Panniculectomy Surgery: Nichole’s Journey to Remove Excess Skin After Losing 120 Lbs

I lost 120 pounds with gastric sleeve surgery and medical weight loss on Wegovy®, even with a pregnancy in between. While I was happy with my results, the weight loss came with an unexpected challenge: excess skin around my lower belly that caused daily discomfort. Even though I was thrilled with how far I’d come, the excess skin led to skin rashes. It made me feel self-conscious about how my clothes fit. Since I’ve been with NJBC for 4 years, I decided to speak with my physician assistant there named Alley and she suggested panniculectomy surgery to remove the excess skin.

What is a Panniculectomy and How Do You Qualify?

A panniculectomy is a surgical procedure to remove excess or sagging skin from your lower belly. Excess skin can occur with significant weight loss from weight loss surgery, medical weight loss, or a change in eating habits. It can also cause infections in the folds of the skin, back pain, hygiene issues and the inability to fit comfortably into clothing. 

The criteria to qualify for a panniculectomy include: 

• Maintaining your weight for 6-18 months 
• The excess skin around your abdomen has to actively cause medical issues

Since I met the requirements, I qualified and was approved by my insurance to have the procedure.

Why I Decided to Have a Panniculectomy vs a Tummy Tuck 

I decided to have a panniculectomy instead of a tummy tuck because honestly I couldn’t afford the tummy tuck and my insurance wouldn’t cover it. Having the procedure helped me reach my health goals in so many ways. It “erased” the discomfort of having all of that extra skin hanging and rubbing.

How the NJBC Team Helped Me Reach My Health Goals

One of my health goals was to wake up and get dressed without wondering if I looked good. After losing the 120 pounds, I was almost there. I knew that having the panniculectomy was the final step to achieving my goal.

All of the NJBC staff has been amazing from the start. I never once have I felt embarrassed or ashamed to ask any question. My surgeon, Dr. Goyal is great and answered every question I had through the whole pre-surgery process. Even with my annoying 10,000s of phone calls I made post-surgery, he is still there to support me! From my gastric sleeve surgery to my panniculectomy, my physician assistant, Alley, has supported me every step of the way.  

I truly felt they were there for me throughout my journey. They made me feel comfortable, confident and informed even up to the minute I was taken in for the panniculectomy. I knew what to expect during the recovery stage and that discomfort can be expected the first few weeks, given that the incision is bigger than their other procedures like gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery.

I fully recommend having this procedure if you're suffering from excess abdominal skin after weight loss. You would be in the best hands possible!

Life Since My Panniculectomy Surgery

Since having the panniculectomy, I love that I can now live my day to day life confident and happy. My self-esteem has skyrocketed almost immediately since the surgery. My home life has improved, as I am able to move around better and play with my children in all of the ways I have dreamed!

Key Takeaways of Nichole’s Panniculectomy Journey with NJBC:

• Nichole’s weight loss from gastric sleeve surgery and Wegovy® led to excess skin in her lower belly that caused discomfort in her day to day life. 
• After learning about NJBC’s panniculectomy surgery and meeting the qualifications, she decided to have the procedure.
• A panniculectomy is a surgical procedure to remove excess or sagging skin from your lower belly. Excess skin from significant weight loss or dietary changes can cause medical problems and affect your day to day life.
• NJBC’s board-certified surgeon, Dr. Goyal removed Nichole’s excess skin from her lower belly. The recovery stage was challenging in the first few weeks. 
• Nichole made it through the recovery and her self-esteem skyrocketed almost immediately since she had the surgery.
• Her mobility has improved, and her confidence has grown in her daily life. These are benefits well beyond the physical removal of her excess skin.

FAQs about a Panniculectomy

• What qualifies you for a panniculectomy?

To qualify for a panniculectomy the excess skin in your lower belly should extend to the pelvic area after significant weight loss and cause medical problems. Furthermore, eligibility requires your weight to be maintained for at least 6 months, alongside stable readings for blood sugar, blood pressure, and nutritional health. 

• What BMI is needed for a panniculectomy?

For a panniculectomy, a BMI within normal range (18.5-25¹) or a maximum BMI of 30-35 is needed. 

• Which is better, panniculectomy or tummy tuck?

A panniculectomy is a reconstructive procedure that removes the overhanging, excess skin and fat from the lower belly to relieve medical issues. If you have excess skin that’s causing daily discomfort and you meet all of the requirements, a panniculectomy is the procedure for you to address those conditions. A tummy tuck is a cosmetic procedure that removes excess skin, but involves tightening of the abdominal muscles under the skin in most cases. If you want a firmer, smoother stomach after weight loss, a tummy tuck (also known as an abdominoplasty) is more likely to give you the results you desire.

•  Can excess skin go away with exercise?

While exercise can help tone muscles, unfortunately in some cases, no amount of exercise will get rid of sagging or excessive hanging skin caused by significant weight loss. 

Sources

1. "Body Mass Index in Adults." American Heart Association, AHA, 2 Apr. 2026, www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/losing-weight/bmi-in-adults.