Ask a Surgeon - Tummy Tuck - I'm thirty-six years old. I have two wonderful boys, but in having my boys I...

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I'm thirty-six years old. I have two wonderful boys, but in having my boys I had...

Q:

I'm thirty-six years old. I have two wonderful boys, but in having my boys I had surgery. The two surgeries have left me with a hernia and a bit of a pouch. My question is, can I have my hernia removed at the same time as undergoing a tummy tuck/liposuction? Or is it best to have the hernia done first and then tummy tuck surgery?

A:

It depends. If your hernia is very large and/or you have thinned out tissues (muscle/fascia), a tummy tuck may not be possible. Liposuction (lipoplasty) is contraindicated if you have a known hernia so that should be done after your hernia is repaired or after you've recovered from your hernia surgery.

If you have a small hernia that is easily fixable and good tissues, a concomitant tummy tuck is certainly a possibility if you're willing to accept the risks of surgery. Combining liposuction with a tummy tuck also increases risk for complications, and I would personally be hesitant to do both procedures at the same time as a hernia repair.