How long does it take to heal after component separation with mesh repair?

Question

I had surgery on 7/07/17 to repair an incisional hernia. I'm back to exercising and normal routine but my stomach looks like I'm 4 months pregnant. Sometimes throughout the day it feels tight and bigger ( I'm a teacher so I'm on my feet all day). My stomach was flat except for the huge hernia that developed from a DIEP flap surgery, Should I be concerned that it hasn't gone back flat?

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

Hello,Patients are typically healed within 6 weeks of surgery and residual swelling in the abdomen resolves between 4-6 months post op. I recommend that you visit your operating surgeon with questions about your procedure, or book a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon if you wish to talk about options for diastasis rectus repair and tummy tuck.All the best

John Paul Tutela, MD · Answer

Thanks so much for reaching out. Your healing should be all done after this operation at this point. Sometimes there is some laxity in the wall of the abdomen after component separation and release, speak to your surgeon about the details of your operation and what might be done to remedy this.I hope this helps :-)

Justin P. Martin, MD, FACS · Answer

You should be completely healed by this point, as healing time is typically 6-8 weeks after surgery.  It sounds like you might have an abdominal bulge, not a hernia, which results from an area of weakness in the abdominal wall where the repair was done.  Its impossible to say without examining you, so I would recommend that you follow up with your surgeon to have your concerns addressed.

Richard Mark Winters, MD · Answer

Fairly safe to say that at four months you are ‘healed.’....technically, a DIEP flap is designed and executed to preserve your abdominal musculature and as such, ‘huge’ hernias are unusual....furthermore, a ‘true component separation’ isn’t typically necessary and often simply a term used rather than the operation actually performed....consult your surgeon and try to get some answers...a surgeon with extensive general surgery and plastic surgery training and experience should be able to give you some satisfactionGood luck

How long does it take to heal after component separation with mesh repair?

Answers (4)

Answer: 4 months out...

Answer: 4 months out...

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How long does it take to heal after component separation with mesh repair?

Answers (4)

Answer: 4 months out...

Answer: 4 months out...

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.