Tummy tuck or panni? (photos)

It’s amazing that you lost so much weight! 

To flatten your mid-section, it looks a panniculectomy and a tummy tuck may be suitable for you. The skin/fat hanging over your waist would be removed, and the area below and above your belly button would be addressed as well to give you your desired result. Due to your significant weight loss, the panniculectomy may be covered by insurance, as it is in Ontario, Canada. However, to confirm, please contact your insurance provider.

There is a big difference between a tummy tuck (aka abdominoplasty) and a panniculectomy.  The latter just removes the lower roll of fat but does nothing to fix the appearance otherwise.  It is potentially covered by OHIP in some situations.  Most of the time if I am able to get the panniculectomy covered by OHIP patients that have lost the kind of weight you have would apply the funds from OHIP towards their abdominoplasty.  It saves a couple thousand dollars that way.  The abdominoplasty would provide a profoundly nicer looking result in a suitable candidate.Dr Rodger ShorttOakville Plastic SurgeonDirector of Cosmetic Surgery Training &Assistant Clinical Professor,McMaster University

In Ontario a panniculectomy would be covered by OHIP under certain circumstances, but the criteria are set up so that very few people will qualify. Without examining you I cant be entirely sure but it sounds like you would probably benefit most from a tummy tuck with some additional liposuction of the flap. The only way to know for sure is to book a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon near you. Best of luck! 

You probably need an extended TT or body lift. While I do not do a panni as I think the results are poor I know some doctors do this and combine additional procedures that you pay for using your insurance to help with some of the costs. Some of this is probably insurance fraud so be careful. If it seems to good to be true it usually is. Please see a board certified plastic surgeon, Good Luck!

While a panicle tony may be a covered benefit, you will not get a very cosmetic result. You would likely have the best result with a circumferential tummy tuck (body lift).  This will address the areas of the sides and back as well. This is very common after this type of massive weight loss. 

It looks to me like your best bet would be a fleur de lys abdominoplasty. That is a tummy tuck that has a vertical component as well. It's often the most appropriate operation after such a large weight loss. Even though it's a slightly more ore complex operation than a standard tummy tuck, the result is transformative!Congratulations on your weight loss. No matter what you decide to do, make sure you find a plastic surgeon who is well-trained and experienced. I am sure you will do great!I hope this helps!Dr. Robert Shenker MD FRCSC

Dear anniebutt7680,

Thank you for your clinical post and
photographs. First of all,
congratulations on the weight loss, the dedication commitment to lose 100 lbs.
is no small feat and congratulations on achieving your weight goal. Unfortunately, like many weight loss patients
you’ve been left with compromised soft tissue.
The overlying hanging pannus will likely be approved by OHIP; however,
panniculectomy will only involve removal of the overhanging components not finely
crafted and artistic sculpting of your abdominal musculature and new belly
button and hip and flank liposuction.

An abdominoplasty will include
removal of all excess skin both above the belly button and below, fashioning of
a new belly button and removal of excess skin and tightening of underlying
muscles. This is often combined with
liposuction of the hip and flanks. This
is clearly your best aesthetic result, however, it is not covered by OHIP and
needs to be paid for. Fortunately, many
clinics such as SpaMedica offer financing.
A company called Medicard that will finance this over 60 months, very
similar to a car payment. Thus, you can
get the optimal contour improvement that will last the rest of your life and
have very affordable payments over 5 years.

A consultation with a certified
plastic surgeon with years of experience in body contouring surgery and
extensive tummy tuck and flank contouring would be required.

I’ve been performing advanced body
contouring and extensive tummy tuck surgery for over 20 years and think you’re
an excellent candidate for enhancing your contour and shape.

I hope this information is of some
assistance and best of luck. o find out more, please visit the
link below. Also visit the areas on BodyTite and SmartLipo as these are big
components applied to the posterior love handle and flank.

To schedule a consultation simply
click on the consult request form or call the number and a SpaMedica client
service representative will be with your promptly.

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto