Tummy Tucks and Hernia

Tummy tuck surgery, or abdominiplasty, is an operation designed to firm and smooth your abdomen. This surgical procedure removes excess skin and fat and may tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. The result is a flatter abdominal profile. More and more people are investigating tummy tuck surgery in order to improve their appearance, a vital link to an improved life. With this growing interest, it is extremely important to consult a surgeon or specialist to address your specific needs, as well as other issues that may affect the procedure. An increasing concern among prospective individuals who want to undergo tummy tuck surgery pertains to the effect of their hernia on the operation and vice-versa.

A hernia is a protrusion of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening in the body. Most hernias occur when a piece of intestine slips through a weakness in the abdominal wall, creating a bulge you can see and feel. Hernias can develop around the naval, in the groin, or any place where you may have had a surgical incision. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, approximately five million Americans have hernias.

The discomfort felt from hernia, especially when you cough, lift something heavy, or stand for a long time, comes from the constant pressure of tissue pushing its way through the weakened spot in your body. As more tissue pushes through the weakened area, the feeling of pressure increases. A hernia that develops or worsens quickly can produce a sudden intense pain as it enlarges. Hernias are one of the most common conditions requiring surgery.

The most common query among people suffering from hernias, who also want to undertake tummy tuck surgery, is whether both operations can occur at the same time. The answer to this is dependent on the severity of the hernia. A large hernia and/or thinned out tissues, may complicate tummy tuck surgery, so it is important to have the hernia repaired first. 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.

Having a tummy tuck is normally a perfect time to repair that small hernia. Tummy tuck (abdominiplasty) plastic surgery, which involves tightening the midline, and hernia surgery can be handled at the same time, very often by the same plastic surgeon, if they are experienced with hernia operation. If not, a general surgeon would be contacted to do the hernia repair.

Another popular query is the logistics of insurance coverage. In theory, the hernia should be covered by insurance, just as the whole thing would probably be if you were doing the hernia alone. However, when you combine two procedures, it can get tricky logistically. For example, should the hernia insurance be responsible for the entire anesthesia bill, or just the hernia portion of it? Figuring that out can be tricky. On the other hand, tummy tuck costs related to the repair of a hernia may be covered by insurance. I know of a case where the entire hospital fee was picked up by the insurance since the hospital's contract did not allow any balance billing, even though an additional procedure was performed. Therefore, it is best to check things out with the insurance company prior to the operations.