Tummy Tuck: Prices, Photos, Reviews, Info, Q&A

The hernia repair and tummy tuck surgery is done at the same time. This I do routinely. Often patients have an umbilical hernia in addition to the muscle separation.

See a board certified plastic surgeon for a consultation/evaluation who has experience with advanced body sculpting surgery. (George Marosan, MD, Bellevue Plastic Surgeon)

Repairing hernias and tummy tucks together is a pretty common, and usually safe combo. It depends how big the hernia is, where it is located and how easy or involved it is to fix, so this is a judgment call between you and your physicians.

Many plastic surgeons are fully trained in general surgery, as well as in plastic surgery, and are comfortable doing both simultaneously.

A tummy tuck hernia repair

Others prefer to do it in concert with a general surgery colleague who can fix the hernia as a team with your abdominoplasty surgeon. (Robert Savage, MD, Wellesley Plastic Surgeon)

Hernia Repair at Same Time as Tummy Tuck Risk

Each patient is unique and the size of the hernia may impact whether or not it is necessary to be done separately. That being said, some Plastic Surgeons are not comfortable doing hernia repairs because they were not trained in General Surgery.

Traditionally Plastic Surgery was a Residency after General Surgery (Or Orthopedics or ENT). So Plastic Surgeons were very comfortable taking care of small uncomplicated hernias at the same time as a Tummy Tuck. I do them routinely an it is actually one of the easier parts of the procedure.

Abdominoplasty hernia repair

However, it is now common (to decrease the length of training) for Plastic Surgeons to go into residency right after Medical School and receive very little formal General Surgery training and, thus, are not comfortable doing hernia repair.

I would consider getting a second opinion from a Plastic Surgeon who completed a full 5 year residency in General Surgery and see what they think. (Donald W. Hause, MD, Sacramento Plastic Surgeon)

Most, but not all, midline abdominal wall hernias can be repaired at the same time as a tummy tuck. Usually, there is no need to turn one procedure into two. Seek a second opinion. I am a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon located in Seattle. I would be happy to meet with you. (Mary Lee Peters, MD, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)

Can a hernia be repaired at the same time as a tummy tuck?

The tummy tuck hernia repair

We frequently do tummy tucks on patients that have a hernia, whether verntral (central), umbilical (at the belly button), or inguinal (groin), and we have a general surgeon come to our office-based ASC to repair these hernias at the time of a tummy tuck, thus avoiding the need for a separate surgery.

Because of the high cost of performing cosmetic procedures in the hospital (where most general surgeons operate) most plastic surgeons perform tummy tucks in their office operating rooms and thus do not have the ability to have a general surgeon repair these hernias at the same time.

Thus they may advise patients to do these procedures separately. Some plastic surgeons who operate in an ASC (either free-standing or office-based) may have an arrangement, as we do, with a general surgeon who is willing to coordinate with them and be available to fix the hernias at the time of a tummy tuck.

In this case, there is no reason to perform these separately, and in my opinion there is no risk of increased bleeding. This has never been an issue in any of the many such combined procedures we have performed over the years. (Robert M. Grenley, MD, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)

There are many types of hernias and the answer to your question depends entirely on the details ond location of your specific hernia. (Ronald V. DeMars, MD, Portland Plastic Surgeon)

After consultation for a Tummy Tuck, I was informed I had a hernia that needed to be repaired. Do I need to do it separately?

Tummy tuck hernia repair photo

The repair of a hernia is frequently performed at the same time as a tummy tuck. Depending on the type of hernia, it can be repaired by the plastic surgeon or by a general surgeon working with the plastic surgeon. Following the advice of anyone who would presume to tell you exactly what to do without taking a full medical history, examining you, feeling and assessing your tissue tone, discussing your desired outcome and fully informing you about the pros and cons of each option would not be in your best interest.

Your plastic surgeon should be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person. (Robert Singer, MD, La Jolla Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy tuck and hernia repair

Tummy tuck surgery hernia repair

There are basically three types of hernias which can be present and need to be identified prior to abdominoplasty. They are the umbilical, ventral and inguinal.Ventral and umbilical hernias are easily addressed at the time of the abdominoplasty. There is a slightly higher incidence of wound healing concerns with the belly button at the time of the combined tummy tuck and umbilical hernia repair but this is minor.

I personally will have a general surgeon perform the inguinal hernia repair and this can be done as a separate procedure or at the same time.Seek out a board certified plastic surgeon to evaluate and guide you in this decision. (Robert W. Kessler, MD, FACS, Corona Del Mar Plastic Surgeon)

I also agree that both can be performed together. I have performed a tummy tuck and repaired belly button hernias at the same time. Larger hernias are performed by general surgeons but at the same time. I would get a second opinion if you are still interested in combination surgery. (Robert J. Spies, MD, Paradise Valley Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy tuck operation hernia repair

The vast majority of abdominal wall hernias can be effectively repaired at the time of a tummy tuck. The only exception that I can think of would be a significant loss of abdominal wall domain that would require a more extensive reconstructive procedure called a components separation.

This is most likely not the case for you. You might want to consider getting a second opinion with another local board certified plastic surgeon. (William T. Stoeckel, MD, Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon)

I would recommend having the hernia and tummy tuck done at the same time. Unless there is something peculiar with your hernia there’s no reason to have to separate unless your surgeons are simply uncomfortable with the idea. (Ronald Schuster, MD, Baltimore Plastic Surgeon)

In general, in a healthy lady a tummy tuck and hernia repair can be performed at the same time. Consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) to discuss your options. (Robert E. Zaworski, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)