09/28/2026
Im pretty sure thought she was getting a tummy tuck with muscle repair.
She discovers she had actually received a panniculectomy.
Those are NOT the same procedure and this is exactly why education before surgery matters so much.
Too many women walk into cosmetic surgery knowing the result they want, but not necessarily knowing the name of the procedure, exactly what will be removed or repaired, where their scar will be, what their consent forms actually say, or what they should realistically expect when they wake up.
And I understand why. If this is your first surgery, how are you supposed to know what you don’t know?
That’s where having an experienced advocate can make a huge difference.
Before surgery, you should understand:
• Is my surgeon board-certified in plastic surgery?
• What EXACT procedure am I consenting to?
• Is muscle repair included?
• What will this procedure address and what won’t it address?
• What should my scar and expected result look like?
• Where is my surgery being performed?
• How should I prepare beforehand?
• What does my recovery plan look like afterward?
There are incredible surgeons out there. There are also practices where patients may feel rushed, confused, or inadequately educated. Your job is to slow the process down until YOU understand what is happening to your body.
Whether it’s POP, (thanks for the video) or another experienced patient advocate you trust, if you don’t know where to start, don’t do it alone.
Get educated. Ask the uncomfortable questions. Read your paperwork. Know your procedure. Know your surgeon. And have a preparation AND recovery plan before surgery day.
Because the time to discover that you and your surgical team weren’t talking about the same procedure is not after you wake up.
Save this before your consultation and send it to someone considering surgery. 💜