Removing excess fat from hanging over
Have you lost excessive amounts of weight or have sagging skin that hangs over your genital and thigh area? Then a Panniculectomy along with other procedures may be an option. Call our office for a full consultation and your options.
Are you a Panniculectomy Candidate?
People who are obese or have lost a significant amount of weight through diet, exercise or bariatric surgery, as well as women who held on to their extra weight following pregnancy may be candidates for panniculectomy.
To be considered for panniculectomy, you should be at a stable weight for at least one year. People who have had gastric bypass or adjustable gastric banding surgery should also wait one year after surgery so that they are at a stable weight and any health problems linked to their obesity such as diabetes and high blood pressure have been corrected.
Preparing For Your Panniculectomy
Your surgeon will take a complete medical history and do a full physical to clear you for your panniculectomy surgery. He or she will want to know about any previous surgeries you have had as well as what medications (prescription, over the-counter and nutritional supplements) you take on a regular basis.
Your surgeon also will provide you with a list of things you should and shouldn't take before surgery.
If you smoke, you should quit before your surgery. Smoking impedes the healing process and increases the risk of certain complications after a panniculectomy.
Understanding the Panniculectomy Procedure
Your panniculectomy may be performed in a hospital or outpatient surgery center.
Your surgeon will likely use general anesthesia. The duration of the surgery will vary based on how much skin and fat is present and whether or not you are also having a tummy tuck, hernia repair or another abdominal surgery. It typically takes several hours. Plan to stay in the hospital for up to a week following a panniculectomy.
To perform the panniuculectomy, your surgeon will make two incisions. The first spans from the lower area of your sternum to your pubic bone. Your surgeon will then make a horizontal incision across the pubic area and remove the extra fat and skin. The remaining skin is pulled together and sutured.