You can't see the implant, but of course, there are scars. The implant is in my upper left butt cheek-like if you are wearing jeans with pockets its in the area between the top of the pocket and the waistband. I can feel it through my skin/clothes, but you can't see it, there is not a bulge or anything. The scars are a circular, smaller than a dime scar on upper right butt cheek where the external cord for the trial came out and a lateral, 2-2.5" straight scar on upper left butt cheek where actual implant was inserted.
My rochester Mayo GI referred me to a Rochester Mayo surgeon who did the implant-Dr. Chua. They more commonly used by urologists for urinary incontience, so the Medtronic rep told me that if I needed the programming adjusted, I might be able to have a local urologist do that, but I haven't needed to change my programming at all. I don't know the best way to find a local, educated doc since there are few who treat FI anyway, and way fewer who have ever some a SNS implant on someone with a pouch. And I have never seen the surgeon again since I got the implant. I guess I would see if your GI could refer you to someone? Or it looks like Medtronic has a "find a doctor" based on your zip code at the bottom of their page: http://www.medtronic.com/us-en...terstim-therapy.html
I went to Rochester to have the consult with the surgeon, and once I got things sorted with my insurance, I had to go back 2 times-once for the trial surgery and then 2 weeks later for the real thing. Each was was "same day surgery" but they wanted me to stay over night in a hotel each time just in case, so I was close in case there were any issues in the first 24 hours. (I live about 100miles away in Wisconsin)-I had o issues.
Best of luck!