Downtime for Umbilical Hernia Repair, and How Bad is Scar? (photo)

I have an umbilical hernia after having 3 kids, the last of which was born in 2008. I also have a diastasis recti that is quite large. Can they do the hernia repair without fixing the diastasis? The hernia has recently gotten bigger. How bad are scars? I am very active in gym and compete in Bodybuilding competitions (bikini division). How soon after surgery can I start lifting again? Do PS typically perform this type of surgery and is it covered by insurance?

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diastasis recti scarring umbilical hernia

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5 Doctor Answers | Asked by HMiller in Texas

Doctor Answers (5)
Community Comments (2)

Umbilical hernia

It is tough to get a good result without simultaneous repair of the umbilical hernis and the diastasis recti.

Downtime for Umbilical Hernia Repair, and How Bad is Scar

Umbilical hernias are occasionally fixed by plastic surgeons, but usually fixed by general surgeons, and they should be covered by insurers. Both of the photos you have posted are in extremes of posing, and none are at rest. Based upon the side view, I would do only a hernia repair. The problem with repairing the diastasis without a tummy tuck is that the skin attached to the rectus muscles remains attached and can "buckle" in the midline. Unless the at rest view... more

Hernia repair

If performed alone, the hernia repair would be done by a board certified general surgeon and would be covered by insurance. Repair of the diastasis is considered cosmetic and would not be covered. Every surgeon has his own postop protocol in terms of resuming activities. I personally think that repairing the hernia without addressing the diastasis is not the way to go but the financial considerations may dictate otherwise to you.

Umbilcal hernia scars

If you need only a repair of the umbilical hernia our experience has been that this is covered by most insurance plans. Some surgeons might use a laparascopic technique, and some open through a small umbilical incision which if well planned will heal very well. A few plastic surgeons will do this type of surgery, many will not unless other cosmetic procedures are involved.

Umbilical hernia and wide separation of abdominal muscles

Thank you for your question and photo. You do show a wide separation and washed out appeaance of your abdominal wall. If you are competing in body building competition, than I suggest repairing the diastesis and the umbilical hernia at the same time. Your semilunar lines (lateral edge of your rectus abdominis muscle) is way too lateral, your oblique muscles are not well defined and your upper abdomen does not have the slight middline depression which is seen in women body builders. The... more

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Comments (2)

HMiller 10 Jan 2013

I had my umbilical hernia surgery, and was promised an innie, but it is still an outie and looks really odd. Can anything be done to help appearance? http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v253/mbrizic/003_zps272e977b.jpg

HMiller 15 Nov 2012

I want to add that I am sticking my stomach out to accentuate my hernia in the above picture. Here is a picture where I'm sucking in, you can see how my belly button sticks out at top. My diastasis was measured by this surgeon 4 years ago and it has shrunk considerably. He said he would repair it for me during my hernia operation. He is not charging me for it. My concern is that my OB did a repair on it after my last c-section and I can actually see the stitches through my skin (or the scar tissue from the repair). So I'm on the fence about whether or not the general surgeon should do the repair or if I should try the tupler technique after I heal from the umbilical hernia repair. Here is another view of my hernia, side view. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v253/mbrizic/026.jpg

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