For many people who lose a lot of weight, the journey doesn’t end when the scale stops moving. Excess skin can linger, causing physical and mental discomfort. But there’s hope.
A panniculectomy is a surgery to remove the pannus, or “fat apron” left behind. It's often misunderstood as cosmetic, says HonorHealth general surgeon Michelle Baribault, DO. “But it can be medically necessary when excess skin causes ongoing health issues or limits a person’s mobility.”
Her patient Richard Young experienced these challenges firsthand. After shedding over 130 pounds through diet and discipline, he was left with a large skin flap. “It hung down past my knees,” Richard recalls. “I had to buy pants big enough to go around everything just to hide it. It wasn’t pretty.”
Richard’s pannus caused recurring rashes and discomfort. Yet he was constantly told nothing could be done. That all changed when an unrelated condition brought him to HonorHealth Four Peaks Medical Center in Mesa.
From lost pounds to found answers
Richard never expected a hospital stay for a twisted bowel to deliver the answer he'd been waiting for. Under the care of Dr. Baribault’s team, he found himself asking a question he’d carried quietly for years. Lifting his shirt, he asked if anything could be done about the loose skin. “I do panniculectomies,” she replied. “Come see me after you’re discharged and we’ll talk.”
For Dr. Baribault, expertise doesn’t stop in the operating room — it shows up in advocacy. Knowing the surgery was essential to restoring Richard’s quality of life, she fought for him when insurance initially denied coverage. Together with her team, she gathered everything they needed to build a compelling appeal.
“I don’t let insurance companies dictate care when I know it’s medically necessary,” Dr. Baribault says. “I could see how much this was affecting his life.”
A weight is finally lifted
After Richard underwent surgery, the impact was immediate. “I’ve gained a new sense of freedom. I’m not constantly worried about how I look or whether people are staring,” he explains. “I can move more easily, and I feel lighter in every sense of the word.”
At HonorHealth, the care we provide is deeply personal. Dr. Baribault works together with other bariatric surgeons, including Mohan Ramalingam, MD, and Kelsey Staudinger, DO, to help patients achieve their weight loss goals, guided by experience, trust and compassion.
If excess skin after weight loss is interfering with your comfort, mobility or health, you’re not alone. A panniculectomy can be a powerful next step toward feeling more like yourself again.
“I’m a big patient advocate,” says Dr. Baribault. “I care deeply about my patients, and I’ll always fight for them.” That could mean opening the door to a life you've always dreamed about — one step lighter, freer and more confident than before.