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.

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

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.

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.

Thank you for the question.

In my opinion, the best time to repair the umbilical hernia is at the same time that you're having a tummy tuck done. At that time, the hernia is easily  exposed and repaired,  negating the need for further surgery. Care must be taken during the performance umbilical hernia repair to avoid compromise of blood flow to the overlying skin.

It would be in your best interest to have these procedures done concomitantly.

Please make sure you are working with a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon.

I hope this helps.

Dear StarDiva,
Be smart and visit with a plastic surgeon as well as a general surgeon. The hernia repair can be done at the same time as the tummy tuck, and if you combine them, you will have a nice external scar. If only a general surgeon is working on you, there is a possibility that you may end up with a scar that could not be fully removed by a later tummy tuck. At least speak with both before proceeding.
Best wishes,
Dr.B

There are many different types of hernia. They can be repaired without changing your excess skin. They can also be repaired with excess skin reduction at the same time. That looks to me like the combo that would help you the most. However, be aware that hernia repair is usually covered by insurance, but tummy tuck is not.

2 different operations for different conditions.
A hernia is an actual pooching of one structure from its normal location into another. As such, we can have hernias of the intestines into the groins, hernias of the stomach into the chest, even hernia of the brain.
You appear to have an umbilical hernia, where a sac of abdominal contents forms alongside the umbilical stalk. This is NOT the same as the muscle separation called a DIASTASIS.
A general surgeon can fix your umbilical hernia thru a midline scar,
BUT, if you wanted the loose, wrinkly, stretch marked skin below the belly button removed, the six pack muscle separation corrected AND the umbilical hernia fixed- ALL of these can be done at the same time as an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) which is done thru a transverse cut.
I hope this was helpful.

The hernia repair is one surgery, tummy tuck is another. Both can be performed at the same time, if you request. That you are being referred for eveluation of the hernia does not imply you get a tummy tuck when the hernia is repaired. 2 surgeons may be necessary - a general surgeon for the hernia repair and a plastic surgeon for the tummy tuck.