Abdominoplasty and hernia repair
Ventral hernia repair and plication of muscles go together
Actually, the repair of ventral and umbilical hernias go hand in hand with muscle plication during abdominoplasty and one will not preclude the other.
Perhaps there is a more experienced plastic surgeon in your area who can handle everything, as a second opinion might be helpful.
We are with you, kind of a red flag here. (Peter E. Johnson, MD, Chicago Plastic Surgeon)
Plication and hernia repair can be done together.
Having your abdominoplasty done at the same time as the hernia repair is a good idea as it lets you recover from both at the same time.
If your hernia is small and right in the midline where your diastasis is, the hernia repair can then be incorporated into the plication and makes the repair stronger.
If the hernia is large and requires a mesh to closed the hole, the plication is still possible. Get a second opinion to clarify where these can be combined in your case safely. (Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD, Boston Plastic Surgeon)
Abdominal Wall Plication During Hernia Repair
In most cases with a small hernia a plication can be done but it depends on the specific case. If you have a large hernia the requires a mesh, plication may not be possible. You may consider a second opinion. (Karol A. Gutowski, MD, FACS, Chicago Plastic Surgeon)
Ventral hernia and abdominoplasty
A small ventral hernia can usually be closed at the same time as a abdominoplasty. The nice thing is that the lax muscles (rectus diastasis) can also be plicated and tightened over the hernia repair making it even stronger. This is like a belt and suspenders.
Sometimes a hernia is more complicated and may even need a mesh repair. This may need to be done before the abdominoplasty and healed. Also, some plastic surgeons are double Board Certified in surgery and plastic surgery and are very comfortable with doing these combined procedures all by themselves. Some are not, and enlist the help of a separate general surgeon. Check to see what qualifications your doctor has. (Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)
Ventral hernia repair and muscle plication can be done together.
It may be true that the general surgeon doesn’t like to have the muscle plication done, but that may just be his or her preference. Hernia repair and muscle plication are closely related and are commonly done together. Check with both of your surgeons and make sure there is not some special circumstance in your case. (Michael S. Hopkins, MD, Albuquerque Plastic Surgeon)
Plication of Muscle and Repair of Hernia Together?
I wonder if there has been some type of miscommunication; most ventral hernias can be prepared at the same time as tummy tuck surgery ( including the plication of the abdominal wall muscles).
You may want to confirm your understanding with the plastic surgeon; if there has been no miscommunication, you may want to seek a second opinion. (Tom J. Pousti, MD, FACS, San Diego Plastic Surgeon)