Hernia and Diastasis Recti Repair with Minimally Extra Skin

The surgeon whom I spoke with about the hernia said he will have to cut a hole for the belly button when they lift the skin for the diastasis recti , and then make a new belly button for me.

I don't have more than an inch and a half of extra skin and don't have any fat to cut off. Therefore, I don't want my good stomach skin pulled down unnaturally and a fake hole made. Why can't he use the same belly button hole and just cut off the inch of skin at the bottom?

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abdomen belly button skin diastasis recti extra skin fat hernia incision

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9 Doctor Answers | Asked by Twins mom in great neck

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Hybrid abdominoplasty for full diastasis and hernia repair

Patients with skin looseness above the belly button, or significant overall skin looseness, will typically require a full tummy tuck or some version of it. Patients who only need a minimal amount of skin removed, and no fascia tightened typically benefit from a mini-tummy tuck. The mini tummy tuck is especially suited for patients who need a nice scar revision of their C-section scar overlap. Doing a mini tuck in a patient with fascial looseness all the way above and below the belly... more

Mini tummy tuck can avoid the umbilical scar

For individuals who have a significant diastasis or separation of the sit-up muscles after pregnancy, and only a modest amount of skin laxity, the tummy tuck can be modified to avoid the scar around the belly button. This can as well reduce the tendency to over pull the abdominal skin and produce unnatural contours. The tummy tuck can be altered to leave the umbilicus on the skin as the tunnel in made to tighten the abdominal muscles. The exact location is marked and the umbilicus attached... more

Tummy tucks, twins, muscle issues

As everyone will tell you, there is no way to tell what is best for you without seeing you and examining you. That being said, let's consider your situation. It is very common for women to underestimate the amount of skin that needs to be removed to get a good result from a tummy tuck. And, it is very unusual for a mother of twins to get by without a full tummy tuck. So, it's a pretty good bet that you will need this. This will allow the best repair of your rectus diastasis, repair of any... more

Twins and tummy tucks

While I obviously have not examined you, I would find it very hard to believe that after twins, you need anything less than a full tummy tuck. Just lean forward and see if you don't have a handful of bunchy skin in the lower abdomen. If you do, anything less than a full TT will do. If you aren't sure, get another consultation or 2 with qualified plastic surgeons.

A full abdominoplasty will correct hernia and diastasis without any fake hole.

Hi! 1) There is a lot of misunderstanding about abdominoplasties. Without examining you, I predict you need a "full" tummy tuck. 2) To repair the hernia and the diastasis, the surgeon needs ACCESS. So the skin has to be lifted. Your own belly button is left in its original position. 3) After the repairs, the abdominal skin is pulled down around the belly button, and the excess skin is removed. After twins, you almost certainly have more excess skin than you think, but, of... more

Mini versus full tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)

Certainly this can be performed if you make your request clear to your surgeon. To some degree you are discussing the difference between a full and a mini-tummy tuck or marriage abdominoplasty.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Mini tummy tuck

You can do what you are suggesting but it depends on multiple factors. First, the surgeon needs to be able to get to the areas that need to be corrected, i.e. the hernia and the diastasis recti. Second,the surgeon will need to have the room to do the repairs. Third, when the repairs are done the actual skin excess will be much greater than what you see now. Under these circumstances the surgeon may need to detach the belly button from the surrounding skin to accomplich the task.... more

Sounds like you need another opinion

If you had a child, you have plenty of skin to remove. Our surgery gets rid of the extra skin and moves the belly button -- because all of the skin below it is removed. You have more skin than you think.

Diastasis recti repair with minimally extra skin

Hi LI, I think and him misunderstood one another. There are a LOT of options out there. But they may not apply to you. Not all Tummy Tucks are alike. The procedure BEST suited for you would depend on: - extent of muscle separation (diastasis - which is NOT a hernia) - extent of skin laxity (it MAY look like one inch BUT it may be much more). If you just had a little pooch of extra tummy skin with NO muscle separation - then all you would need is a "mini-" Tummy tuck done as you... more