Surgery options

I had a laproscopic proctocolectomy and permanent ileo at Mass General in Boston. I'm having trouble w/the butt wound healing, but that's not related to the type of incision. On my abdomen, I have four little tiny scars from the surgery (one is in my belly button). From what I've read here, my abdominal healing was way easier than a lot of people's.

The down side to a laproscopic surgery is that it takes longer -- I was under for ten hours. So, there are more issues with effects of the anesthesia, and it's not always recommended if people are elderly or have reasons why the risk of the extra anesthesia is not worth it.

It is pretty amazing, though -- my surgeon took my colon out through the hole that eventually became my stoma.

I don't know much about what other hospitals or surgeons do this procedure. You definitely want someone experienced who knows what they're doing.

blueglass, I was wondering where they took out the colon! It certainly wasn't out my belly button lol :) I had lapro in NC.

I have open surgeries for all mine as when had it first done 20 years ago lapro wasn't available in UK and would never have thought to ask. The scars don't bother me, I have a couple of tattoos on my stomach which I had after first two surgeries and so my surgeon has very kindly cut round them even though that makes it harder for him rather than cut right through one of them above my belly button (well what is left of it as has been cut through 5 times now).