Can my incisional hernia be corrected when having a tummy tuck?

Hello and thank you for your question.
Many plastic surgeons will repair a hernia along with a tummy tuck. You would need to check with yours/ If not a general surgeon can repair it for you prior to your tummy tuck. Good luck!

Hi yummymummy10,
A hernia is a gap in the muscle fascia (the strong layer of the abdomen), allowing your intra-abdominal contents to come through and lie under the skin/subcutaneous tissue. This is different than a bulge, where the abdominal fascia is weak but still intact.
An initial exam can determine which you have, and can determine whether a CT scan is needed prior to surgery. If your exam is unclear, the CT scan can help to determine which problem you have.
If you have a true incisional hernia (eg your intestines or intra-abdominal contents are in the subcutaneous space), it's best to know in advance--where your surgery is performed (eg an ambulatory surgery center vs. a hospital setting) might change based on this knowledge. In addition, in the setting of an incisional hernia, your plastic surgeon may refer you to a general surgeon to discuss the best timing and next steps.
Hope this helps.
Best,Christopher Pannucci MD MSBoard Certified Plastic SurgeonPlastic Surgery NorthwestSpokane, Washington

At the time of your tummy tuck, it is possible to correct the incisional hernia. You do not need 2 separate operations. I routinely use mesh with tummy tucks if you are not planning future pregnancies. The mesh creates a more hourglass figure by compressing the abdominal wall resulting in early satiety and helps maintain a reduced weight.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Dear yummymummy10,
I understand your concern. It is best however that you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to determine whether you can have several aesthetic surgeries in one session, as this would depend on various factors including but not limited to your general health condition, the type of anesthesia that will be used, and the type of surgeries that will be performed among others.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

hi dear, yes, the Scar will disappear, because it will be cut off with the tummy tuck incision.

please keep in mind, the tummy tuck is a hip to hip scar, with muscle repair.

Hello yummymummy10,
Many surgeons do combine the hernia repair with tummy tuck. So its possible together. Please consult a board certified plastic surgeon for detailed examination of your hernia.
Hope this helps. Thanks for your query here.

The repair of your hernia can be done at the same time as tummy tuck, its common for us to reapair umbilical hernias and others while TT.Better to have a good preop assesment

There is no reason why it can not be treated at the same time.
Consult with a recognised plastic surgeon. They should be able to repair it.

Most simple and smaller midline hernias are automatically corrected through the muscle tightening aspect of a full tummy tuck.

Sometimes plastic surgeons make an extra effort and place a few additional sutures or a piece of mesh to reinforce The hernia repair.

Since the repair of incisional hernia’s are generally covered by medical insurance this can potentially serve as an insurance coverage benefit potentially reducing some of the facility fee for a combined cosmetic and insurance-based procedure.
As always I recommend patients have multiple in person consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons to get a quality assessment and better understanding of what can and cannot be accomplished.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD