Combining Tummy Tuck and Hernia Repair Surgery

Can I Have Hernia Repair and a Tummy Tuck at the Same Time?

If you’ve got a hernia in your tummy area, you might be wondering if you can fix it while also getting a tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck for a better look. The simple answer is yes, you can! A plastic surgeon can take care of your hernia while also making sure your tummy looks great afterwards.

In more detail, a hernia happens when something inside your body, like part of your intestines or some fat, pokes through a weak spot in your tummy muscles. These muscles can get weak for different reasons, like if you’ve been pregnant before or if you’re carrying extra weight.

You can even take it a step further and have your tummy tuck include repair work on ‘diastasis recti’, which is just a fancy term for tummy muscles that have split apart. This can make your tummy muscles stronger and give you a smoother, flatter belly.

Here at Centre for Surgery in London, our team are experts in reshaping bodies, and we’ve got lots of experience with fixing tummy walls and diastasis recti. Our surgeons use really precise methods and the latest stitching techniques to make sure you’re not just fixed up, but you also look your best when it’s all done.

RELATED: Tummy Tuck with Muscle Repair

Abdominoplasty vs Hernia Repair Surgery

When it comes to surgical procedures aimed at enhancing bodily function and aesthetic appeal, abdominoplasty and hernia repair surgery stand out for their distinct purposes and outcomes. Abdominoplasty, commonly referred to as a tummy tuck, is a cosmetic procedure designed to refine and rejuvenate the abdominal region. It’s particularly favoured by those desiring to reshape their body’s contour following significant weight loss or the transformative process of pregnancy. The essence of this procedure lies in its ability to sculpt the abdomen, achieving a more toned and aesthetically pleasing appearance. This is accomplished through the removal of stubborn excess skin and fat that remain unresponsive to traditional weight loss methods, such as diet and exercise, coupled with the tightening of abdominal muscles to enhance the abdominal profile.

In contrast, hernia repair surgery, medically known as herniorrhaphy, addresses the medical condition of hernias—where an organ or fatty tissue squeezes through a weak spot in a surrounding muscle or connective tissue called fascia. Hernias can emerge in various parts of the body but are most commonly seen in the abdominal area. They can lead to discomfort, pain, and other health complications if left untreated. The primary aim of hernia repair surgery is to reposition the displaced tissues back into their correct place and fortify the muscle or tissue wall to avert future occurrences. This surgical intervention is pivotal in alleviating the symptoms associated with hernias, thereby improving the patient’s quality of life.

The decision to undergo a combined surgery that includes both abdominoplasty and hernia repair presents a strategic approach to patient care. This amalgamation serves multiple benefits, including the efficiency of addressing two significant concerns in one surgical session, enhancing the effectiveness of the treatment, and offering the convenience of a single recovery period. Such a combined procedure also means patients undergo anaesthesia once, reducing overall recovery time and potential risks associated with multiple surgeries.

What is a Hernia?

A hernia is when a part of your body, like your intestines or a bit of fat, squeezes through a weak spot in your muscles or the tissue that holds your organs in place. You’ll often notice it as a bump or lump that pops up in your tummy or groin area. This lump is more noticeable when you’re doing something that puts pressure on your abdomen, like coughing or lifting something heavy. The lump might go away or become less noticeable when you lie down.

RELATED: What is a hernia and how can it be repaired?

Both kids and adults can get hernias. For children, hernias usually don’t cause any problems except for a lump that doesn’t hurt. But for adults, symptoms can be a bit more bothersome:

• You’ll see a lump that disappears when you lie down.
• The area around the lump might become red, tender, or swollen.
• You might feel some pain or discomfort near the lump.
• You could have trouble going to the toilet or passing gas.
• These symptoms could get worse when you’re standing or straining yourself.
• In some cases, you might even vomit.

When it comes to treating hernias, a general surgeon or a plastic surgeon usually takes care of it. At Centre for Surgery clinic in London, we often fix hernias as part of other body-shaping procedures like a tummy tuck. But if you’re more concerned about how the hernia area will look after surgery, a plastic surgeon can do the hernia repair on its own to get the best cosmetic result.

RELATED: Split Tummy Muscles after Pregnancy – Treatments for Diastasis Recti

Exploring the Various Kinds of Hernias: An In-depth Look

Hernias can manifest in various parts of the body, particularly in the abdomen and groin regions. The type of hernia you have depends on where exactly the lump or bulge shows up. Let’s dive into more detail on the different kinds of hernias and how they can affect you.

Types of Hernias

Ventral Hernias

Ventral hernias are those that occur in the abdomen. These happen when tissue from inside your abdomen, like an organ or abdominal tissue, pushes through a weakened spot in the abdominal muscle wall. There are different sub-types of ventral hernias, such as:

• Epigastric Hernias: These are situated between your navel and the lower part of your breastbone. They usually consist of fatty tissue protruding through a weak point in the abdominal muscles.
• Umbilical Hernias: This type of hernia is particularly focused around the belly button. It occurs when a part of your intestines protrudes through a weak point or hole in the muscles near your umbilicus (the medical term for the belly button).
• Incisional Hernias: These happen at the site of a previous surgical wound in the abdomen. The tissue around surgical stitches can be weaker than other areas, making it more prone to herniation as time goes on.

Inguinal and Femoral Hernias

These hernias are more commonly found in the groin area. Here’s what sets them apart:

• Inguinal Hernias: More commonly found in men, these hernias appear when part of the intestines descends, creating a bulge in the groin region.
• Femoral Hernias: These are more common in women and happen when a part of the bowel or fatty tissue squeezes through the wall of the femoral canal, which is near the groin.

Epigastric Hernias

Sometimes called midline hernias, these occur when fatty tissues push their way through the abdominal wall, specifically in the area between your belly button and the lower part of your breastbone.

Diastasis Recti

Though not strictly a hernia, diastasis recti is a condition that is often seen after pregnancy. The stretched abdominal muscles become separated down the middle, allowing for fat or intestines to poke through the gap.

Incisional or Surgical Wound Hernias

When you have a surgical procedure done on your abdomen, the spot where the incision was made can become a weak point. Because the tissue that has been stitched back together is weaker than natural tissue, there’s an increased risk of a hernia developing at that site over time.

Why Do People Get Hernias?

Hernias usually happen when there’s a combination of muscle weakness and some sort of strain or pressure on those muscles, particularly in the abdominal area. Let’s look at what specifically contributes to this condition.

Causes of Increased Pressure on Abdominal Muscles

• Obesity or Being Overweight: Carrying extra weight increases the pressure on the abdominal muscles, making them more prone to hernias.
• Persistent Cough: A heavy, ongoing cough can put continuous pressure on these muscles, causing them to weaken over time.
• Multiple Pregnancies: Having twins or triplets puts a lot of strain on the abdominal area, stretching the muscles and increasing the risk of hernias.
• Heavy Lifting or Straining: Activities that put excessive strain on your muscles, like lifting heavy objects, can also contribute to hernias.

Umbilical and Epigastric Hernias: The Mystery Factors

It’s often hard to pin down the exact cause of umbilical and epigastric hernias. However, the key risk factors usually include having been pregnant before and being overweight.

The Role of Pregnancy: Diastasis Recti

During pregnancy, the abdominal muscles have to stretch to accommodate the growing baby. This is particularly true for the rectus abdominis muscles, the vertical muscles at the front of your stomach often referred to as the “six-pack abs.”

RELATED: Abdominal Separation – Diastasis Recti after Pregnancy

After giving birth, these muscles usually go back to their original position. However, in some cases, they lose their elasticity and can’t close the gap that was created during pregnancy. This condition is known as diastasis recti or diastasis rectus abdominis. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, can help repair this condition.

The Common Cases in Tummy Tuck Procedures

Both umbilical and midline hernias can often be treated during a tummy tuck procedure. In these cases, part of the intestine or fatty tissue pushes through weakened abdominal muscles, typically around the area of the navel. This creates a bulge that can be both unsightly and uncomfortable.

Each type of hernia and its causes have unique considerations, and the treatment options will vary. Therefore, it’s crucial to consult healthcare professionals for a proper diagnosis and to discuss the best treatment for you.

Understanding the Risks: What Could Go Wrong with a Hernia?

Having a hernia isn’t just uncomfortable; it can lead to serious complications if not treated in time. Let’s go over some of the issues that can arise from epigastric or umbilical hernias:

Strangulation and Incarceration

• Incarceration: This happens when a portion of the bowel that’s sticking out becomes trapped and can’t be pushed back into the abdomen. Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
• Strangulation: This is a more severe form of incarceration where the protruding section of bowel gets cut off from its blood supply. When this happens, the affected tissue can suffocate and die, leading to life-threatening complications.

Infections and Life-Threatening Situations

When tissue dies due to strangulation, it’s not just a local issue. This can cause infections that may rapidly spread throughout the abdomen, creating a life-threatening situation that requires immediate medical attention.

Why Surgical Intervention is Recommended

Most adult hernias won’t heal on their own; they typically need surgical intervention. This is why hernia repair surgery is often recommended. During the surgery, the protruding tissue is put back where it belongs, and the weak spot in the muscle wall is reinforced, usually with stitches or sometimes with a mesh.

Tummy Tuck and Hernia Repair: A Combined Approach

If you’re already planning a tummy tuck procedure, and your surgeon discovers an undiagnosed hernia, they will usually recommend fixing it during the same surgery. Addressing both issues at once not only enhances the aesthetic outcome but also minimises future health risks. Of course, this would be thoroughly discussed with your surgeon prior to the abdominoplasty procedure.

Opting for a Combined Tummy Tuck and Hernia Repair: What You Need to Know

Getting a hernia repaired at the same time as having a tummy tuck can offer several benefits. Both procedures involve work on the abdominal muscles, making them a natural pairing in many cases. Here’s what you can expect if you’re considering combining these surgeries.

Synergistic Procedures

A tummy tuck—medically known as abdominoplasty—is primarily a cosmetic surgery that removes excess fat and skin from your abdomen, giving it a toned and slimmer appearance. On the other hand, hernia repair focuses on the functional aspect of fixing a weakened muscle wall to prevent intestines or fatty tissue from protruding.

Since both surgeries involve strengthening the abdominal muscles, it makes sense to consider having them done together. This allows your surgeon to take a comprehensive approach, addressing both aesthetic and functional issues in a single surgical session.

Hidden Hernias: The Element of Surprise

Interestingly, some hernias might not even be noticeable until a tummy tuck procedure is underway. Extra layers of fat and skin can sometimes obscure a hernia, making it visible only once the surgeon has removed the excess tissue. This is another reason why opting for a surgeon experienced in both tummy tucks and hernia repairs is beneficial—they’ll know what to look for and how to address it should an unexpected hernia appear.

The Surgical Approach: A Two-in-One Solution

An expert surgeon will first focus on repairing the hernia, which involves pushing the protruding tissue back into its correct position behind the abdominal wall. Once this is done, they will also address any diastasis recti—separation of the abdominal muscles—before proceeding with the tummy tuck. This multi-step approach ensures that your abdominal muscles are both functionally sound and aesthetically pleasing.