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Is a Vertical Incision Required for Repair of Diastasis Recti with Umbilical Hernia?

asked 1 year ago by New Jersey1978 in New Jersey
Latest answer by Richard Linderman, MD
Question viewed 2,951 times
Tags: female, 090-109 lbs, 5 ft 0 in to 5 ft 3 in, diastasis recti, hernia, incision

I have diastasis recti and an umbilical hernia that developed post-partum. I am 5'3" and weigh 98 pounds. I am planning abdominoplasty with hernia repair. I saw a surgeon who said that a vertical incision would give the best results for the abdominoplasty because there is not much skin to work wit. Is it possible to correct this without cutting vertically down the abdomen?

17 answers to Is a Vertical Incision Required for Repair of Diastasis Recti with Umbilical Hernia?

Best incision for abdomen with minimal extra skin and umbilical hernia

It is not necessary to have a vertical scar to repair your umbilical hernia. If you undergo a tummy tuck to remove extra skin, the incision will be horizontal. Most plastic surgeons will repair the umbilical hernia at the time of the tummy tuck. You may be a candidate for a limited incision tummy tuck.

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

A board certified plastic surgeon would use tummy tuck incision

This is what a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is for; plication or sewing together of the diastasis (and any hernias) and redraping/resection of the skin and umbilicus to give back the youthful/straight abdomen. One thing to consider is if you are going to have more children...Then you may wish to defer definitive repair until your childbearing is complete. Also, are you having any symptoms from the hernia (pain, hard lumps in hernia that are hard to reduce). That would also h more

Eleanor J. Barone, MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

Vertical incision for abdominoplasty

Scars of abdominoplasty are the result of what you are trying to achieve and this is in part a function of your anatomy. The repair of the diastasis does not require a vertical skin incision because the muscle can be accessed through a more imperceptible horizontal incision. The issue with removal of skin is a bit more involved. With pregnancy, the abdominal skin is stretched centrifugally. A removing skin in one dimension requires a scar at a right-angle to this dimension. That is, to... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Hide your horizontal incision

Looking at your picture, I believe you would be better treated with a standard transverse tummy tuck incision to repair your rectus diastasis. Your excess skin can be removed the the final scar placed in your bathing suit line thus avoiding a long vertical scar. I would urge you to get another opinion from a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery

Richard Linderman, MD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

No vertical scar needed

A vertical scar is not required and should be avoided in rectus repair with umbilical hernia. This procedure can be for through a low bikini incision. Even without a full tummy tuck an endoscopic can be used to assist in the procedure. Unless there is an existing vertical scar i would not use a vertical approach.

Arko Demianczuk, MD
Vancouver Plastic Surgeon

Vertical incision with abdominoplasty

Unless there is something else about your situation that we don't know, most Board Certified plastic surgeons should be able to repair your umbilical hernia, correct the rectus diastasis and remove your loose skin through a horizontal incision in your bikini line. However, it is possible that the surgeon you saw meant that there may be a small vertical scar (between your pubic area and your belly button) in the skin where your belly button used to be after the loose skin is... more

Karol A. Gutowski, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

No Vertical incision Tummy Tuck

I obviously have not examined you but by your picture I would not consider a vertical incision for your abdominoplasty. You would probably end up with standard horizontal incision with a small vertical closure of your old belly button site. Dr. ES

Earl Stephenson Jr., MD, DDS
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Do I need a vertical incision with my tummy tuck?

Looking at your picture, I would guess that you would not need a vertical incision and that you would see very nice improvement with a traditional low transverse abdominal incision. The main reason for the vertical incision is to address significant mid-abdominal laxity that simply cannot be addressed with the traditional incision. That being said, I generally reserve these incisions for my massive weight loss patients who present with not only significant excess skin but... more

Gregory A. Buford, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Repair of diastasis recti and umbilical hernia during abdominopFlasty

Both a diastasis recti and umbilical hernia can be repaired with a standard low transverse tummy tuck incision without a vertical incision. You do, however, have very little excess skin above the umbilicus. Because of this, it may not be possible to completely remove the hole in the skin from where the umbilicus was. When this happens, then a small vertical incision just above the transverse one may be necessary. This is usually very small, quite low and minimally visible.

Robert T. Buchanan, MD
Highlands Plastic Surgeon

A horizontal incision can be used for diastasis and umbilical hernia repair

An umbilical hernia is easily repaired at the time of rectus diastasis repair. This can all be done through a low horizontal incision as with tummy tuck. There is no reason for vertical incision in this setting

Elizabeth Lee, MD
Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

artfulsurgery.com

Tummy tuck and vertical incision

Certainly an umbilical hernia repair can be performed at the same time as an abdominoplasty, but I would not use a vertical incision. An important part is to preserve the blood supply to the umbilical stalk which can be approached from a small vertical incision within the exposed area below the skin and fatty tissue and fixing it from inside.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Vertical incision for tummy tuck

If you were my patient and based on your pictures I would not advise a vertical scar. A modified mini-tummy tuck with diastasis repair and repairing the hernia through the umbilical and lower abdominal incision is all that is necessary. If you are going to have the surgery for the hernia done by a general surgeon at the time of the tummy tuck he/she could probably do it laparoscopically without any incisions other than through the lower abdominal incision. Seek several... more

Steven Schuster, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

A vertical incision is not needed for tummy tuck

Umbilical hernias are often repaired during a tummy tuck, and even if the abdominal skin is only moderately lax, a transverse incision will work just fine. There is no need for a vertical scar at the belly button to repair the hernia, and a mini or short scar tummy tuck may be your best bet. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck with low, short horizontal incision works.

Hi. You do not need an unsightly vertical incision. The diastasis and the hernia can be repaired through a much less conspicuous horizontal scar at the level of your pubic hair. And the scar can be shorter because you do not have much skin to remove. see video

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

No vertical needed

From what I see in the photo, you have PLENTY of skin and would do well with just the horizontal incision. Look at some photos on my web site. I only like to use a Fleur-de-lis when you have an existing vertical scar. In your photo you have the perfect abdomen to fix with an abdominoplasty.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

A Vertical Scar (Fleur de Lis) is NOT Required in the vast majority of Tummy Tucks

Regarding: "Is a Vertical Incision Required for Repair of Diastasis Recti with Umbilical Hernia? I have diastasis recti and an umbilical hernia that developed post-partum. I am 5'3" and weigh 98 pounds. I am planning abdominoplasty with hernia repair. I saw a surgeon who said that a vertical incision would give the best results for the abdominoplasty because there is not much skin to work wit. Is it possible to correct this without cutting vertically down the... more