I had an endo TT (diastasis recti & umblical hernia) twins prego. Plication only (no fat/skin removed). I’m 3 mths PO & depressed - rounded pooch belly. 1st photo bikini-before, 2nd-after (plus 2 afters). My surgeon says give it 6 mths & repair if needed, but I feel sick about the cost (with little result) & worse thinking about going through this again (out of state too). Could this flatten out or is this my result? Revision? If so, when is it safe? Could it just not work on me? Thanks!
June 27, 2016
Answer: Did your surgeon communicate to you that you would be noticeably flatter? If so, then you have a legitimate gripe about your results. Most surgeons would not use an endoscope when the goal is to flatten an attenuated tummy like yours. Any particular reason you did not just have an open tummy tuck where your umbilical hernia could be repaired at the same time? If your goal was to simply repair your diastasis and umbilical hernia, then its likely it was done... you just needed something more aggressive for a more obvious result.
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June 27, 2016
Answer: Did your surgeon communicate to you that you would be noticeably flatter? If so, then you have a legitimate gripe about your results. Most surgeons would not use an endoscope when the goal is to flatten an attenuated tummy like yours. Any particular reason you did not just have an open tummy tuck where your umbilical hernia could be repaired at the same time? If your goal was to simply repair your diastasis and umbilical hernia, then its likely it was done... you just needed something more aggressive for a more obvious result.
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Answer: Do I need a revision from my endoscopic Tummy tuck? From you photos it appears that you still have a lot of laxity of the abdominal muscles. I am no expert on endoscopic surgery (I finished my training before they started being used in general surgery) but I have a hard time imagining that a rectus diastasis could be repaired from the inside out using a scope. The layer that is repaired with a standard tummy tuck is the rectus fascia which is the outer most layer of the abdominal musculature and is just not accessible from the abdominal cavity. The scope would need to navigate through basically 3 layers of muscle and fascia to get to the layer of the rectus muscle and fascia. Maybe I lack imagination but I just cannot fathom fixing the diastasis using this approach. The umbilical hernia on the other hand is readily repaired from the inside out. The hernia is basically a hole in the inner most layer of the abdominal wall. Using the scope, the contents of the hernia (usually just some fat) can be pulled back into the abdominal cavity and the small defect fixed with a few stitches. I am wondering if the your surgeon was a plastic surgeon or a general surgeon. Most general surgeons would not have much experience with tummy tucks and may be misguided in thinking that the laxity seen in patients like you is basically a hernia which it is not. In any case, I recommend you get a second opinion from a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
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Answer: Do I need a revision from my endoscopic Tummy tuck? From you photos it appears that you still have a lot of laxity of the abdominal muscles. I am no expert on endoscopic surgery (I finished my training before they started being used in general surgery) but I have a hard time imagining that a rectus diastasis could be repaired from the inside out using a scope. The layer that is repaired with a standard tummy tuck is the rectus fascia which is the outer most layer of the abdominal musculature and is just not accessible from the abdominal cavity. The scope would need to navigate through basically 3 layers of muscle and fascia to get to the layer of the rectus muscle and fascia. Maybe I lack imagination but I just cannot fathom fixing the diastasis using this approach. The umbilical hernia on the other hand is readily repaired from the inside out. The hernia is basically a hole in the inner most layer of the abdominal wall. Using the scope, the contents of the hernia (usually just some fat) can be pulled back into the abdominal cavity and the small defect fixed with a few stitches. I am wondering if the your surgeon was a plastic surgeon or a general surgeon. Most general surgeons would not have much experience with tummy tucks and may be misguided in thinking that the laxity seen in patients like you is basically a hernia which it is not. In any case, I recommend you get a second opinion from a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
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