Could I have liposuction in abdomen if had inguinal hernia that went away?

Dear Nice857602,

It's great that you're thoroughly considering the implications of past health concerns when considering a cosmetic procedure.

An inguinal hernia that appeared during pregnancy and subsequently went away without surgical intervention is not uncommon. The increased intra-abdominal pressure during pregnancy can lead to such hernias, but they can indeed become less prominent or "disappear" after childbirth due to the decrease in pressure. However, the underlying weakness in the abdominal wall that allowed for the hernia might still be present, even if you haven't had symptoms for over a decade.

To address your concerns:

Presence of the Hernia: Just because the hernia isn't causing symptoms or isn't visible doesn't mean the structural weakness is gone. It could still be there, even if it's not currently problematic.

Liposuction and Hernias: It's true that hernias can be a point of concern when considering liposuction. However, it doesn't necessarily mean it's a contraindication. It's more about being cautious and ensuring that the procedure doesn't exacerbate or cause a recurrence of the hernia.

What to Do Next: Before getting liposuction, it would be wise to:

Consult with a surgeon: Meet with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate your abdomen. They'll be able to feel for any hernias or weaknesses in the abdominal wall.
Consider an imaging study: If there's any doubt, a simple imaging test can provide clarity about any existing weaknesses or hernias.
Speak with a general surgeon: If there is any evidence of a hernia or concern, a consultation with a general surgeon familiar with hernia repairs might be valuable.
In essence, while your past hernia may not necessarily prevent you from having liposuction, it's important to take it into account to ensure the safest possible outcome. Being proactive in addressing any potential issues beforehand is a wise approach.

Best wishes in whatever you decide.

Sincerely,

Dr. Katzen

An examination and, if needed, a CT scan can be done to check on the hernia. If it is present, it should be repaired. Then, liposuction in that area is not a problem, or that area may need to be avoided.

You will likely be fine to proceed with liposuction of the abdomen if you had a small inguinal hernia twelve years ago that has not caused any issue. However it is always best to discuss the situation with a board certified plastic surgeon. She/He will advise if further testing or clearance is recommended for you.

Anytime you have a hernia diagnosis, even with or without planning on doing any plastic surgery you should stay on top of it and do the necessary imaging studies or evaluations to check if it actually was a hernia or not. Because any hernia needs to be surgically treated and repaired to avoid any possible complications. And if you are planning on doing a liposuction it’s a must to have a general surgeon evaluation on the hernia first.

the hernia is not an impediment to perform a liposculpture, however, for the patient's peace of mind, an abdominal ultrasound is always suggested.

If you don’t have a symptomatic hernia, and I don’t think it will be an issue, but each plastic surgeon will have their own opinion. There are also other variables to take into consideration to understand if you’re a good candidate for Liposuction or not. On top of that liposuction results very dramatically so provider selection is critical in order to minimize the chance of having disappointment or potentially worse.
I suggest anyone interested in having permanent irreversible body contouring procedures take the vetting process seriously and do so by having multiple in person, consultations before considering scheduling surgery or choosing a provider. during each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before, and after pictures of previous patients who have similar body characteristics to your own. Your plastic surgeon should also know how to examine you to see if there’s any evidence of your inguinal hernias. an experienced plastic surgeon should have no difficulty showing you the before and after pictures of at least 50 previous patients. Being shown a handful of pre-selected images, representing the best results of a providers career is insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results are like in the hands of each provider or how many of these procedures any one provider has actually done.
There’s no correct number of consultations needed to find the right provider. Considering how much variation there is in Liposuction scale and experienced among plastic surgeons, I suggest patients consider having at least five consultations before choosing a provider. Being board-certified and plastic surgery, having years of experience, or an overall good reputation does not mean that somebody has mastered any one single procedure, especially not Liposuction, which is in fact, a much more difficult procedure to do well than most people realize.
Poorly done Liposuction is generally very difficult to improve upon, and patients can potentially be left disfigured from poorly done procedures. I suggest patients be far more selective, and then they may be necessary for this procedure. Understanding your candidacy for Liposuction, and choosing the right provider are the two single most important variables.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD