I Have An Option-need Your Advice

[I'llsucceed 1]

My Doctor says that he can place my port two inches BELOW my bellybutton (which is below my underwear line) just off to the left side a bit. This way I would not have any large insicions showing on my stomach (for bikkins & short tops). I will have to have one extra small insicion on top for him to do this.

My question to all of you is:

Do you think that this is a good position for the port as far as bending, exercising, carrying kids/stuff & other things? And do you think that its worth it if the doctor feels comfortable to do it this way or should I just go with the standard method? Port above bellybutton & off to the left or right?

He said it can be placed anywhere I wish within reason. I want it to be the most comfortable & less noticeable place as possible. But that being said- If I heal like Penni did (which is possible) I won't see it at all months from now.

What do you all think? Thanks for your help!

[I'llsucceed 1]

Someone must have some advice on if they think this is a good idea. Alex, Penni, La Madam, Betty, Vera, Vines, ect. ect. ect. Calling all bandsters! Calling all bandsters! Need your professional insight:0)

[Mita 2]

Here goes again. Tryed to post my reply

I do have a scar right under my rib cage therefore no 2 piece for me.

If you have an option maybe below the belly button would work for you there fore you could wear the 2 piece. But then again we women just love to use the tummy by pushing things onto a table when are hands are full and who knows maybe it will bother maybe not.. Sorry no help here

[angiebell 0]

Although I was only recently banded and my port incision is above and to the left of my belly button, if I wear shorts or pants that come to my waist it interferes with my port. I need to wear the pants that rise to just below my belly button to be comfortable. Sometimes I get a pain like runner cramp and it is in the lower left side of my abdomen, which could increase if your port was placed in that position. I go for my follow up today and I am going to ask my doctor exactly where my port is located because I can't feel it. I think it is just under my lower rib on the left side just above the port incision. The scar is about 1 1/2" long and I believe you will always be able to see it. The other 4 incision are very small and will most likely fade away. I hope that give you a little help. Good Luck on your surgery!

[kellymoos 4]

Mine started under my right rib cage and as I have lost weight it is now 2 inches to the right above my belly button. I have never had a problem with it there.

[Vera 7]

You've got me thinking

Do you think that this is a good position for the port as far as bending, exercising, carrying kids/stuff & other things?

Here's a question for the doc...Tubing length?

With my new band, my doctor gave me an extra service loop of tubing, with my old band the port connection-tubing came out toward the center then up to the stomach, the kink that formed was at the angle that started up to the stomach. My concern would be where the tubing ran. Also how secure the port would be, prevent flipping over......below the belly button seems like a long way from the stomach.

[Marimaru 7]

My port is on my waistline to the left of my belly button. If I were to force myself into pants that were way too tight (like, lay on the bed to zip tight), It'd be uncomfortable, but since I refuse to go through that again (wearing clothes that tight) it doesn't bother me in the slightest. Keep in mind that you are going to have 4 or 5 other incision scars to deal with as well, and the location for those isn't really optional. I have 4 on my upper abdomen. They are all smaller than an inch, but they are still there (and truth be told they are all still darker and more noticable than my port scar).

I wouldn't worry about getting the port extra low if I were you. I don't have any advice on if that placement would be an extra bother or not though. The only place that I've really heard people complain about is when it's high enough to actually rub on the ribcage or be in the way of an underwire bra.

Good luck.

[La_madam 20]

Christina, my port incision is below my left rib cage, and I must say, the scar is no bigger then an inch if that big. Not noticable enough when I wear a bikini, I'm tan all year round and my scar is tan too, doesnt show much at all.

To me it seems it would be more of a "tender" place to put your port that low, I think Vera makes a good valid point about tubing length. Will there be enough tubing if he goes that low, will there be risk of it pulling or breaking off or flippingif it is that low? Those are the questions you should ask your doctor.

[I'llsucceed 1]

Thank you all- To answers some questions from you guys I did ask about the tubing & here is what was said:

The tubing is plenty long to have the port just below the bellybutton area. The placement of the tubing is tuck away has it would be with the regular placement. The port is secured to the main muscle (can't remember the name) that covers us from under the breast bone down to the pubic bone. It basically holds all our inards in:0) So this is the same muscle either down lower or mid stomach or higher. Flipping of the port would be equal almost everywhere.

Its just that has I am siting in this chair right now my gut is pooched out & bends in at the bellybutton area. So the port (if placed below underwear line) would be kinda well lower on the fat roll-lol

If I go where he already marked me up with a marker(I asked him too ) It would be just above the fat roll. Anyhow I guess I just don't know what to tell him.

Keep all the thoughts & advice coming- I know I'll figure it out with all of your help> Thank You all

[bandit 2]

I posted something similar to this a long time ago. I would love to have my band around the bikini line, but I also would worrie about the future Tummy Tuck. Just a thought. U should ask ur doctor about it and post back to let us all know. If u did it under the bikini line the big scar would be covered. Sounds great to me. But noone else here has it there I think so if u wanna be the guini pig, I think that gggrrrreeeeaaaaaattttt! lol

[HarleyNana 10]

I don't think the scar is that big, at least mine isn't and it's right in the waistline. Most 2 pc suits now are high cut on the legs with a regular waistline. At my age, I don't see a 2pc of any type in my future, lol, so placement was not a concern, also my port is sewn into the muscle. I too would worry about the length of the tube from the band to the port, but then again, I'm not a doctor.

[bandit 2]

HYJACK

OMG christina, I love ur new quote "thats Miss Bitch to u!" Thats the greatest thing Ive seen! From now on I will only address Christina as Miss Bitch and the occasional Miss BIIOOOOTCH if the need be. (its a west coast thing)

[the best me 6]

Pregnancy? I'd be afraid to have it so low and going through being pregnant. although the whole belly boobs to below the pubic hair-line swells during pregnancy (uh, at least mine did!) so the port will be affected no matter where you put it. Hmmm. I tend to go the standard, don't get too fancy or break the doc's routine route. Besides, I'm not getting into a bikini anytime soon, no matter how much I lose. But I don't have your hot bod or sense of style...so there.

ummm, do I HAVE to call you Miss Bitch? I'd rather not if that's okay.

[vinesqueen 2]

I look at the very faint scar from my gall bladder and can't think that my new port scar above the belly button is going to be any different.

Yes, my band scars are currently a lovely eggplant purple, but I know that this will fade to practially invisible.

Also, I sort of think having it placed lower would interfere with some activities that require bending and curling. But I'm a computer geek so take that with a gain of salt.

[Chris S. - L.I. 0]

My port scar is right to the left of my belly button. WHen I get filled the needle goes in about an inch to the left and and inch below my belly button. I think it's a great place for the port. I can't imagine having it above my belly button anywhere.