Getting a tummy tuck and previously had an umbilical hernia repair with mesh, will this affect my results? (photo)

Thank you for your question regarding undergoing a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty with a previous hernia repair around your belly button (umbilical hernia repair) with mesh. First, you must understand the hernia. A hernia is a defect in the anterior abdominal wall. A defect is a hole and allows the escape of anatomy through that hole. Small intestine or peritoneal fat can escape through the hole. This is what happens with a hernia. To correct a hernia, the defect is closed. This can be closed with a permanent suture or mesh. When you have an umbilical hernia, there is a defect around the belly button or umbilicus. To repair this defect, mesh can either be placed above the rectus muscle or below the rectus muscle. When it is placed above the rectus muscle, this is just underneath the fat of the abdominal wall. When it's placed below the muscle, it is placed between the intestine and the rectus muscle. During an abdominoplasty, the muscle is sutured closed to correct rectus diastasis. During a tummy tuck, only the part of the rectus muscle just underneath the fat is exposed. Therefore, if the mesh is on top of the muscle, during a tummy tuck the mesh is directly seen. If, however, the mesh is placed underneath the muscle, the mesh is not seen. Therefore, if the mesh is underneath the muscle, your plastic surgeon should have no problem performing a tummy tuck with muscle plication. If, however, the mesh is on top of the muscle, your plastic surgeon may have to either leave the mesh in place and not repair the muscle, repair the muscle and remove the mesh, or replace the mesh. Therefore, what happens to the mesh completely depends on the position of the mesh. I would suggest you provide the operative note of your umbilical hernia to your plastic surgeon so that your surgeon knows your anatomy before surgery. I hope this helps to answer your question regarding undergoing a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty with a previous hernia repair around your belly button (umbilical hernia repair) with mesh.

Sincerely, Dr. Katzen.
(“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and ​member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

It should be ok but there is a possibility of wound issues since the skin was previously manipulated. This a great issue to bring up with your surgeon prior to surgery so all your questions can be adequately answered.

Thank you for your question. I recommend you a Tummy Tuck to get a flat abdomen and waist and back Liposculpture, getting better curves especially in the waist, improving your body contour.

Also, I recommend you pubic lift and liposuction in this area.


Kind regards,
Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-