Can I Get An Abdominal Panniculectomy At 375Lbs?

Q: Dr. Eppley: I weigh 375lbs highest weight was 400. I am trying so hard to loose weight but my “fat appron” is causing a lot of issues for me. Rubbing raw and so painful when I try to exercise. I feel I hit a wall. I really want to get a panniculectomy and was curious if this could be done at my weight. I need it gone to continue my weight loss journey!

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your picture. I believe you are correct in that only a removal of the double/triple roll abdominal tissue excess can provide the psychological, and perhaps physical, springboard for continuing on your weight loss process. I have seen this many times and, although classic teaching is that weight loss should be first maximized before surgery, that is often not effective and many patients like yourself hit the proverbial wall. Such surgery provides very positive feedback so the patient’s motivation for further body reduction efforts is reignited.

Unfortunately I will be unable to help you as my surgery center has a patient weight limit of 300lbs due to the beds that we use. At such a weight the surgery will have to be preformed in a hospital where they have operative tables that are made for such patient weights.

Dr Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana