Dealing with Fat Accumulation Around Stoma - Seeking Advice

Replies
5
Views
755
theronaldsw
Apr 19, 2023 5:33 pm

I have had an ileostomy for over 40 years and consider myself pretty well-versed in dealing with issues as they arise. I would not consider myself overweight and in fact have lost a few pounds over the past year. Recently, I have been having difficulty with leakage. Fatty deposits above my stoma have produced a noticeable bulge and resulted in some adherence issues, hence the leakage. The stoma is on the right side, where the bulge is evident. The left side of my stomach does not have this bulge. Has anyone used lipo to successfully remove fat around the stoma or otherwise successfully dealt with a like issue? If so, I would appreciate your feedback.

AlexT
Apr 19, 2023 5:57 pm

You sure it's fat and not a hernia?

Maried
Apr 20, 2023 3:37 am

Really sounds like a hernia... check with your doctor.

Gray Logo for MeetAnOstoMate

iMacG5

When I found this web site, I didn't think its name had anything to do with actually meeting an ostomate but I later learned there were some folks who did meet and develop relationships. How good is that? That wasn't my intention. I definitely didn't want anyone to meet me. I felt broken and wasn't prepared to express those feelings. I thought it was a place where ostomates wrote about themselves, posed questions, shared thoughts, told jokes and, sometimes, just vented. I thought of it as a community of folks with similar interests and various degrees of experience. Mostly I found some of the most caring, selfless, wise and understanding people I ever imagined. I was so impressed with some of the writings; not because of their literary value but the way in which they addressed such a very complex environment. I read hundreds of exchanges and admired the way folks cared for each other. I became hopeful with my own situation and looked forward to the next day's offerings. Certainly some contributors stood out with their experience or particular skills in addressing some things but it seemed like a total effort with synergistic results. I felt blessed to have found this site. I still do.
Mike

TerryLT
Apr 20, 2023 8:57 pm

Sure sounds like a hernia to me, especially as you say it's only on one side.

Terry

w30bob
Apr 21, 2023 7:53 am

Hi there,

I'd tend to agree with everyone above in that you need to make sure what you're dealing with is really fat and not a hernia. But if you've already done that and are sure it's fat... I'm not sure you'll find a dermatologist who'd want to try to remove fat so close to your stoma. Every dermatologist I've met to discuss skin issues with my barrier was pretty clueless about ostomies... and generally didn't know how to deal with such things. So if you do proceed with the lipo... make sure they know what the heck they're doing. What I'd be concerned with is why there is a fat buildup in that area specifically... because if you don't know that, and have lipo to remove the fat... it could just come right back as a fatty area. Lipo only works if you understand why the fat formed there in the first place, as repeated lipo in the same area will deform that area. So tread lightly here and have the conversation with your dermatologist about what happens if the fat returns... and why it's accumulating there in the first place.

;O)

 

Staying Hydrated with an Ostomy with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

Play
IGGIE
Apr 21, 2023 9:40 am

G'day, after going through a parastomal hernia operation last August, I would probably say 90% hernia. Go see your surgeon and get it fixed. Regards, IGGIE