RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY FOR SCARRED BELLY

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WinneyPooh
WinneyPooh Member Posts: 318
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Anyone ever thought of this? a ex coworker had lipo suction and a tummy tuck and it looked amazing. my belly is lumpy and has a huge scar running down the middle and i will have another scar on my side when they reverse the ileo, and when they do the liver surgery another huge L shaped scar and so i was thinking has anyone had surgery to fix their tummy
):
Just wondering
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Winnie

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  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #2
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    Battle Scars
    Hi Penny

    I look like a ROADMAP too, LOL :)

    Big long scar from above belly button down "across the border."
    Nice L from my breastbone over to liver (huge open incision).
    Several nice cuts from DaVinci surgery on side and back.
    Port scars thrown in for "fun."

    Thank goodness they make clothes. I have thought about it of course, but I've got another surgery coming on my lung just haven't said anything about it.

    With 10 medical bills I'm already paying on, scans I can no longer do, 'cause I can no longer pay for them, deductibles and out of pocket I can no longer meet....

    Well...I'm not sure that I'll ever get to it - and if I did, wonder if the insurance would cover it or not.

    My old onc had a great saying..."We weren't born with "zippers."

    I've often thought about that.

    Whenever I see people that are unscarred with their beautiful bodies, I just think they don't know how lucky they are.

    Cancer takes so much away from us, doesn't it? But it can't take our souls - not if we don't let it.

    Any rich "sugar mamas" out there wanting to adopt me so I can get fixed?
    Didn't think so, LOL :)

    See you, darlin'
    -Craig
  • nudgie
    nudgie Member Posts: 1,478 Member
    #3
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    I have
    actually spoken with a well-known plastic surgeon in the Wash DC area about my battle scars and she indicated she could perform reconstructive surgery on my scars, but of course, insurance does not cover cosmetic surgery so it would be all out-of-pocket and I haven't hit the Lotto yet, so, I am still waiting, but know how you feel.

    I was cut twice in the same location for my first and second surgeries and then another scare for my temp ostomsy at the sigmond area, which when the surgeon closed-up, it left a bump of extra skin.

    I am considering getting this repaired and the cost for this was alot less then the other, around $1,000.

    Good luck in your decision making and let us know what you decide to do.
  • Crow71
    Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
    #4
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    Sundanceh said:

    Battle Scars
    Hi Penny

    I look like a ROADMAP too, LOL :)

    Big long scar from above belly button down "across the border."
    Nice L from my breastbone over to liver (huge open incision).
    Several nice cuts from DaVinci surgery on side and back.
    Port scars thrown in for "fun."

    Thank goodness they make clothes. I have thought about it of course, but I've got another surgery coming on my lung just haven't said anything about it.

    With 10 medical bills I'm already paying on, scans I can no longer do, 'cause I can no longer pay for them, deductibles and out of pocket I can no longer meet....

    Well...I'm not sure that I'll ever get to it - and if I did, wonder if the insurance would cover it or not.

    My old onc had a great saying..."We weren't born with "zippers."

    I've often thought about that.

    Whenever I see people that are unscarred with their beautiful bodies, I just think they don't know how lucky they are.

    Cancer takes so much away from us, doesn't it? But it can't take our souls - not if we don't let it.

    Any rich "sugar mamas" out there wanting to adopt me so I can get fixed?
    Didn't think so, LOL :)

    See you, darlin'
    -Craig

    Roadmap to NED
    If you are a roadmap - then it's a roadmap to NED my friend.

    You mentioned another lung surgery. My heart skipped beat. What's up?

    Love the new picture.

    Roger
  • Crow71
    Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
    #5
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    Hey Winnie - Even though the
    Hey Winnie - Even though the only surgery I've had so far is my colostomy, I've thought about this. I'm hoping to have HIPEC, liver resection and primary resection soon; so I'll have some scars too. I doubt I will have them "fixed." I'll probably be showing them to anyone who will stand still long enough. I say that now. Talk to me when I'm looking at them in the mirror. What is the huge scar running down your middle from?
    Roger
  • PamPam2
    PamPam2 Member Posts: 370 Member
    #6
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    Time
    Hi You might want to give it time before you decide to do this. It is 5 years from my surgeries now, had the large scar from breast to pubic, and big fat scar from colostomy and reversal. These scars have faded so much over the past 2 years you can not even see parts of them, and the thick one from the colostomy and reversal has really improved, I went to physical therapy and learned scar massage technique and that took it down flat. It takes several years for these scars to fade, so try to give it a little time, the more that scarred tissue is cut into, the weaker it gets.
    Pam
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    #7
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    PamPam2 said:

    Time
    Hi You might want to give it time before you decide to do this. It is 5 years from my surgeries now, had the large scar from breast to pubic, and big fat scar from colostomy and reversal. These scars have faded so much over the past 2 years you can not even see parts of them, and the thick one from the colostomy and reversal has really improved, I went to physical therapy and learned scar massage technique and that took it down flat. It takes several years for these scars to fade, so try to give it a little time, the more that scarred tissue is cut into, the weaker it gets.
    Pam

    While I'm not that scarred up so far,
    my own decision would be, at my age-59-no more surgery unless utterly necessary; I'd rather live with scars than face another operation. Obviously this is a VERY personal decision each makes for oneself. Whatever your choice, hoping a bright, painless, cancer=free future....Steve
  • RickMurtagh
    RickMurtagh Member Posts: 587 Member
    #8
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    scars
    I kind of like mine - like getting a tattoo to mark an occasion.
    Besides, someday if you are on a boat hunting sharks you will have scars to compete with Hooper, Quint and Brody!
  • WinneyPooh
    WinneyPooh Member Posts: 318
    #9
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    RickMurtagh said:

    scars
    I kind of like mine - like getting a tattoo to mark an occasion.
    Besides, someday if you are on a boat hunting sharks you will have scars to compete with Hooper, Quint and Brody!

    Not the scars so much as the lumps
    I am not somuch the scars but the lumpy bumps of skin and fat the scar has sectioned off i'd like some smoothness, scar would be ok if it were't so lumpy.

    does anyone think if i wear some sort of compression garment after wounds have healed to even out the skin and lumps with weight loss will lumps go down?
    I know this sounds kind of vien but I,m not trying to wear a bikini.

    Any ways just thinking

    Winnie
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    #10
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    WinneyPooh said:

    Not the scars so much as the lumps
    I am not somuch the scars but the lumpy bumps of skin and fat the scar has sectioned off i'd like some smoothness, scar would be ok if it were't so lumpy.

    does anyone think if i wear some sort of compression garment after wounds have healed to even out the skin and lumps with weight loss will lumps go down?
    I know this sounds kind of vien but I,m not trying to wear a bikini.

    Any ways just thinking

    Winnie

    No bikinis for me either!
    Well.. I had stopped wearing small swimsuits anyway. I am only 4 1/2 months past surgery and my scar ( from diaphragm to pelvis ) is like a big knotty rope....especially the section from diaphragn to navel). It still hurts like it isn't healed properly.My incision got infected so I was thinking mine was so ugly & bad because of that.....maybe not, huh?
    At least my staple marks are fading.

    I had fleetingly thought of cosmetic surgery in the future...only because it is so huge and ugly but then I remembered the infection of the first scar and well, that scared me off. I'll just call it my battle scar...got it fighting cancer's AS@

    -Pat
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #11
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    WinneyPooh said:

    Not the scars so much as the lumps
    I am not somuch the scars but the lumpy bumps of skin and fat the scar has sectioned off i'd like some smoothness, scar would be ok if it were't so lumpy.

    does anyone think if i wear some sort of compression garment after wounds have healed to even out the skin and lumps with weight loss will lumps go down?
    I know this sounds kind of vien but I,m not trying to wear a bikini.

    Any ways just thinking

    Winnie

    ah, the lumpiness
    I have major scarring after 3 separate full open surgeries and much infection with the last one. I have to wear abdominal binders since the abdominal muscles don't connect any longer. When I want to wear something that doesn't show the inevitable muffin top over the standard elastic binder, I wear a girdle that reaches to just under my bra line, but I wear a size large enough to fit comfortably, after all I'm not trying to look thinner, I'm just looking for abdominal support! I find this works nice. After my first abdominal surgery I had the lumpiness I think you are referring to, which is a result of fat necrosis; the fat liquifies under your skin when disturbed, which is what liposuction depends upon. Then, since it's NOT being sucked out, it just settles and solidifies. I think you could probably get away with lipo to resolve most of the lumpy issues, do you? Unless it's really lumpy scar tissue you are referring to. I doubt that I'll ever get the surgery to reconnect my ventral hernia, since there is so much adhesion in my abdomen, much less cosmetic surgery to resolve the scarring! I've come to terms with my body as it is, but I am going to be 50 this year, and had many years of that beautiful body; enough, for me, for a life time! It's a very personal decision, I think. Whatever it takes to make us feel better about ourselves, assuming the risk is worth the benefit!
    mary
  • christinecarl
    christinecarl Member Posts: 543 Member
    #12
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    surgery
    I would never have surgery to fix them, I am self conscious of it though. I always try to remind myself that if I can see the scar it means I am alive. I have decided if anyone asks my port scar was from a knife fight
  • lcarper2
    lcarper2 Member Posts: 635 Member
    #13
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    christinecarl said:

    surgery
    I would never have surgery to fix them, I am self conscious of it though. I always try to remind myself that if I can see the scar it means I am alive. I have decided if anyone asks my port scar was from a knife fight

    scar
    I call mine the Harry potter, Harry Potter scar it goes from my breast bone as far south as you can go. I already had a c section scar and a galbladder scar the Doctor said he was following the lines when I looked at the 65 staples I ask him if he did a tummy tuck while he was in there. He just laughed...I plan on keeping all mine I feel they are badges of honor...
  • PamPam2
    PamPam2 Member Posts: 370 Member
    #14
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    WinneyPooh said:

    Not the scars so much as the lumps
    I am not somuch the scars but the lumpy bumps of skin and fat the scar has sectioned off i'd like some smoothness, scar would be ok if it were't so lumpy.

    does anyone think if i wear some sort of compression garment after wounds have healed to even out the skin and lumps with weight loss will lumps go down?
    I know this sounds kind of vien but I,m not trying to wear a bikini.

    Any ways just thinking

    Winnie

    scar massage
    You could try scar massage. There is a very specific technique to use. I learned this at physical therapy. It really did take the lumpy thick scar tissue down flat. It also brings the tissues back together that did not come together during healing, and help prevent hernia in the future. The physical therapist worked on me first, it hurt some, but was easier every time, and taught me how to do it myself, you need to do it every day, keeps that weak scar tissue under the skin stretched out and supple, otherwise it hardens up, gets lumpy and tears easily.
    Pam
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #15
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    Not the scar BUT
    My 'scar' from my colon surgery is around 1 inch long, however, the area where my port was has caved in! I notice it when dressing for bed last night. I saw a shadow that turned out to be a dent the size of the port! I can feel the indentation. Of course, I'm going to be 60 this year and the only person who would see that area is hubby and he swears he can't tell.

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