Let's talk about the "Barbie Butt" procedure, which is something that might come up for people living with an ileostomy. If you're curious about what this procedure involves and how it connects to having an ileostomy, here's a simple breakdown:

- The "Barbie butt" procedure is actually a type of surgery called a proctectomy. In this surgery, the rectum is removed, and the anus is permanently closed up, resulting in a smooth, scarred area that looks a bit like a Barbie doll's backside.

- People might choose to have this surgery if their remaining rectum or anus is causing problems. This could be due to disease, non-functionality, or a risk of cancer. Conditions like diversion colitis or abnormal cell growth after ulcerative colitis are examples where this might be considered.

- The surgery can be done in two ways. One is laparoscopically, which involves making several small cuts in the abdomen, leading to smaller scars. The other is an open approach, which might be necessary if there's a lot of scar tissue.

- It's important to know that once this surgery is done, reversing the ileostomy is not an option. This means the ileostomy becomes a permanent part of your life.