Panniculectomy & Hernia repair....46 yr old

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*Treatment results may vary

almost 4 yrs post op

  • 29 May 2018
  • 3 years post
While I realize I have not been on here for a while I figured I should do a quick update. I have lost more weight and as I have the deformity from the complications has started to look a bit better. I will eventually have to find a surgeon to repair the permanent muffin top left behind by the panni/hernia repair complications. I don't regret having the surgery though!

doing better

  • 15 Oct 2017
  • 3 years post
I have actually since last being on here been doing a lot of physical therapy to deal with the horrific spasms I get since the panni/hernia repair. I also had a revision to my old VBG done and have lost more weight. It is definitely showing in my lower tummy area and the belly is slowly but surely getting more towards the flat stage. Well, that is except my upper belly/torso. It is even larger looking to me than prior to the panni/hernia repair. I truely believe it is swelling due to the hernia mesh.....I am going to look into that soon enough. I took some pictures of my laying down in bed and how the lower belly is looking now.....and what I notice the most is how much I am really starting to dislike my FUPA! UGH! As I loose more weight I will see how that decreases, if at all. I have loaded the pictures of what I took this morning as a comparison to what it was before. You can see in the side view shots that upper belly torso is still quite protruding. Please excuse the FUPA in the shots. Kinda hard to not get when trying to show where the scar line is and all. As you can see from the front view in the mirror the unevenness of how it healed after having that huge wound vac is still extremely noticeable. I am not sure if that will ever look decent again. :-(

still having other complications from surgery

  • 22 Jun 2015
  • 9 months post
Still have the swollen tummy and lopsidedness. It is slowly getting a bit better..but my upper abdominal area is still swollen compared to before but it is getting better. I have been taking it easy for about 4 weeks now as I have found out I have herniated discs in my neck now. A bit of cervical stenosis and arthritis up and down the neck. I have a sore neck and upper shoulders since surgery and I had figured it was simply the hospital beds. And when getting home it just has not gotten better. I finally broke down and went to see my Dr. My regular Dr suspects during surgery when I was intubated it may have put a strain on my neck causing the problem. Apparently that can be very traumatic on the neck. Never had that issue before :-( I have had the misfortune of a few surgeries in my past and never had neck issues afterward. So, now I am going to see a specialist this coming Friday and hope that we can get to making the issue better.

I have lost a bit more weight, but can't be very active because of the stress on my neck. It really is amazing how the neck can affect so many other things! Sitting, laying down, and yes, even walking!

Anyway....I havent taken pics in a while. There is still the pudge above the incision and the unevenness too it. I also noticed today how my left side has a bit more of a "love handle" when that had been all gone before being reopened. But...all in all it is much better! I will take pictures again soon and post.

Provider Review

Cherrie Heinrich, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
1925 Woodwinds Drive, Woodbury, Minnesota
Overall rating
Doctor's bedside manner
Answered my questions
After care follow-up
Time spent with me
Phone or email responsiveness
Staff professionalism & courtesy
Wait times
  • 12 May 2014

Dr Heinrich is actually out of St Paul MN. Her and her staff are all beyond what words can describe. She is professional, kind, explains things well. Her staff have all been super nice and helpful. They make you feel welcome and at ease. Being a larger gal still, I was worried about being judged still about the weight but I saw no signs of that from anybody! My post op appointment the PA and Nurse were just all out there and fun to deal with and just made me laugh. Even my boyfriend has said over and over how impressed he is with Dr Heinrich and all her studenst/PA's she had with her in the hospital. When things got very scarey in the hospital the day after surgery they seemed on top of it and did everything they could to get me out of danger. Again, my boyfriend was impressed with how well they handled it. They have given me a new and better chance at a longer and better quality of life. I have not had to deal with billing so I didn't rank. NEW ADDITION... Since last seeing my abdominal specialist on the 12th of February ( now the 21st) I have not heard back from Heirichs office for a follow up. I have called the appointment desk and made a follow up appt for early April. Hopefully it was a simple mistake by the person taking the message that I was not called back for a follow up.