If getting lipo on stomach with a small umbilical hernia, does hernia have to be fixed before liopsuction?

Many times there is a large amount of fat present around the umbilicus. If liposuction is performed, it is possible to injury the present hernia and cause a severe complication. For that reason, a hernia repair should be performed simultaneously or before the liposuction is done.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Depending upon the size, location, and type of hernia and your current health, the hernia repair can take place before or during lipo. If it is small, the board certified PS can usually work around it. Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to determine the best treatment for your issue.

Dear face64it,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Generally speaking, it is possible to get a liposuction with a small umbilical hernia. 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

for safety the hernia can be fixed at the same time. you can still do liposuction with a hernia but its more dangerous.

my whole practice is doing lipoabdominoplasty, or at least liposuction with internal heating (which is not the gold standard for skin tightening with body contouring).

the smaller you are before liposuction the more contouring you can get from the procedure. most of my liposuction patients get pre and post surgical optimization with hormonal therapy (see link to help boost their weight loss before surgery and help them heal after).

You need a formal evaluation by an expert in body shaping and contouring to determine what is best.  Traditional liposuction awake and smart liposuction are old methods and do very poorly for tightening skin or significant skin tightening or contouring.  Small problem areas can be improved slightly by these methods.  The best in body contouring not only removes fat with energy devices like VASER ultrasound but also internally heat the skin with radio-frequency devices such as J PLASMA/RENUVION, InMode BodyTite, ThermiRF to heat the under surface of the skin and tighten it at the same time as fat removal. These combinations are called 4D HIDEF VASER contouring and can only be done by a well . trained body contouring specialist. At the same time fat should be harvested, PRP and stem cells added and injected into muscles or indentations/cellulite to get body shaping and contouring.  This is known as a Brazilian butt lift when you inject the fat to the buttock for contouring and lifting, but fat can also be used in areas such as the chest/breast, arms/shoulders, calves and face.  Cellulite should also be treated with cellfina, sculptra, subcision and/or fillers such as bellafill, renuva synthetic fat, or sculptra.  If skin is very loose before surgery then it will need to be removed such as lower abdominal skin (tummy tuck/abdominoplasty), breast skin (breast lift), arm skin (brachioplasty).  Overall you need a full assessment, but simple liposuction alone will not tighten skin and needs a combination of various methods -- fat removal, skin tightening, defining, fat grafting, skin removal -- to get the best in body contouring and body sculpting.  Dr. Emer.

I appreciate your concerns, and liposuction may be able to be performed during the presence of an umbilical hernia if it is small.
One of the first things I look for when examining a patient who desires abdominal liposuction is hernia formation, because if a hernia is not detected, serious injury can be occur doing liposuction. However if your hernia is small, and your surgeon is aware of it, then the procedure can be performed safely by an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon. If it is large, it is better to get it fixed before liposuction, because it will be even be more apparent, noticeable and unattractive after liposuction. Consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area to assess your particular situation. Good luck.

Good afternoon! If the hernia is small, liposuction can be performed but the best thing I recommend is to treat the hernia before liposuction within 5 to 7 months so that you would undergo surgery with minor risks.
luck

If you have a small umbilical hernia, you can still have liposuction but special care needs to be done to avoid the area around the belly button. It is best to have the hernia fixed 6 months prior to your liposuction if you would like to have lower risk liposuction. Large or uncomfortable hernias should definitely be fixed before the liposuction. Hope this helps!

Johnson C. Lee, MD
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

You are encouraged to take care of the umbilical hernia before liposuction to reduce risk. A Skype or FaceTime consultation with a VASER specialist will help you get an accurate recommendation and pricing.

Respectfully,
Arian Mowlavi MD, FACS
Realself 100 Hall of Fame Inductee

You are correct that plastic surgeons will have various opinions. What do you state is a small hernia may also be somewhat subjective.

Personally I’m not much bothered by small umbilical hernia’s when it comes to doing Liposuction. I just am a little more cautious around anatomy at the belly button. That said I know other surgeons who often asked for patients to get umbilical hernia repaired prior to Liposuction.

The reason for doing so as to minimize the chance of intra abdominal injury which can potentially be fatal.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

Thank you for the question and I would speak to my surgeon about fixing the hernia at the time of your liposuction. Unless it is very large though it should not present a problem for your surgeon

Dr Corbin