally wear a dress without strapping my stomach down and feeling uncomfortable. Plus, this procedure is so much more affordable.
REVIEW SEQUENCE: I’ll post some photos over the next few days, and then I’ll do a 1, 2, 3, and 4 week photo. Then I’ll post each month until I think you all get the idea of what my journey has been like.
Please feel free to comment or message me about this procedure. Sono Bello doesn’t even really market this procedure because it’s so new. I couldn’t find any reviews so I wanted to be sure I did one.
Happy healing!
Updated on 31 May 2018:
Updated on 2 Jun 2018:
Not much to update. Belly is still a bit swollen. Looking forward to the steristrip to be gone so I can see this scar
Updated on 5 Jun 2018:
Updated on 21 Jun 2018: