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POSTED UNDER Panniculectomy REVIEWS

Amazing! - Winnipeg, MB

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Had my panniculectomy on April 2, 2013 and couldnt...

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ChanterBerryApril 24, 2013
WORTH IT
Had my panniculectomy on April 2, 2013 and couldnt be happier with my results. I did not have any muscle repair, strictly excess skin and fatty tissue was removed that hung below my belly button. A total of 15.5lbs was removed! My excess was classified as exercise resistant so no matter what I did, it was not going to go away! I have now set a personal goal of losing an additional 45lbs by next winter.

This procedure is very in and out, nothing terribly complicated about it in the world of plastic surgery, everything I wanted to know about this my doctor had honest answers available for me right away!

ChanterBerry's provider

Dr. Kenneth Murray

ChanterBerry

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Replies (31)

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bigbellybegone
April 28, 2013
My surgeon said I will have dog ears.... anyone else have these? All of your experiences give me support and help me to get ready. Any tips you can share for the post op care?
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ChanterBerry
April 29, 2013
I had to google what dog ears were..never heard that before! The most important thing I can say for post op care is REST! And keep on top of your pain, take your pain mess as it says, don't try to be a hero. You can go from feeling great to incredible pain so fast and when you reach that point it's hard to get back down . Rest rest rest! Sleep whenever you feel tired - it's your bodies was of healing itself :)
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bigbellybegone
April 29, 2013
Resting has never been a strength of mine. After reading all the posts I will rest as much as I need and more. You all give me great tips for problem solving should something happen. I wish more people would join and be as helpful as you all. I have had more questions answered here than from my dr. Thanks everyone. Can you look at my profile picture and tell me if you think they will be able to take all the over hang off.
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ChanterBerry
April 29, 2013
Ok, I felt when i was in the shower that I indeed do have very small "dog ears" at the very tips of my incision on each side. Nothing noticeable when my clothes are on. I take it like this, Would i rather have a slight imperfection post surgery or live with a large hanging apron that causes far more grief? A little bit of give and take! Surely with some extra exercise measures the dog ears will go away. As far as what I think they can do, I cannot say. Each surgeon will perform his own way and do whatever he finds necessary. Rest assure though, your results are his focus! Making people happier with their image is what he gets paid (big big) bucks to do!
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bigbellybegone
April 29, 2013
Hi Chanter I totally agree. I feel fortunate I am getting the apron dne. Was yours smaller, same or larger than mine? I ask just to get an idea. I feel like a child waiting for Christmas. Thanks for responding cheers
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bigbellybegone
May 3, 2013
How is your recovery coming? I am12 days until sugery
beaner6988
April 28, 2013
ChanterBerry, what clothes size were you before the surgery? I'm trying to decide how much my big belly weighs... I'm a 18/20 with a large hangy belly... I would guess mine is at least 10-15 pounds too... Thanks for the binder pic, i woundered what it looked like... I go in to schedule mine in a couple weeks. DAWN
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bigbellybegone
April 28, 2013
morning Beaner, Sounds like your body and mine are really close .. I am 5'1" and all my weight is in my tummy. how can I send you a pic? I tried weighing my tummy using a fish scale..hehehehe didn't really work.... then I tried using the baby scale at the doctors....lol it said 12 lbs
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bigbellybegone
April 28, 2013
sorry I meant to post this on beaner's blog... how do I find a person to put a comment on their page? thanks :)
beaner6988
April 28, 2013

 I dont have a blog/page yet cause im so new. lol I tried putting my scale on my dresser and putting my belly on it, didnt work. LOL I bet mine is 12 at least too then.

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bigbellybegone
April 28, 2013
If you figure a way let me know. I am so excited I can't wait to buy panties that don't look like tents
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ChanterBerry
April 29, 2013
Hello Dawn I was tight in a size 24, as thinking of that now makes me so upset. I had given up on wearing jeans or anything nice, and really gave up on myself! I am now, from just this surgery alone, a size 18, but only 1 or 2 inches from a 16. I am 5'10" with a large bone structure. At my thinnest in high school I was a size 14, it's just how I am built! If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask them!
beaner6988
April 29, 2013
Chanterberry, wow thats alot of sizes gone just from the surgery alone.. now i'm getting excited to think i can be smaller too. I'd love to be 5'10" ! i'm only 5'1". It hasnt dawned on me yet if i do get to be smaller, i will have nothing to wear.. haha Size 24, i understand how hard it is to find nice stuff... My aunt was bigger than that i think a 28 and id take her shopping and it was hard to find jeans or nice anything.... Congrats on almost being a 16, you will get there!!! Never give up on yourself... Dawn
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bigbellybegone
April 29, 2013
Chanter we have similar sizes only I am 5'1" so imagine how round my belly is. I would love to see a updated pic. I am anxious to have an idea on what I will look like
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ChanterBerry
April 29, 2013
Haha don't wish to be 5'10! Finding pants long enough is a challenge!! I was a size 24 because i refused to wear tight pants, I have a few size 22's from that same time but there was noticeable muffin top, and I don't like how that looks (or feels!) As you can see, most of my weight was carried under my belly button, I think my "apron" hung something like 8inches from belly button to the bottom and very dense fatty tissue. I will post an update pic after my follow up when the swelling should be minimal - I find I sometimes over do things and get a bit swollen (I FEEL like I can do it, but my body is just not ready)
beaner6988
April 29, 2013
Chanterberry, I know I am like you in that I will probably be overdoing it a bit too soon...I can only handle being still and out of commission for so long before it drives me nuts.... I dont know what I will do the first few days out of hospital, Id imagine i'll be in pain and not comfortable and on meds, tired and too uncomfortable to sleep... I hope i can sit in my computer chair, but im doubting it... I'm a side and belly sleeper, so i cant even imagine how im going to get any sleep... Your lucky to have already had your operation... and being on your way to recovery... and yesssss id still like to be tall no matter how hard it is to be finding pants.. lol DAWN
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ChanterBerry
April 29, 2013
Sleeping is a bit of a tossed coin - I am also a side and belly sleeper but the pain meds make you sleep regardless! I slept on my couch with a bunch of pillows as props, because you CAN NOT lay straight down for about 7 days. You have to sleep at around a 40° angle to prevent your incision from tearing open - you will feel when your body is at a comfortable angle. For me sitting straight up - like at a computer chair would feel like - was not comfortable as your incision should be where your body naturally bends and while its still fresh that is very uncomfortable! Your date is coming up too and soon you will be on the mend!!
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bigbellybegone
May 3, 2013
How r things going? I am getting really excited12 days until sugery
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ChanterBerry
May 4, 2013
Things are progressing everyday! Ran into a bit of a snag the other day - one of my stitch knots didn't dissolve and was buried under the skin and it made an appearance - luckily hubby pulled it out for me! Also decided to wear jeans, but it was a bit too early! The waist band was a bit too rough on texture so I'm a bit tender. Otherwise right on schedule and doing well :) Yours is getting so close!!!! How do you feel?
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bigbellybegone
May 4, 2013
That is so exciting. Jeans on will be nice. I am excited and curious. I can't wait. How much swelling did you have in the beginning and now? Hope you don't mind all the questions I sure do appreciate you helping me
jolenejowest
June 9, 2013
hi beaner6988. Your belly problem sounds a lot like mine. I would like to hear from you on your experience. I am 65, 5"3" and 180. I hope to get rid of this tub and see what size pants I can wear. My overall size is small except for the large gut. I hope to hear from you. thanks
K_at_RealSelf
April 29, 2013

Hi there, welcome and thanks so much for sharing your experience with us!

Wow, what a difference you can already see! How are you finding the recovery period? Have you had much pain/downtime?

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ChanterBerry
April 29, 2013
Hello and thank you for the welcome! Personally, I heal incrediably fast and with minimum amounts of pain. So fast that when I went to have my stitch knots cut so they could finish dissolving, my body had already dissolved the knots! The recovery has been easier than I was anticipating - I had no muscle repair so getting up and down was not a challenge for me. I find the most "annoying" part of this whole process is the binder! Its hard to take a really deep breathe because I'm all bound up, but when I am just relaxing, I undo it for a little while :) I only took 9 days off of work (i have an administrative job so there is not too much up and down through my day) I am learning to go shopping again, which didnt come free of some episodes of crying in the change rooms when a pair of jeans zipped and buttoned smoothly! This is just the beginning to an 'end' for me. At 24years old I still have plenty of time ahead of me to get where I want to be!
K_at_RealSelf
April 29, 2013

Thanks for the update! Sounds like you're recovering well and nejoying your new body!

You mentioned that you wanted to lose another 45lbs. Will that require more surgery after the weight loss, or do you think you can tone your body as you're losing the weight?

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ChanterBerry
April 29, 2013
Nope, will not require further surgeries! I am a fairly fit person for the rest of my body, but the apron was a result of a past medical issue. I had a tumor removed that caused me to lose 80lbs within 3.5 weeks and left too much skin for my body to "snap back" into place. Then I had kids and the skin flap filled with excess fat and was classified "exercise resistant." The surgery I had was to make it easier for me to continue with my weightloss journey, not as a means to finish it.
shaquina
June 4, 2013
I am having my surgery this friday and no removal of my belly button is being done....do you still feel like the stomach is flat without the removal
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ChanterBerry
June 4, 2013
Its flatter than what it was before the surgery! Im not sure I quite understand your question though..?
shaquina
June 5, 2013
im asking if yiu had your belly button moved? Because some doctors only do the bottom and do not touch the belly button. My doctor will not touch my belly button so im wondering if the top part of the stomach will be smaller or only the bottom?
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ChanterBerry
June 5, 2013
oh! ok, no my belly button did not get moved at all. My surgeon had removed JUST the extra skin and fat from below my belly button. I still have some belly as you can see from the picture but with the flap gone, it will be far easier to manage to rest.
jolenejowest
June 9, 2013
Hi shaquina. please let me hear from you as I am scheduled for surgery on July 30th and would like to hear from others on their experiences. Good luck and please share..
almarce
May 13, 2013
Greetings ladies,well i am new to this and will have to say I have enjoyed reading all the posts. I have done lots of research and reading and after 17 years I finally got my ins. to approve my surgery and I am moving forward. Yayy for me its a lot of mixed feelings.lol I am nervous yet anxious to see the end results its. been so long since I can lay flat on my back and actually see my ....well toes lol. I even have got to think if I will miss the apron.lol NOT. I actually have my surgery scheduled for next week Wed. 5/22/2013. Again I am very excited and have lots of support from my family my mother specially but i love the support you all give each other specially for us who are waiting for our surgery date. Any recommendations as for pre-op. As far for what I have read I think I will be borrowing my mothers recliner. Well once I figure this out I will upload pics pre-op and post-op.
UPDATED FROM ChanterBerry

Bit of a battle!

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ChanterBerryMay 31, 2013
I am now almost 2 months post-op and to generalize how my progress has gone I would say its still exactly as planned, HOWEVER, the last few weeks I have been battling multiple post-op infections.
I had been put on antibiotics immediately as a preventative, 2 weeks later I was in pain and my incision had split open about an inch and was draining some fluids and blood. Went to the hospital and was told I have an infection and was put on more antibiotics. 2 days after my prescription ended and my incision healed up, I found myself in even more pain and again found that I had another infection but this time it had moved to my left side about 4 inches. My doctor put me on an aggressive antibiotic and sent me for an ultrasound to see if it was a seroma (sp?). I am now done with all antibiotics and the seroma has been confirmed but it is not big enough to drain anymore and will go away on its own. I was told these kinds of infections with this type of surgery (and even with C-sections) are more common than he cares to admit and is not a huge concern unless left to go out of control.
I am no longer in my binder and find that took a few days to get used to as well!
Overall my experience has been wonderful - I still get "lost" when shopping for clothes because I naturally drift to the plus size section and don't have too. My journey is not over, I still have more weight to lose before I am where I want to be and know I have work ahead of me. My life has been changed and I couldn't be happier!

Replies (2)

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Buttafly2012
August 11, 2014
Congrats
LeftyinMichigan
March 23, 2015
Thank you for sharing your story. If you don't mind my asking, how many inches or sizes did you drop after this surgery?
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