What if my PS Doesn't Have Experience W Lapband for my TT and I Want the Port to be Less Obvious?

asked 4 months ago by blackbirdhearts in texas
Latest answer by Peter A. Aldea, MD
Question viewed 154 times
Tags: expertise, lap band surgery

I'm getting a mommy makeover in two weeks or so. I currently have a lapband and am worried about the port being more obvious after my TT. I really love the PS that I have chosen but I don't think he has much experience with moving the port. Should I have a different doctor to come in and do this? That seems so expensive or maybe my doc can do research and attempt it himself?

9 answers to What if my PS Doesn't Have Experience W Lapband for my TT and I Want the Port to be Less Obvious?

LapBand and Tummy Tuck

Let's stop for a second and remember WHY we are performing a Tummy Tuck in women with LapBands; they lost a large amount of weight (leaving them deflated with loose hanging skin and muscles) AND their abdominal muscles were stretched and split thereby greatly enlarging the inner volume capacity of their abdomens creating the Mommy Tummy look. The palpable port dome of the LapBand is commonly stitched by the Bariatric surgeon to the fascia (muscle lining) with 4 prolene stitches to... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck and Lap Band Port

The easiest answer is for you to ask your plastic surgeon to perform the surgery at a hospital or facility where your Labband surgeon works too. The surgery can be coordinated and the one surgeon can pop in to move the port if need be or change it to a smaller one. In my experience, it has not been necessary to move the port. I can easily navigate around it. However, if you feel it is high-rpofile and noticable, then you may want to specifically ask that it be moved. If... more

J. Jason Wendel, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Lap band port movement during tummy tuck

There are times when a lap band port is placed in a location that interferes with the performance of a tummy tuck. I would often contact the bariatric surgeon who placed the port to be available to move the port at the same time as the tummy tuck if needed. Also the bariatric surgeon may want to place a lower profile port that is less noticeable. If that surgeon is not availble he or she may have a colleage that will do it. I personally do not move the port but have many bariatric... more

Sheila Bond, MD
Montclair Plastic Surgeon

bondplasticsurgery.com

Lap Band Port Movement

As others have discussed, your plastic surgeon should discuss this with the bariatric surgeon. If the port is placed high in hte abdomen, I prefer to stop my abdominal dissection below the port so that in the unlikely event that the patient were to get an infection, it would probably not affect the port. If the port is exposed during the procedure and infection develops, the port may have to be removed.

Donald Griffin, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Port for lap band and TT surgery.

First there should be communication between your plastic surgeon and the lap band surgeon. The port is sewn to the fascia over your muscle and can easily be moved to a different location if the tubing from the port to the lap band deeper inside you is long enough. The lap band surgeon should know this and be able to provide some guidance.

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

Lap band port and tummy tuck

I have not found it necessary to move the port when performing a tummy tuck.. The port stays in position and the skin is moved around the port. If it does need to be moved for one reason or another it is relatively straightforward to move it but it is attached to the lap band itself and it may not be able to be moved very far given the length of the tubing. Thank you for your question and good luck.

Ralph R. Garramone, MD
Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon

Lap band port and tummy tuck

I would ask your plastic surgeon to talk with your bariatric surgeon. The port is connected to the lap band inside. Sometimes, we can move the port if the connection is long enough. If not, it is the best not moving the port during tummy tuck.

Sugene Kim, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Don't mess with the lap band port during a tummy tuck

The best plan with a lap band port is to leave it alone ina tummy tuck. It is attached to the components in the abdomen down to the stomach and moving it is not necessarily a simple thing. It is best to discuss this with your bariatric surgeon. I have even had them removed before TT in patients who don't need them anymore.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Lap Band Port and Tummy Tuck

Dear blackbirdhearts, Before moving your lap band port, your plastic surgeon needs to discuss this with your bariatric surgeon. The port is connected to your lap band by a tube. Some bariatric surgeons leave a fairly long length of tubing attached to the port and others leave a very short length. If there is enough tubing, then your plastic surgeon can easily move the port to a more hidden location if this becomes a problem. Most plastic surgeons... more