This topic is about a person who has been living with an ileostomy for over 40 years and is now facing a new challenge. They have noticed a bulge of fatty tissue above their stoma, which is causing leaks because it prevents their appliance from sticking properly. While their weight has remained stable or even slightly decreased, this bulge is only on the right side, while the left side of their abdomen remains flat. They are considering liposuction to remove the fat and are looking for advice from others who might have faced a similar issue.

Here are some helpful insights and advice from others:

1. Many people believe the bulge might be a parastomal hernia rather than just fat. They recommend seeing a colorectal surgeon or a doctor familiar with ostomies to get a proper diagnosis.

2. If it turns out to be a hernia, surgery is the right way to fix it, not liposuction.

3. If the bulge is indeed fat:
- It might be challenging to find a dermatologist or plastic surgeon who has experience with ostomies. Make sure the doctor understands the anatomy of a stoma and the needs of the appliance before agreeing to liposuction.
- Liposuction might only be a temporary fix. If the underlying cause of the fat accumulation isn't addressed, the bulge could come back. Repeated liposuction could also change the area and make it harder for the appliance to fit properly.

4. Someone who had surgery for a parastomal hernia last August shared that they had good results and suggest consulting a surgeon soon.