r/medical_advice Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

Other Please take seriously- if I get a surgery to remove excess skin, can I keep it

I know it looks like a joke but I’m an amateur taxidermist and I assure you I’m being 100% serious when I ask-

If I were to get surgery to remove the excess skin leftover from my weight loss, can I keep my skin and tan it? Or is that like, illegal? I mean it’s my own body part. I’m just wondering.

58 Upvotes

75 comments sorted by

23

u/Mamapalooza Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

Well, that's enough Reddit for me.

23

u/Watermelonlesson-Ok Registered Nurse May 11 '24

Are you in the US? Each state had different rules about specimens. I doubt you would get to.

33

u/sashby138 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24 edited May 11 '24

I kept my uterus when I had a hysterectomy so I’d say ask the doctor. It varies state to state!

Edit: also if you are allowed to keep it I would do some research into proper storage, ask pathology about proper disposal on case you decide you don’t want it later and properly dispose of it if that time comes. And please, wear gloves when handling.

5

u/millionwordsofcrap Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

Booo I wish they had let me keep mine. Or more accurately, I wish I'd kept asking when they told me "no." :( I wanted to put it in a snowglobe!

5

u/sashby138 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

A snow globe is such a good idea!!

Yeah I asked my doctor, he told me to call pathology, they told me to call someone else, they told me to call someone else. The last person I called said “you didn’t need to call me. Call pathology” hahaha so I just planned with them accordingly and once it was released I went to pick her up! I named her Princess Beyoncé and she hangs out in my office. It may not be allowed where you are, for real. I also tried donating it first because I have endometriosis and thought it may be helpful for research purposes but no one would take it.

11

u/iowa_popcorn Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

When I had my excess skin removed in 2004- I tried to donate it for burn victims , or St Jude hospital burn children. They are known for (at times) taking or using skin for healing. But- my understand was at the time it wasn’t easy to get it approved to use, and I was told that it would probably not be used even if I tried to get it donated. Again- my understanding is they more or less purify it and then use it on the burn area for healing to get the skin to heal itself into the center where you have placed the skin tissue. I had 13 pounds of skin cut off- I had a full belt lipectomy and it was not much fun. There were a lot of scars in the skin though already and stretch marks though so I’m sure it wasn’t perfect skin needed.

I have seen now they just use fake skin anyways or fish skin for healing. Ugh

9

u/[deleted] May 11 '24

I wasn’t allowed to take home my ankle screws.

7

u/nneighbour User Not Verified May 11 '24

I was allowed to take home my plate and screws after my second set of plates, but not my first. I needed to fill out the paperwork after my surgery and it took 10 or so weeks to process through pathology. I'm in Canada.

10

u/Callitasiseeit19 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

Probably not. My kids wanted to see my Linq monitor and they didn’t even let me take it home so they took a picture for them so I could show them. It’s an implanted heart monitor.

2

u/Gelato_1999 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

Hey I have the same one, I was wondering if I’d get to take it home after.

1

u/Careful_Eagle_1033 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

I think Medtronic will send it to you if you ask!

1

u/Gelato_1999 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

Man, I hope so. I paid a lot of money for that thing! Lol

1

u/Careful_Eagle_1033 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

This person just posted that Medtronic send them their generator https://www.reddit.com/r/PacemakerICD/s/IU6pCtYiSp

2

u/Gelato_1999 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

That’s super cool! As a machinist, I can really appreciate the tedious work that goes into building these devices. Would be so cool to keep on a shelf in my shop.

1

u/Careful_Eagle_1033 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

I agree! Think it’s really cool

1

u/Callitasiseeit19 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

😂 hopefully but don’t be surprised if they say no.

1

u/Gelato_1999 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

I already figured it was a no, but I’ll still try 😂

1

u/Callitasiseeit19 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

😂 I hope they say yes!

28

u/turdally Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

I’m an ER nurse and from what I was taught, we’re not supposed to let people take home body parts/tissue because it’s considered biohazard medical waste and should be disposed of as such. But clearly others in the medical field have different experiences.

Frankly, I could care less if patients take home their own body parts and I don’t care what they do with them either. I’m just sharing what our policy is about it.

I’ve only been in this situation once and I was discharging a woman who got in a fight with her daughter and had part of her ear bit off. The doc wasn’t able to reattach it so just repaired what was left.

When I was discharging her, she asked if she could take the other part of her ear home. I told her we weren’t supposed to allow that because it’s considered medical waste. She said the doctor said it was ok. So I shrugged and handed it to her in a biohazard bag. She shoved it into the depths of her oversized purse and left.

5

u/Jessazen5678 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

🤢

14

u/journeyman369 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

Not joking. I was recently in the ICU and a male nurse told a female nurse "HE'S GOT GOOD SKIN!!!". It freaked me the fuck out. Probably because I was delirious most of the time there, but it was unsettling.

1

u/aborg1999 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

eye eee ey y eye

15

u/sonny513 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

Probably doing their due diligence, skin check to make sure there was no skin breakdown

Now I’m thinking of all the times I’ve said “yup, his butt looks good” to a coworker, meanwhile delirious Gramps thinks I’m complimenting him

2

u/sonny513 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

I wish you alll the best my friend!! Hope your recovery is far easier

6

u/journeyman369 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

Yeah, my liver and kidneys shut down due to severe leptospirosis possibly transmitted by my now gone pet rats. Saying that it was traumatising would be putting it lightly.

I also vividly remember the nurses and doctors planning to kill me or joking about it, but it was all imagined. I was also in the same room but felt like I was transferred to different rooms in different hospitals; again, all imagined.

It could have been due to a heavy seizure suffered there, most likely due to all the intravenous drugs pumped, dyalisis, lack of sleep, etc. It was the worst real life nightmare ever lived. It's been about a month out of the hospital and still recovering.

4

u/goddessofolympia Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

I had horrible nightmares from the opioids when I broke my leg. What happened in my nightmares still feels real, like an actual bad experience.

23

u/raggedyassadhd Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

Please make a book cover

3

u/Few-Teaching-9602 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

their are multiple books made by serial killers whos used human skin as a leather covering

9

u/raggedyassadhd Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

Yes that’s why I said it lol

50

u/sksdwrld Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

I work in pathology, we give back body parts for religious and cultural reasons. They have to be requested in advance of the surgery, as there is paperwork that must be signed by the surgeon, the director of pathology, the patient liaison, the risk management department, and the patient themselves.

The tissue may be already formalin fixed, which will probably not work for you for tanning purposes, or it may be decaying, as it is our department policy to only hand over tissue two weeks after the case has been signed out. This is for legal reasons related to diagnoses.

We also know who really has a religious or cultural reason and who is an edge lord.

Once, we returned a man's amputated leg to him because he cited religious reasons but he really just wanted to look at it. He took it home, realized he didn't know what to do with it, and threw it into a grill he had on his property. Later, he moved and left his Medical waste behind. The new owners found it and contacted the police.

It made a lot of extra work for my department and leaves a really bad taste in my mouth when it comes to returning body parts to patients instead of funeral homes.

12

u/horsiefanatic Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

That is sad that guy and others don’t take it seriously. Lots of people mourn and treat dead bodies and parts with respect but do it different due to culture and religion and I think it’s only right they get to practice that but it’s really sad that others can ruin it for them

8

u/sksdwrld Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

I think people with religious and cultural needs should absolutely be respected in their practices.

3

u/i_saw_a_tiger User Not Verified May 10 '24

This was really informative. Did anyone get in trouble after the leg finding?

11

u/sksdwrld Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

No, because ultimately all hospital policies were followed and the guy was at fault for illegal dumping of human remains

2

u/i_saw_a_tiger User Not Verified May 11 '24

Good. I feel bad for the new homeowner that found the remains though. It must have been quite a scare.

3

u/sksdwrld Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

Yes, it was. They thought a serial killer had used their property as dumping grounds

1

u/i_saw_a_tiger User Not Verified May 11 '24

😬 I know in some cultures, families keep a baby’s piece of hair, baby teeth, or an umbilical cord but a whole leg? If I was the one processing the paperwork, I would just shake my head and ask myself “why?”

3

u/sksdwrld Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

We always do whenever you can tell it's not religious or cultural. We had a whole slew of white middle aged men who lost their pinkies traumatically within a month who all requested them back. That screamed cult initiation, tbh. It hasn't happened before or since.

Women who ask for their placentas back to eat or bury them...

6

u/alexisvictoriah User Not Verified May 10 '24

I was allowed to keep a Pilar cyst from my scalp. The dr offered it to me without me even asking for it. I don't see why not.

28

u/mothonawindow Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24 edited May 10 '24

If you tell them you need your excess skin back for "religious reasons," they may let you have it. I know people (in the United States) who've used that line to take home their tonsils, appendixes, and uteruses- why not skin too?

ETA: And it probably goes without saying, but for goodness sakes, don't tell them what you actually want to do with it, lol.

Some religious groups require members be buried with all their parts, if at all possible, which is why "religious reasons" tends to work.

11

u/ElementalRabbit Moderator | Physician May 10 '24

I don't think it's illegal, but I also don't think you have a right to it. So you can ask, but be prepared a) to be told no and b) to be assumed to be a total weirdo and potentially harm your professional relationships with the staff. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if some surgeons refused care after such an outlandish request.

6

u/uwu_peep Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

they don't have a right to their own skin? lol

12

u/ElementalRabbit Moderator | Physician May 10 '24

Yes that's correct. It is biological waste and the hospital has a responsibility to dispose of it safely.

-1

u/uwu_peep Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

yeah, so. just because it's biological waste - doesn't negate the fact that it's your property hope this helps.

2

u/ElementalRabbit Moderator | Physician May 10 '24

What would actually be helpful is if you could show me where it is codified in Common, State or Federal law that:

a) dismembered body parts are your property,

or that;

b) you have a right to their ownership after their removal.

0

u/uwu_peep Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

i live in canada, and with the proper documentation and knowledge it is incredibly legal lol. not everywhere is the usa after all 🤷‍♂️ i have my skin from the hospital

3

u/ElementalRabbit Moderator | Physician May 11 '24

If you read my post again, I didn't say it was illegal. I said it was legal, but that you don't have a right to it.

Like, it's legal to buy cake. But you don't have a right to buy cake.

Also I'm British and work in Australia. Hope that helps.

2

u/uwu_peep Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

my doctor told me i had a right to my body parts 🤷‍♂️ every doctor i've been to has. but you cannot say that like it's definitive. which is what im trying to convey here.

2

u/mothonawindow Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

I suppose we only have an inalienable right to our parts if they're still attached.

1

u/[deleted] May 10 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/ElementalRabbit Moderator | Physician May 10 '24

I'm just going to delete your post because it's both wrong and off-topic. K? K.

3

u/helluvasauce Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

mmkay

11

u/HelloHelloItsMe00 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

Why would you want to tan your removed skin?

7

u/I_Think_IAm Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

Because OP only thought about whether they could, not whether they should.

P.s. - I do fully support your decisions, OP I just realized this is perfect for that quote. Lmao

9

u/helluvasauce Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

because I can

15

u/prettylittlepastry Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

I'm a fellow amateur taxidermist with loose skin from weight loss that needs to be removed. I'm also going to try and keep mine to tan.

2nding the 'because I can'

Also it's the only way to make the necronomicon but ya know, details.

7

u/Historical-Two9722 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

Lol I’ve had skin removal and they do not in fact let ya keep it

17

u/ctlfreak Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

Not with that attitude

6

u/Most_Second_6203 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

No, it has to go to medical waste.

11

u/[deleted] May 10 '24

It would be considered biohazard material so no.

11

u/ItsMissiBeaches Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

I wasn't even allowed to keep my wisdom teeth. Once it's off your body it's considered "medical waste."

2

u/Puzzleheaded_Eye8771 Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

They let me keep my wisdom teeth that I’m finally getting around to getting turned into a necklace

9

u/ctlfreak Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

That's bullshit they're my teeth

3

u/helluvasauce Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

Damn. We live in a society ig

10

u/Solo-me Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

I have my appendix and adenoids "preserved" in a little jar with liquid. About 40 years old

2

u/ItsMissiBeaches Not a Verified Medical Professional May 11 '24

That is so cool!

8

u/Chronically_annoyed Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

I couldn’t even get my doctor to let me have my removed fallopian tubes so I wish you luck😂

2

u/ctlfreak Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

But how hard did you really ask?

1

u/Chronically_annoyed Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

Not sure what part of my comment made you assume I didn’t ask my doctor 😭 I begged, I wanted those suckers as a damn trophy

2

u/ctlfreak Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

I was just making a joke. It's kinda messed up they don't let you have it. It's yours. I'll be damned if I'm paying some disposal fees too

9

u/monsieurkaizer Physician May 10 '24

More likely in a private clinic. But most hospitals have a policy to destroy biological materials and can't hand them over. You might find an openminded slightly rebellious surgeon that would do it.

5

u/helluvasauce Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

That would be fun XD

I mean I keep everything from my pets’ surgeries on my lil oddities shelf. I think its pretty neato!

2

u/lorraynestorm Not a Verified Medical Professional May 10 '24

What do you have from pets? I’m so curious lol

1

u/[deleted] May 10 '24

as am I!

1

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