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What Risks Come with a Skinny Person Having a Full Tummy Tuck to Correct Umbilical Hernia?

asked 9 months ago by Scared mum in Gold Coast Qld Australia
Latest answer by Alan Engler, MD
Question viewed 414 times
Tags: female, risk, skinny, umbilical hernia

I am 5 foot 7 and weigh 120lb and have a small diastasis with a tiny umbilical hernia. My tummy is dead flat but the skin above the belly button is very wrinkly. My PS has suggested a full tummy tuck with MR however I have read on this site that thin people seem to have problems with breathing and more swelling after this procedure. Is this true? I am concerned that I am undergoing a major operation for not much of a gain and maybe a lot of complications.

10 answers to What Risks Come with a Skinny Person Having a Full Tummy Tuck to Correct Umbilical Hernia?

+3

More Problems for Thin Patients with a Tummy Tuck?

Dear Scared Mum, I am not sure where you read that thinner patients have more problems such as increased swelling or more shortness of breath when compared to heavy, fuller patients but I would suggest the opposite is more likely. Usually it is the heavier and thicker patient who has more swelling after a tummy tuck and with the increased tightening to their abdomen, they can also have increased shortness of breath. From your description, it sounds like you have a number of... more
Herluf G. Lund, Jr, MD

Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon

www.stlcosmeticsurgery.com

+2

Tummy Tuck - What Risks Come with a Skinny Person Having a Full Tummy Tuck to Correct Umbilical Hernia?

I'm not sure that there are any increased risks in a skinny person undergoing this procedure. If anything, unusually heavy patients may be at increased risk (of a number of potential complications). But there are other issues. First, you can, of course, have the umbilical hernia repaired without any other surgery, including a tummy tuck. Second, you say you have an excess of skin relatively high (above and around the BB) but you don't say whether you also have... more
Alan Engler, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+2

Tummy Tuck for Skinny Patient?

Thank you for the question. It is difficult to give you accurate advice without pictures or physical examination. Generally speaking if a patient has the anatomy you describe the tummy tuck procedure is the best way to go. Planning of the incision line is extremely important to ensure tension free closure. You may also need a short vertical incision at the midline of the transverse tummy tuck incision (previous umbilical opening). I hope this helps. more
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

+2

Risks of a skinny woman having a tummy tuck.....

I have never had a patient complain of difficulty breathing after tummytuck or more swelling than anyone else. I perform Tummy tucks on thin women all of the time. Usually this can be performed with a low scar and without a vertical scar especially if you have wrinkling above your umbilicus. As far as the gain, you will gain the repair of your hernia, as well as the tightening of your skin and possible of your muscles if you need it. Fortunately, complications are rare,... more
Daniel P. Markmann, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

DiscoverTheBeauty.com

+2

What Risks Come w/ a Skinny Person Having a Full Tummy Tuck to Correct Umbilical Hernia?

A full tummy tuck can fix your hernia and pull the skin tight to get rid of the wrinkling and I have some patients that just don’t need MR and you may be one of them. I don’t think there is any more risk for you in having MR, but it does add to your recovery. And in thin women without much skin overhang, you may end up with a slightly flat belly button after and a small vertical incision just above your pubic bone, where your old belly button was.
John J. Corey, MD

Phoenix Plastic Surgeon
+2

Tummy tuck in thin patients

There may be several problems for you: the hernia repair may be fixed but the umbilicus very flat is there is not much fat the hernia can be fixed through the umbilical incision the excess skin may not move far enough to allow a low placed incision or will require a verticle incision in the lower abdomen you need to consider these trade-offs
Jed H. Horowitz, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+2

Thinner Patients do not have increased risks with Tummy Tuck

Hi there- I have never seen, read, or heard anything that would make me think thinner patients experience more of anything untoward after a tummy tuck than less thin patients do. If you and your surgeon believe that is the procedure that will give you the best outcome, this should not be a reason you proceed in any other fashion.
Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

+2

What Risks Come with a Skinny Person Having a Full Tummy Tuck to Correct Umbilical Hernia?

A Full Tummy Tuck is usually done to correct the excess skin above the belly button, the stretched and split tummy muscle resulting in a protuberance ("The Pooch") and the sagging of the Mons pubis seen after pregnancy. If you were never pregnant , you probably would not need a muscle repair. However, if you were pregnant and especially if you were pregnant several times and/or were pregnant with a large baby there is little chance that your muscles were not stretched and split in... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Do I need a muscle repair?

There are three elements to be considered in any tummy tuck: 1. the excess skin - reshaping it to look good. 2. the distribution of fat - often adjunctive liposuction is necessary to create an excellent contour and 3. the post pregnancy space between the rectus muscles, called a divarication. Some tummies need all 3 to be addressed, some 2 and some 1. If your tummy is genuinely flat with no bulge above or below the belly button, you are unlikely to need a muscle repair. ... more
Howard Webster, MBBS, MBA

Melbourne Plastic Surgeon

www.arcplasticsurgery.com.au

+1

Risk of TT for ideal body

The risk and complications might result from TT for thin patients usually are much less than those overwight or obese patients in general. I am not really aware of the risk you mentioned that are related to breathing issues in thin patiens, I dont think its right. The decision to do the TT comes after a thorugh assessment, however with your describtion, the TT seems to be too advanced choice for your expecation, trading the wrinkles and mild diastasis for the low abdominal scar and other... more
Fatema S. Alsubhi, MD, SSC-plast

UAE Plastic Surgeon

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