Full tummy tuck required to fix Diastasis Recti and Umbilical Hernia or Mini TT/other surgery? (Photo)

Dear katiekolaYou can have the entire diastasis and hernia repaired through a low short incision, about the size of a C-section scar, with or without floating your umbilicus. You do appear to have great skin tone and likely do not need skin excision, you might choose to have a little sculpting with liposuction at same time. Look for experienced and board certified plastic surgeon. See more than one consult so you can make a well informed decision.

Thanks for your question. You
are in a very difficult position. You do not seem to have enough upper
abdominal skin laxity for a full tummy tuck yet you have a large umbilical hernia which
when fixed will result in excess skin around the belly button area. One alternative is a
modified tummy tuck which involves leaving a vertical scar. This will accomplish
appropriate exposure for the muscle and hernia repair as well as optimal
tightening of the skin. Hope this helps,Dr. JSB

If you are happy with the appearance of your tummy (I agree, the overall shape and skin of your tummy is good), then pursue a hernia repair. Ask the general surgeon where the scar will be, best if hidden within the inner upper contour of the umbilicus so it will not be seen. Good luck and thanks for the inquiry.

You can likely get the hernia repaired along with the diastasis while removing skin at the same time.  The minitummy tuck is rarely the best option.   Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

With the size of the hernia I see in the picture, you may not be happy with the appearance of the abdomen without a diastasis repair also. This can be done with a mini tummy tuck approach using a technique called umbilical float, which means the belly button is detached from underneath, the hernia and diastasis repaired, and the umbi then reattached usually at a slightly lower location. There is no scar externally on the belly button with this approach, and since your umbi is a little bit high it can work very nicely.

You will get the best results with a full tummy tuck via a small incision at the pubic bone level. Your belly button is high and you have limited skin laxity based on the upright photos. The surgery can be done through a low, small incision with special instrumentation, doing a full muscle plication/umbilical hernia repair and floating the umbilicus. I personally do VASER liposuction to better define the abdominal wall anatomy at the same time. See a board certified plastic surgeon for an in person consultation/evaluation. Good luck.

Its reasonable to do a tummy tuck with umbilical hernia repair at the same time - this is a modification of a standard tummy tuck procedure. Depending on the amount of skin excess that you have, and your expectations for the shape of your umbilicus after the procedure - this will dictate the type of tummy tuck that is performed. A tummy tuck with umbilical 'float', hernia repair and diastasis reconstruction would yield a good result in most patients with your anatomy.

Thank you for your question and posting appropriate pictures. You seem to be a good candidate for a mini tummy tuck procedure. In this procedure your umbilical hernia and rectus facial diastasis can be repaired up to your xyphoid or breast bone. Please see a board certified plastic surgeon in consultation who has expertise in this procedure.

 A modified abdominoplasty with a floating of the umbilicus, repair of the diastasis and the umbilical hernia through an incision that can be hidden in a bathing suit bottom can produce a very nice significant result in many patients with your individual anatomy. The result depends on the extent of looseness of your tissue above the umbilicus, since there is a limitation of how much tightness you can get with that procedure and still maintain a normal appearing position of the navel.Following the advice from a surgeon or any other website who
proposes to tell you what to do based on two dimensional photos without
examining you, physically feeling the tissue, assessing your desired outcome,
taking a full medical history, and discussing the pros and cons of each
operative procedure would not be in your best interest. I would suggest you
find a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and
ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery that you
trust and are comfortable with. You should discuss your concerns with that
surgeon in person.



Robert Singer, MD
FACS



La Jolla,
California

Although the photos are taken from angles that make it difficult to see the full extent of what is going on with your tummy, you appear to have, in additoin to your hernia, fascial protrusion (diastasis recti) mainly in the lower tummy but no significant skin excess above the belly button. The belly button itself is stretched out. If you are only concerned with your hernia, and the abdominal protrusion is not of concern, you could only have the hernia repaired by a general surgeon through an incision over the hernia and probably incorporating mesh support. If you would like the fascial protrusion improved and, on careful examination by a plastic surgeon, it is determined that it is mainly from belly button down, then you could have a mini tummy tuck through the lower tummy tuck incision with a hernia repair at that time. Mini tummy tucks will have no effect on your upper skin or fascia. The indications for a full tummy tuck in you would be: 1) You would like your stretched out belly button to be repaired, 2) you have loose skin above the belly button that would only be tightened by a full tummy tuck, and/or 3) your fascial laxity extends in the upper abdomen well above your belly button, and so access to repair this would require the exposure of a full tummy tuck. In general, full tummy tucks are required far more often than situations where a mini tummy tuck would suffice.