Will an umbilical hernia repair affect my results for a tummy tuck?

Question

3 years ago I had an umbilical hernia repair fixed after my last child. They used mesh to fix it. Will this affect my tummy tuck?? I just don’t want it to look weird?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Umbilical hernias are quite common and occur in the setting of a previous surgery, pregnancy, or diastasis recti. We treat umbilical hernias with or without correction of diastasis recti using a combination approach that corrects redundant skin in the lower abdomen and around the belly button. If there is a lot of skin, we would use a tummy tuck scar whereas smaller corrections can be performed using just the belly button incision which is well hidden inside your belly button.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

A TT would not be contraindicated after an umbilical hernia repair with mesh.  The TT would not disturb the umbilical wall where the repair was performed or impact your results.Kenneth Hughes, MD, ABPS Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear kabv1109,
it probably won't interfere with your tummy tuck but if you get a full tummy tuck, which includes moving of your belly button, you might have some healing issues due to changed blood flow. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your excellent question.  Although the repair will not impact your surgical results it could have compromised blood flow to your belly button which can cause wound healing difficulties.  Be sure to address this with your surgeon during your consultation.  Best wishes.

Ronald Friedman, MD · Answer

During a full tummy tuck, an incision is made all the way around the belly button.  Therefore, the only blood flow to the belly button comes from its deep attachment to the abdominal wall.  During umbilical hernia repair, that deep attachment may be cut by the operating surgeon.  Therefore, an old operative note from the umbilical hernia repair (to document whether the deep attachments have been cut) would be very helpful.  If the deep attachments are intact, then the hernia repair will have no impact on your tummy tuck results.  If the deep attachments have been cut, then you are at risk of compromised blood flow to the belly button; if this occurs, your surgeon may have to design a new belly button for you during your tummy tuck.

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

I think its ideal for patients to have them repaired at the same time as the tummy tuck (if one was planned) with floating of the belly button down as far as possible and with a subsequent reconstruction later to create a more aesthetic belly button than what you would get with a tummy tuck with umbilical transposition.  But not many surgeons are familiar with this technique.

Will an umbilical hernia repair affect my results for a tummy tuck?

Answers (6)

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