Need hiatal hernia surgery - does my surgeon need to know I've had a tummy tuck?

You will probably have a scope placed through your belly button and some other locations on the abdomen. Your general surgeon should be told about this.

This information can and should be kept confidential and is only shared between you, the surgeon, and relevant members of his team.

Hello,
This is a great question! It is best to consult with your surgeon who will be doing the surgery, and emphasize that your family does not know about your tummy tuck. HIPAA protects you from this, so your surgeon will not be able to disclose this to your family.
It is always best to be completely transparent with your surgeon about all of your medical history, so that they can anticipate any challenges in the upcoming procedure and explain to you the best possible outcome.
Best,Dr. Tanovic

Thank you for your question.
Your surgeon needs to know all surgeries you have had, and your complete medical history. Having this surgery should not affect your tummy tuck result. Best wishes!

Yes, it is crucial to inform your surgeon about any previous abdominal surgeries, including a tummy tuck, when discussing the need for hiatal hernia surgery. Prior abdominal surgeries can impact the anatomy of the abdominal wall, and the surgeon needs to be aware of this information to plan the procedure effectively.

Having a tummy tuck may have altered the anatomy of the abdominal muscles and the location of the incisions, which could influence the surgeon's approach and technique during the hiatal hernia surgery. Additionally, knowing your complete medical history allows the surgeon to anticipate any potential complications and tailor the procedure to your specific circumstances.

Open and honest communication with your surgeon is essential for a successful surgical outcome. They will use this information to make informed decisions about the surgical approach, minimize risks, and optimize the overall safety and effectiveness of the procedure. If you have any concerns or questions, don't hesitate to discuss them with your surgeon during the consultation process.

Hi, thank you for your question about the necessity of informing your surgeon about a previous tummy tuck before undergoing hiatal hernia repair.
It's crucial to communicate your full medical history, including any previous surgeries like a tummy tuck, to your surgeon. This information is protected under HIPAA laws, ensuring confidentiality and privacy.
During hiatal hernia surgery, the abdomen is often inflated with air for better visualization and access. Knowledge of a prior tummy tuck is essential because:
Difficulty in Port Placement: The scar tissue or alterations made during a tummy tuck might pose challenges in placing ports to inflate the abdomen.
Impact on Abdominal Cavity Inflation: Permanent sutures from the tummy tuck might affect the ability to adequately inflate the abdominal cavity, an essential step in hiatal hernia repair.
Although having had a tummy tuck doesn’t preclude you from undergoing hiatal hernia surgery, it might require your surgeon to make specific adjustments. Full disclosure of your surgical history will enable your surgeon to plan the best approach for your hernia repair, ensuring your safety and optimizing the outcome.
Always prioritize open and honest communication with your healthcare providers. It’s in your best interest for your health and safety.
Wishing you a successful surgery and a smooth recovery.
Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Your surgeon should always have full knowledge of all prior procedures that you have had done. Particularly if the surgery is in the area where they are going to operate. That said, repair of a hiatel hernia would either be done laparoscopically with several small puncture wounds, or would be done open, with a vertical incision. Either way should not interrupt the blood supply to your abdominal skin enough to cause any problems and it should be safe to proceed. Best wishes.

Hello Sammi44!
It is important to be honest with your doctor. We have patients omit or forget to share information from us occasionally and it is not helpful to us as providers or to you as a patient. Your provider should keep your health informaiton confidential.

It is extremely important you share before the hiatal hernia surgery in order your surgeon acknowledge the limitations he may have because of the prior skin tightening and muscle repair.
He will definitely discover while in surgery but it may affect negatively the surgical plan, the approach, even the anesthesia.
You can not hide any meducal information to your surgeon or doctor, because of safety.
Dr. Cárdenas

You should definitely let your surgeon know if you’ve had any abdominal surgery. He’s going to see the scar anyway and want to know what surgery you had. Do t keep it a secret

Hi,
I will always suggest letting any surgeon working on you to know your FULL history, for safety reasons. The abdominal area accumulates a tremendous amount of scar tissue after a TT. This shouldn't complicate your surgery, but it should be shared with the surgeon so he/she is well prepared. You should be able to ask to keep this private, as technically this is your PHI, and nobody else has a right to this except you. Just mention it to your surgeon or pre-op nurse quietly. Good luck with surgery!