How Different is Hernia Repair from a Tummy Tuck?

Hernia repair addresses an opening that has occurred in the fascia or the covering of the rectus (six pack) muscles. It will simply close up the hole. It does not remove any excess skin or tighten the muscles.
You can get a combined hernia repair and abdominoplasty and have it all done in one surgery. Ofcourse, the hernia repair will be covered by your health insurance but the tummy tuck would be a cosmetic cost. You can find a plastic surgeon that may feel comfortable taking care of both or you may need to find a general surgeon to deal with the hernia and a plastic surgeon to perform the tummy tuck.
Just make sure your plastic surgeon is board certified by the american board of plastic surgery. There are some general surgeons out there that will tell you that they can do both........I highly advised against that.
GOOD LUCK.

Hernia repair targets the hernia, while a tummy tuck targets loose skin, excess fat and abdominal muscle separation. Therefore, with a hernia repair alone, you may still be left with those aesthetic issues. If you are concerned about your appearance as well as the hernia, consider combining the two procedures.

Thank you for your question regarding the difference between hernia repair and a tummy tuck. While both surgeries address issues in the abdominal area, they have different goals and outcomes.

A hernia repair is focused on fixing the hernia, which is when an organ or tissue pushes through a weak spot in the abdominal wall. The surgeon will close the gap, often reinforcing the area with mesh. The purpose is to strengthen the abdominal wall and prevent complications from the hernia.

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), however, is a cosmetic procedure that removes excess skin and fat and tightens the abdominal muscles. The belly button is also repositioned for a flatter, more toned appearance.

Here’s how they differ:

Hernia repair: Focuses on fixing the weakened area of the abdominal wall but doesn't typically remove excess skin or fat.
Tummy tuck: Removes excess skin, tightens the muscles, and improves abdominal contour. The belly button is repositioned through an incision.
If you're considering addressing both the hernia and excess skin, I recommend consulting with a plastic surgeon who is comfortable performing both procedures together. This approach is common, and I routinely fix the hernia first, then proceed with the tummy tuck. By doing both at once, you can achieve a stronger abdominal wall and a more contoured appearance.

By examining your photos, it looks like you'll get excellent results if you combine these procedures, giving you both functional and aesthetic improvements in one surgery.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Furthermore, the scar for a larger hernia such as your may be up-and-down (above and below the belly button.) That depends on the surgeon, however.
My recommendation is to fix the hernia at the time of tummy tuck through a more hidden bikini-line incision. An option is to seek a surgeon certified in general and plastic surgery, who can do both operations at once.

A hernia repair and a tummy tuck are two different procedures but can be done together. For many hernia repairs, the surgeon will make an incision in the middle of the abdomen or around the belly button depending on the size of the hernia. Many people do not want this visible scar. It is common for yoru general surgeon to work with a plastic surgeon so that the plastic surgeon can use a tummy tuck incision (hidden below the panty line) to gain exposure to the hernia.This way, the hernia can be repaired with a hidden incision. It is also possible for the plastic surgeon to remove excess skin at the same time, making this a tummy tuck. Keep in mind that having this hidden incision or having a tummy tuck at the same time, is above and beyond what is medically necessary for the hernia repair and you may have to pay out-of-pocket for this added service.
This combination procedure is routinely done. If you are interested you should seek a consultation from a plastic surgeon in your area.
Regards,
M. Schulman M.D.