Tummy Tuck: Q&A
Ask a QuestionMore Questions About Whether an Obese Person W/ history of Abdominal Surgeries Can Have an Abdominoplasty?
Last weekend I went to the ER as my abdomen appeared to shift alot in a short period of time. I didn't want to take any chances, given my hx. They did a ct scan, which revealed a large ventral hernia in my lower left abdomen. I forgot to post that my weight is around 360-370. Is it still possible to have this surgery safely? I would think it would be best to fix this now, rather than wait for an emergency. The md who did last year's surgery won't do it again because of my weight. Help!
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11 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
dianajune
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Abdominoplasty in the obese patient
The thicker the fat layer in the patient the greater the chance of having a surgical complication. Healling issues, infections, fluid collections and other issues are much more prevelant in the obese patient. My phylosophy is that surgery should not be a substitute for diet and exercise.
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Abdominoplasty is high risk for complications and failure in obese patients
Hi there-
While I empathize with your problems, it would be irresponsible for any surgeon to recommend abdominoplasty to you.
Let me say that another way- even if you found someone willing to do a tummy tuck on you, and even if they were willing to do it for free, the best thing you could do would be to run away from them as fast as you can...
The reason you are not having success finding one of us eager to do a tummy tuck on you is because the facts are that it would be...
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Please don't consider a tummy tuck, even if you find someone who will do this. You need bariatric surgery.
If your health is deemed appropriate for elective tummy tuck surgery, then you should absolutely consider bariatric surgery first. You are morbidly obese, and your general health is at risk. You are not presently a candidate for cosmetic surgery, but can certainly become so after massive weight loss.
Others have been more oblique in stating this, but abdominoplasty is not a weight loss operation, and even hernia repair, which could become urgent or necessary, is potentially dangerous and...
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Ventral hernia and tummy tuck in the obese patient
If your hernia is symptomatic, then it may require repair. However, given your weight, you should consider a weight loss program. I would not consider you a candidate for abdominoplasty at this time.
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Abdominoplasty and ventral hernia repair in obese patients
Based on the issues you've raised (obesity, recurrent ventral hernia) - I think its important to get the root cause of your problem addressed first : your obesity. Weight and obesity have a propensity to cause ventral hernia and contribute to their recurrence once repaired. Consider losing a substantial amount of weight through diet, exercise and/or bariatric surgery. See if you primary care physician can refer you to a good medical weight loss program.
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Overweight limit to any concomitant surgery/ el sobre peso limta cualquier cirugia adicional a la abdominal
You only should correct specifically this herniae in this moment perhaps with a marlex net, and forget any another kind of surgery by the moment .up you get your normal weight.
tu requieres corregirte la hernia ahora exclusivamente quiza hasta con una red de marlex y hasta que no estes en tu peso normal pensar en otro tipo de procedimiento
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Large ventral hernia. Safe to perform tummy tuck?
Dear dianajune,
I would advise that you consult with an experienced hernia surgeon (general surgeon) to fix your recurrent ventral hernia prior to abdominoplasty. Occasionally, the general surgeon will illicit the help of a plastic surgeon to design flaps of abdominal muscle to help close the hernia. Unfortunately, the surgical exposure required for the hernia repair can cut off blood supply to the skin that is necessary for proper healing after abdominoplasty. Given...
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Tummy tuck with a large abdominal hernia
Sometimes the risk is just too much to consider tummy tuck a safe bet. With the large ventral hernia which is recurrent and even your general surgeon is reluctant to repair given your weight is a big red flag. First things first, weight loss, better health, fix the hernia, and tummy tuck as the last step.
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Safety of TT with large hernia repair.
I would have to pass on the analysis of risks and benefit evaluation to an experienced hernia surgeon.
Not treating this has risks of the complication of surgery--strangulation, and addressing that complication is a much more serious issue than fixing the hernia in an elective setting. As you already know from your own experience, fixing the hernia has no guarantee of success.
Fixing this large a hernia is already a big deal operation, and adding a tummy tuck to that adds...
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Obesity and Abdominal surgery
I didn't see your original post but I have some things to suggest.
It would be the domain of the general surgeon to determine timing and technique of hernia repair, in consultation with you.
One of the problems is that with all that intra-abdominal weight, the success of surgical repair of hernia is severely compromised- high risk of recurrence.
I don't know your height, BMI, or other important health issues. You may want to consult...
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These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.
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