You may have heard of Barbie butt surgery and wondered what it is, or perhaps you have been told that you need a proctectomy and want to find out more. It can be hard to find information about Barbie butt surgery or experiences from people who have had it. However, people who are due to have this major procedure want to know what to expect and how it will impact their lives. So, in this guide, we will explore Barbie butt surgery in detail, provide advice and answer frequently asked questions. This information has been collated from the clinical expertise of our team and the real experiences of people who have had this surgery.
Contents
Click below to skip directly to a section of our Barbie butt guide:
- What is Barbie butt surgery?
- What is the difference between a proctectomy and a proctocolectomy?
- What does a Barbie butt look like?
- Why would you need Barbie butt surgery?
- Does Barbie butt surgery hurt?
- What is the recovery time for Barbie butt surgery?
- Advice for Barbie butt surgery
- Useful links
What is Barbie butt surgery?
Barbie butt surgery is also known as Ken butt surgery or no butt surgery. It is a type of proctectomy. These terms all mean a surgical procedure to remove the rectum (the last part of the large intestine). Barbie butt surgery means that the anus is also removed. The bumhole is sewed up and poo no longer comes out of it. Poo instead leaves the body through an opening on the abdomen called a stoma and collects into a bag. Find out more: What is a stoma?
The term ‘Barbie butt’ means that like a Barbie doll, you will no longer have a bum hole. This nickname can make it easier to explain to others. However, despite its lighthearted name, Barbie butt surgery is not a cosmetic surgery that someone would have by choice. Rather, this is a life-saving major surgery.
Barbie butt surgery can be an option for both colostomy and ileostomy patients. You may already have a stoma, or you may have a stoma formed during the proctectomy procedure. Barbie butt surgery is a permanent procedure; it cannot be reversed.
What is the difference between a proctectomy and a proctocolectomy?
If you are having barbie butt surgery, you may have either a proctectomy or a proctocolectomy. Both include removing the rectum. The difference is that a proctocolectomy also includes the removal of part of the colon (large intestine). If you have a panproctocolectomy (sometimes referred to as a total proctocolectomy), your entire large intestine will be removed. Whether you have a proctectomy or a proctocolectomy depends on the current state of your digestive system.
What does a Barbie butt look like?
People who have had Barbie butt surgery still have bum cheeks and a bum crack. It’s the hole that is sewn up, not the entire bum. Apart from this, everyone’s Barbie bum is different. Post-surgery, it will be swollen and kept together by stitches/glue/staples. These will either be removed later or dissolve on their own, depending on the type you have (ask your surgeon). It will take a while for the swelling to go down and for it to flatten out. Your proctectomy wound will change over time and look and feel very different to when you first had surgery. It may be over a year before it scars over.
Some people have shared photos of their Barbie butts on social media to help others who are wondering what to expect due to a lack of accessible information about this surgery. We won’t upload the photos of their proctectomy wounds here but we will link to examples:
These are just two of many people who have shared their personal experiences with proctectomy surgery on social media. Reading their stories could help you to feel less alone and understand what to expect.
Why would you need Barbie butt surgery?
Barbie butt surgery is sometimes used to treat colorectal cancer and reduce the risk of it coming back. It may be used if inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has badly impacted the rectum or lower parts of the colon. People who have familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis (AFAP) may also have proctectomy surgery to reduce their cancer risk.
Anyone who has a faecal stoma bag for any reason may also have Barbie butt surgery after their original stoma surgery. Find out more: Why would you need a stoma bag?
This could be because they have decided to keep their stoma permanently instead of having it reversed. The digestive system below the stoma will never be active again so it is not needed for the body to function properly. Removing it can get rid of diseased parts of the colon and stop problems such as infection, bleeding and mucus.
If your rectum needs to be removed but your anus is still functional, you may be given a choice between a Barbie butt (with an ileostomy) and an ileo-anal pouch (also known as a J-pouch, where you can poo out of your anus again). If this is the case, your medical team will help you make the best decision for you.
Does Barbie butt surgery hurt?
You will be under general anaesthetic whilst you have Barbie butt surgery, so you will be asleep and unable to feel any pain. You might be offered a spinal block; it’s up to you if you think you’ll need this. When you wake up, you may have IV paracetamol and/or morphine or other painkillers to help reduce your pain.
You will feel tender while you recover from your proctectomy. You will struggle to sit on your bum immediately afterwards because your perineal (the area between your bum and your genitals) wound can be sore and vulnerable to opening.
As Holly April said: “Choosing to remove my rectum is the best decision I have ever made. Despite the pain I went through initially, I now have no more pain in my back passage. No bleeding, no mucus, no nothing. I also don’t have to worry about my colitis developing into rectal cancer in that area.”
What is the recovery time for Barbie butt surgery?
Everyone’s recovery period is different for Barbie butt surgery because it depends on many factors, including whether you had open or keyhole surgery (this is another question to ask your surgeon).
Likewise, hospital stay duration changes from person to person depending on how well your wound heals and your general health. It is likely to be at least a few days and could be weeks. You may have drains connected to the wound site to remove any excess fluid and prevent infection; this will also impact how long you need to stay in hospital.
You won’t be allowed to stand for a few days (usually about 4 days but this varies) or sit for very long. This is because, due to the location of the wound, it is particularly vulnerable to opening, in which case it will need to be packed. You will probably have a catheter to drain your urine so that you don’t have to get up and go to the toilet, and a drip to keep you hydrated.
When your healthcare team is happy that you don’t need to be monitored, you can go home. You will likely still feel sore and tired. Have someone stay with you to help you. Follow the advice of your doctor in terms of taking painkillers, what you should eat and doing gentle activity. Don’t rush to get back to your normal activities as you are at risk of opening the wound. It will likely take months for you to fully recover from a proctectomy.
Advice for Barbie butt surgery
So what can you do to prepare yourself for Barbie butt surgery? Here are our top tips, inspired by the advice given by other people who have had this procedure:
Before Barbie butt surgery
- Stock up on comfortable clothing, for example by going a few sizes bigger than you normally would for your bottom half.
- Prepare a hospital bag with things to keep you comfortable during your stay such as comfy pyjamas or a nightie, a long charging cable for your phone, a small fan, earplugs, etc.
- Speak to people (medical professionals, people who have had a Barbie butt procedure, family and friends) to gain a good understanding of the surgery, explain your thoughts and feelings and source the support you will need during recovery.
- If you will be having a stoma for the first time, attend appointments with your stoma nurse and familiarise yourself with how to change a stoma bag and the stoma products you will need.
After Barbie butt surgery
- Follow the advice of your medical team regarding sitting (they will give you a special cushion for this), standing, and walking for the first time after proctectomy surgery.
- Be patient and don’t push yourself; you will need lots of rest.
- You may not feel up for showering but you can still feel clean by using wet wipes or no-water shampoo caps.
- Peeing sitting down will be difficult post-surgery so you may benefit from using a Shewee or similar.
- You may want to use sanitary pads/bed pads if you are worried about your wound leaking.
- Your bum cheeks may get sore; you can use Sudocrem to help.
- It is completely normal to feel overwhelmed or down after surgery due to the mental and physical toll it will take on you. Don’t suffer alone; reach out to friends, family, your medical team or support groups. There are links to stoma support charities at the end of this article that may help.
Life with a Barbie butt
- Speak to your doctor and follow their advice in regards to when you will be able to return to driving, working, having sex, partaking in sport, etc.
- Keep an eye out for any signs of infection such as swelling, pain, fluid or bleeding and contact your doctor if you experience these. Your perineal wound is vulnerable to absesses.
- You may want to take a comfy pillow/cushion with you for any period where you’ll be sitting for a long time.
- You may want to avoid sitting in the same position for prolonged periods.
- Get a pregnancy or V-shaped pillow to help you sleep comfortably. You may not find sleeping on your back comfortable, so these can help to keep you on your side.
- Keep the perineal area clean by gently cleansing it. You may wish to moisturise the area, but seek medical advice first.
- Be aware of and speak to your doctor about the effects this surgery can have on nerves relating to sexual function (in males and females).
- Be aware that you won’t be able to have anal sex after Barbie butt surgery. You may need to think about what this means for your sexual relationships or talk about it with your partner.
Useful links
- Panproctocolectomy and ileostomy NHS leaflet
- Dear Nurse: Barbie Butt (Colostomy UK)
- Barbie butt! What to expect! My journey of recovery from proctectomy surgery! (Stoma Warrior blog)
- Living with a stoma (StoCare)
- Stoma problems (StoCare)
The organisations below provide stoma helplines, one-to-one support, support groups and events, private social media pages, information and much more:
- Colostomy UK – including a 24-hour stoma helpline (for anyone with any type of stoma)
- Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Association
- Urostomy Association
- Bladder and Bowel UK
- Bladder and Bowel Community
You may also find these resources helpful:
Conclusion
If you are due to have a Barbie butt operation in the future, or are considering if proctectomy surgery is the best option for you, you are doing the right thing by researching it. Barbie butt surgery sounds daunting but be reassured that it can improve your quality of life and there are many people living fulfilling lives after it.
Although all our articles are written alongside qualified medical professionals, this information is for guidance and does not replace advice given by your healthcare team.
