I had hernia and diastasis repair 3 months ago and my stomach looks just as distended, if not worse, than before surgery. PS said it could be that the fascia has come apart, that I have a lot of laxity; I’ve had 2 pregnancies/c sections, and back surgery 4 years ago where they used an anterior approach - so there has been a lot of disruption to the abdomen. Is there any way for my condition to improve? Will I need another surgery?
Answer: Abdo wall laxity I was always taught in exams, more mistakes are made by not reading the question carefully than by not knowing the answer. 1. I (and other thinking surgeons the world over) need to see decent before and after photos before we will accept your assertion 'just as distended, if not worse'. I'm not seeing a peri umbilical or lower abdo scar, so I'm presuming your 'hernia and diastasis repair' was done through the visible paramedian incision?? That was reusing the scar from your back surgery? By a general surgeon not a plastic surgeon? If all these guesses are correct, then I believe you have probably had a typical, not so thorough, general surgery style so called 'repair', and you need a full or mini tummy tuck and a proper, full length divarication repair. Get an ultrasound or other imaging to see just how much your recti are currently separated. 2. Dr Robert Frank's point, that divarication repair only addresses horizontal laxity of the recti, and not vertical laxity, is important. Presuming your repair is actually full length, and is not dehisced, now, 3 months after surgery, you can seriously start work (outs) on your recti (or core muscles in the vernacular) to strengthen + shorten them in the vertical plane. I hope this has been helpful, and good luck. PS, if I'm correct about my guesses in 1., your belly button is at high risk of dying (necrosis) if you now have a full tummy tuck.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
Answer: Abdo wall laxity I was always taught in exams, more mistakes are made by not reading the question carefully than by not knowing the answer. 1. I (and other thinking surgeons the world over) need to see decent before and after photos before we will accept your assertion 'just as distended, if not worse'. I'm not seeing a peri umbilical or lower abdo scar, so I'm presuming your 'hernia and diastasis repair' was done through the visible paramedian incision?? That was reusing the scar from your back surgery? By a general surgeon not a plastic surgeon? If all these guesses are correct, then I believe you have probably had a typical, not so thorough, general surgery style so called 'repair', and you need a full or mini tummy tuck and a proper, full length divarication repair. Get an ultrasound or other imaging to see just how much your recti are currently separated. 2. Dr Robert Frank's point, that divarication repair only addresses horizontal laxity of the recti, and not vertical laxity, is important. Presuming your repair is actually full length, and is not dehisced, now, 3 months after surgery, you can seriously start work (outs) on your recti (or core muscles in the vernacular) to strengthen + shorten them in the vertical plane. I hope this has been helpful, and good luck. PS, if I'm correct about my guesses in 1., your belly button is at high risk of dying (necrosis) if you now have a full tummy tuck.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
Answer: Tummy tuck candidate Dear ChWchester, Based on your photos, you look like a good candidate for a TT. Full tummy tuck should tighten your abdominal muscles and remove the excess skin. I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon because 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
Helpful
Answer: Tummy tuck candidate Dear ChWchester, Based on your photos, you look like a good candidate for a TT. Full tummy tuck should tighten your abdominal muscles and remove the excess skin. I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon because 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
Helpful
July 12, 2019
Answer: Tummy tuck / Lipo Thank you for your question. Based on your photos you will achieve your body goal with a full tummy tuck combined with intense liposuction including abdomen, waist, laterals and upper and lower back to improve your body contour and get better curves, especially in your waist area. Kind regards,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-
Helpful
July 12, 2019
Answer: Tummy tuck / Lipo Thank you for your question. Based on your photos you will achieve your body goal with a full tummy tuck combined with intense liposuction including abdomen, waist, laterals and upper and lower back to improve your body contour and get better curves, especially in your waist area. Kind regards,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-
Helpful
July 12, 2019
Answer: Can abdominal fascia laxity be repaired? Thanks for your question. You appear to be a good candidate for a tummy tuck. Tummy tuck, also know as abdominoplasty, is a procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen and to restore the weakened abdominal wall, giving a firmer and smoother appearance. We nearly always add liposuction to our tummy tucks to sculpt the body 360 degrees to achieve an ideal feminine figure. Tummy tuck is a very powerful technique in the right hands, and can have dramatic results if done correctly. You definitely have to choose your surgeon correctly and make sure that he/she has the training and experience to meet your goals with absolute safety. Don’t settle for less than a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with specialized expertise in this procedure.
Helpful
July 12, 2019
Answer: Can abdominal fascia laxity be repaired? Thanks for your question. You appear to be a good candidate for a tummy tuck. Tummy tuck, also know as abdominoplasty, is a procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen and to restore the weakened abdominal wall, giving a firmer and smoother appearance. We nearly always add liposuction to our tummy tucks to sculpt the body 360 degrees to achieve an ideal feminine figure. Tummy tuck is a very powerful technique in the right hands, and can have dramatic results if done correctly. You definitely have to choose your surgeon correctly and make sure that he/she has the training and experience to meet your goals with absolute safety. Don’t settle for less than a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with specialized expertise in this procedure.
Helpful
July 6, 2019
Answer: Can abdominal fascia laxity be repaired? Thank you for your question. It appears that your abdominal fascia laxity / hernia was repaired through the vertical scar on your stomach. I do not see any signs of a full tummy tuck procedure. If that is the case you will need a Full Abdominoplasty with repair of the fascia. Occasionally a mesh may need to be used. Please find an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon near you who can examine you and help you with your concerns. All The Best !
Helpful
July 6, 2019
Answer: Can abdominal fascia laxity be repaired? Thank you for your question. It appears that your abdominal fascia laxity / hernia was repaired through the vertical scar on your stomach. I do not see any signs of a full tummy tuck procedure. If that is the case you will need a Full Abdominoplasty with repair of the fascia. Occasionally a mesh may need to be used. Please find an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon near you who can examine you and help you with your concerns. All The Best !
Helpful