At Longstreet Clinic’s Center for Weight Management, our bariatric surgeons excel at helping patients who have battled morbid obesity to experience considerable – and lasting – weight loss.
When this occurs, through procedures such as a gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, or even medical weight loss, we typically reach a positive weight loss outcome. However, depending on their physical makeup, some patients who undergo significant weight loss may then experience an excess amount of skin on their abdomen.
At the Center for Weight Management, we want our patients to experience the complete fulfillment that comes with significant weight loss. That is why Dr. Eric Velazquez, MD, also offers our patients a procedure that removes this excess skin. This surgical procedure, typically performed in an outpatient setting, is called a panniculectomy.
During a panniculectomy, Dr. Velazquez removes loose/hanging skin from a section of the patient’s abdomen – usually from the belly button down. This section of the body is called the “pannus”. The results of a panniculectomy are permanent and provide a firmer contour to that area of the body.
The benefits of a panniculectomy are numerous and include:
- Improved mobility – Loose skin can make movement more difficult.
- Healthier skin – Removing excess tissue reduces the chances of friction and significantly reduces the risk of rashes, fungus and irritation.
- Improved joint health – Removal of excess skin produces further reduction of weight on your back and leg joints.
- Improved clothing fit – Loose skin can sometimes make it difficult to find comfortable clothing.
- Improved self-esteem – Patients are happier with their new look and feel, and it can provide a crucial final step in significant weight loss.
When you combine a lasting commitment to a healthier lifestyle with the physical changes that a bariatric procedure provides, a panniculectomy can deliver a permanent and final touch to improved overall health.
How Does a Panniculectomy Work?
Prior to the procedure, a patient will meet with Dr. Velazquez to evaluate your health and determine the measurements of their pannus.
During the panniculectomy, the patient will receive general anesthesia. Dr. Velazquez will then make an incision just above the pubic area, extending toward the hips – the size of the cut will be pre-determined based upon earlier measurements to the pannus. He then pulls skin down from above the incision area and removes the excess skin below. (He also may or may not remove the belly button.) He will then close the incision site. Tubes may be placed in the body to drain any blood or body fluid, and you will be wrapped with bandages and a compression garment to minimize swelling and support the body at the surgical site and promote healing.
Total surgery time may be anywhere from 1-3 hours, after which you will recover, wake up and be sent home with instructions for incision site and post-procedure care. The patient will then require close care at home for at least the following 24 hours. Patients may be swollen or sore for several days following the procedure, but pain and discomfort can be controlled by prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Dr. Velazquez will see patients again after a week or two and check incision sites and drains. And patients should be able to return to light activities, including desk work, within 1-2 weeks. Complete healing requires several weeks recovery.
Who is a Panniculectomy Designed For?
Those weight loss patients who have a significant excess of skin in the pannus – such that it may hang over their hips of beyond their abdomen – are ideal candidates for a panniculectomy. To achieve the full benefit of the procedure, patients must be committed to lifelong healthy eating habits, be in relatively good health and not be a smoker.
Longstreet Clinic surgeons will meet with you to determine if you are a good candidate for a panniculectomy.
What are the Considerations of a Panniculectomy?
All surgical procedures, no matter how minor or common, are subject to risk. The careful providers at Longstreet Clinic treat this procedure with utmost respect and take all precautions necessary. However, there are considerations that every prospective panniculectomy patients should understand, including the risk of blood loss, pain, infection, and anesthesia reaction, as well as blood clotting and fluid accumulation at the incision site.
This procedure also carries the risk of numbness, skin discoloration, scarring, and unbalanced (asymmetrical) abdomen. There are also chances that a patient’s skin may become loose again or that further panniculectomies may be required to achieve the desired effect.
Whatever your situation, Longstreet Clinic staff will be clear and deliberate with you, helping you to make the right decision for your health status.
Talk to us About a Panniculectomy Today
Surgical weight loss can produce incredibly positive results, but sometimes that weight loss can produce loose skin that creates its own concerns. If you find yourself in that situation or are considering bariatric surgery, talk to your provider about the realities of panniculectomy and if you are a candidate for this procedure.
The caring and experienced providers at Longstreet Clinic’s Center for Weight Management provide panniculectomies for patients here in north Georgia and are available to discuss this option with you.
Even if panniculectomy is not the right choice for you, Longstreet Clinic’s Center for Weight Management will find the solution that will get results and get you on top of your health.
Are you ready to change your life? Contact us today to learn more about our bariatric procedures and take the steps toward regaining control of your health and wellbeing.
Longstreet’s Center for Weight Management is proud to offer a variety of surgical and non-surgical options at our multiple north Georgia locations.
Want to learn more? Watch our online seminar then fill out our contact form and our office team will reach out to you. Or please call our main office at 770-534-0110 or toll-free at 877-921-0110.
