I have had 5 kids and I have an umbilical hernia and my stomach muscles are split down the middle. There is a two inch separation. I have some exess fat but not much. I weigh 118 lbs and I am not overweight, but I want my stomach fixed.
I went to a plastic surgeon and he sent me away saying " you don't have enough extra skin for a tummy tuck, and you need to talk to a general surgeon about the hernia and muscle split."
Does that sound right to you plastic surgeons? Is that a standard response in this type of situation or should I get a second opinion?
Getting two opinions for any major surgery is a good idea. From the concerns you describe, you need a tummy tuck to address the separated muscle and umbilical hernia. If you do not have enough skin for a full tummy tuck, you can do a modified tummy tuck and still repair your separated muscles and address your umbilical hernia - depending on how large it is. I would suggest getting a second opinion from a board certified plastic surgeon.
