Lisa -
That is exactly what I will be having done on the 9th. They will reopen my open scar, and keep going on past the belly button down to the pubic line, and then hip to hip, and he will be able to save my belly button (sonetimes with the open incision, they cut into the bb too much and ruin the integrity of the blood vessels in and around it, so many lose their bb's. I would rather not have to tuck the sharpeii puppy into my jeans everyday and go for the surgery, scars and all...bb or no bb. As for the healing, I obviously don't know yet, but will keep you posted. Oh, and I am doing the full TT rather than a panni (my understanding is the same as yours with the skin removal vs. tightening).
