Tummy Tuck with Hernia Repair

Many Los Angeles women who need abdominal hernia repair decide to undergo a tummy tuck at the same time by a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon. They feel that this is a prime opportunity to rid themselves of their hanging abdominal skin and regain their youthful figure, while having their abdominal or umbilical hernia fixed! In fact, they trade a visibly large hernia scar over the front of the abdomen with a low bikini-line scar which can be easily hidden under a swimming suit. Another advantage of simultaneous tummy tuck and hernia repair is shortened recovery time.

Abdominal hernias such as umbilical, inguinal, or ventral hernias can occur as a result of pregnancy, weight gain, or heavy lifting and straining. Repair of an umbilical or ventral hernia with tummy tuck is rather safe and easy. Inguinal hernias can also be repaired at the time of an abdominoplasty, either through a groin incision or laparoscopically.

You can see tummy tuck with hernia repair photos and before and after tummy tuck pictures of patients who also had other procedures such as abdominal hernia repair in this tummy tuck specialty website. In these tummy tuck after pictures you can see that the previous hysterectomy or hernia scar is removed with a tummy tuck, along with the rest of the loose lower abdominal skin.

Sometimes large incisional hernias occur as a complication of abdominal surgeries such as hysterectomy, tubal ligation, c-section, appendectomy, cholecystectomy, or female surgery. These hernias occur at the site of abdominal wall closure, at the time of the initial surgery. On the other hand, Ventral hernias arise from sites of abdominal wall weakness, and not previous incisions. Ventral hernias are rather prevalent among those who have had massive weight loss with gastric bypass or lap-band surgery. Therefore, while performing a tummy tuck after massive weight loss the abdominal hernia can also be repaired.

Simultaneous repair of incisional or ventral hernias with mesh at the time of a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty requires skill and experience. All Board Certified Plastic Surgeons have had formal General Surgery training in hernia repair, but not all are necessarily experienced at repairing large hernias.