Did you know that sometimes excess abdominal skin removal is covered by insurance? If you have lost a great deal of weight than this may apply to you. Call 904-638-5555 to find out.

Will tummy tuck worsen lower extremity swelling? : I have recently lost 100 lbs and have hanging skin that really bothers me. This is more medical than cosmetic. Could I get a tummy tuck or would this worsen my lower extremity swelling?


This is a great question and an important one to consider before you have any surgery. With your impressive amount of weight loss, you may be a candidate for a panniculectomy. This removes the excessive low hanging abdominal skin and fat and improves the way you look, feel, and will help you heal the rashes associated with the excess skin. You can then better work off the additional weight. It is important to realize that this procedure is different than a tummy tuck and will not tighten you muscles.


Removing such a large amount of skin will interrupt the flow of lymphatic channels and will likely worsen your LE edema at first but this should improve once you heal. The important thing is to know why you have edema and if the deep veins in the legs are open. You would need to see a vascular specialist for this evaluation. If the benefits of panniculectomy are better than the risks in your situation, then you could decide to undergo the procedure. Just make sure you are on a blood thinner and stay in the hospital a few nights after surgery. Good luck.