Thank you for your email. You mentioned in your brief inquiry that you have been "weak" since your repair, which was about eight years ago. I'm not sure if you mean that you have not focused on strengthening your abdominal muscles since that time, or you mean that you have experienced some other systemic weakness or fatigue. In general, a surgical repair of a ventral hernia that long ago, if successful, should allow you to resume all levels of activity including abdominal crunches, sit ups, and the most strenuous of work out regimens. This is not necessarily a suggestion that you do so, and before undertaking such activity, I would recommend a re-evaluation by your surgeon, or, if that is not possible, any other board certified plastic surgeon or general surgeon familiar and experienced with ventral hernia repair to confirm that your repair is in tact and well healed, as well as at least one session with a certified personal trainer to review your work out and exercise regimen and allow them to advise you as to what regimen is best for you. Best of luck to you.
