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Fixing Post Pregnancy Belly After Hernia Repair?

asked 2 years ago by bettyboob83 in laredo tx.
Latest answer by Peter E. Johnson, MD
Question viewed 17,094 times
Tags: abdomen, post-pregnancy

I had my child 4 years ago and was left like this what can I do? No diet or exercise has worked. My belly is hard and I don't know why. What do you recommend? I'm afraid of a Tummy Tuck. I just had a hernia repair surgery 2 weeks ago. How long do I have to wait to get another surgery to fix my tummy? My hernia doctor told me my muscles tore and open and got weak that's why I still look pregnant and bloated.

12 answers to Fixing Post Pregnancy Belly After Hernia Repair?

Tummy tuck vs tummy tuck plus weight loss

Your best results will be from losing weight, then having a tummy tuck. A hard abdomen indicates fat inside the abdomen, which cannot be reached by liposuction. However, tightening of the fascia does help by tightening the deep layer and therefore reducing the abdominal bulge. You can have a full tummy tuck and will see a significant improvement, but this will not give your best results. Your best results will be a combination of a tummy tuck and weight loss.

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

Tummy tuck should wait six months after abdominal surgery or pregnancy

The laxity in the abdomen after pregnancy can have several causes, among which are loss of muscular tone, a stretch of the tissues, and a separation of the sit-up muscles in the abdomen called a diastasis. We see the greatest loss of tone in our patients who have undergone infertility treatments and carry multiple babies. Generally the abdominal tone will adjust itself as well as can be expected by six months so we recommend the repairs and tummy tuck wait at least this time to see the best... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Abdominoplasty or Tummy Tuck for abdominal bulge

An abdominoplasty procedure is the gold standard for improvement of the abdominal bulge in the picture. Patients benefit from having the excess skin and muscle removed as well as tightening of the abdominal muscles and fascia that are stretched after pregnancy or with age.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Weight loss, then consider further surgery

Given the one picture, it is actually difficult to say what is right for you. The most important thing is that surgery is NOT recommended in the near future. You just had a hernia repair 2 weeks ago and need to give your tissues time to heal. I would not even consider surgery for at least 6 months and maybe even up to a year. It also appears that you may have intraabdominal fat (fat that is inside the abdomen, around your organs), which is not removable by a tummy tuck or any other... more

Sirish Maddali, MD
Portland Plastic Surgeon

Try core strengthening with supervision by certified instructor for lax belly

Your surgeon is correct. If surgery is out of the question, try a course of Core strengthening exercise using a Pilates or Yoga technique under the close supervision of a qualified trainer or instructor. Surgery is likely to yield a 7-9 result on a scale of 1-10 whereas non-surgical methods are only likely to yield a result of 2-5. However, exercise is always a good idea and should you decide to proceed with surgery at a later date, it will only enhance the result.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Only a good tummy tuck will do it.

Hi! Your situation is not unusual. In New York, we see an abdominoplasty candidate maybe twice a year who actually looks 6 months pregnant. I recommend waiting 3 months and then having a tummy tuck which will remove the redundant skin and fat and, most important, repair your muscles. but you have to be motivated. It is normal to be a little scared.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

You have a lot of issues

You'll need to wait several months before additional surgery. I see several issues just from the picture. First, you have an incredibly weak abdominal wall. This is often due to several issues including being over weight, intrabdominal fat, lack of appropriate abdominal exercises and genetically poor tissue. If you want to have a safe surgery with a good outcome here is what I recommend. First lose some weight. Don't use fad diets use simple calorie counting. There are many websites... more

Christopher L. Hess, MD
Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

You should wait several months

You can be helped considerably with an abodminoplasty. However, since you just had hernia surgery, the best option is to wait several months for your body to heal from the procedure. For other people considering the procedure, if you have a hernia, it is often possible to have the procedures done at the same time. Since you have already had the hernia repaired, then the best option now is to wait.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Tummy tuck surgery after hernia repair

Hi, I would recommend waiting at least six months, and possibly even a year, prior to undergoing any additional surgery on your abdomen. This will allow all of the swelling from your recent surgery to resolve. It's possible that the firmness you feel in your abdomen is related to the recent surgery, but it may also be fat within the abdomen itself. This is something that would need to be clarified by an examination. If you do decide to seek a consultation with a plastic surgeon, you... more

Nina S. Naidu, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Hernia repair and tummy tuck

Betty, You are correct in being afraid of a tummy tuck 2 weeks after hernia repair. Are you referring to a groin hernia or an abdominal hernia? If it was an abdominal hernia, it is unfortunate that a plastic surgeon was not involved since the repair and a simultaneous tummy tuck can readily be performed in most cases. At any rate, a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon might shed some light on your condition and whether or not it can be improved. Good luck!... more

Kenneth R. Francis, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

You're a candidate for a tummy tuck after weight loss

I agree with Dr Rand. You probably have more of an "apple" shaped figure than a "pear" shape, and the success of a hernia repair and especially a tummy tuck will be very minimal if you still have the abdominal fat. This type of fat also has adverse health consequences and weight loss will not only get you looking better but will imporve your health.

John LoMonaco, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.DrLoMonaco.com

You need to lose some weight

If your abdomen feels "hard" and looks the way it does, it's a safe bet that you have too much fat within your abdominal cavity. This creates pressure from inside and may have contributed to your having a hernia. You should be examined by a plastic surgeon, but I'd advise that you lose about 30 pounds and your abdomen will feel less tight. At that point you could have a tummy tuck and try to tighten the muscles.