Has anyone had an abdominoplasty?

[BBeau]

Hello - i hope ive posted on the right topic??
I have 3 children, a 2 year old and twin 6 month old girls. I was quite slim prior to twins but my body has now been battered. Lost all baby weight but still have big belly. Muscles are severely seperated and bowels sticking through middle. Have been advised that surgery is the only answer now. Originally told they wouldnt fund it on NHS but now i think they are considering it due to the pain im in and the fact i cant return to work the way i am. Anyway, even if they dont fund i will have to find a way to pay for it as its that bad, but i just wondered if anyone else on here has had the works - ie muscles pulled together and a tummy tuck? If so whats the recovery like? Dr is thinking of sending me to a general clinic as have massive hernia right down the middle of abdomin so not sure if plastic surgery will correct that?? Although i want the tummy tuck done at the same time coz i dont want to have to recover twice.

I'd go to general health for this.

I had a hernia fixed 11 months ago, they put a kind of mesh over to fix the muscles together (I am a size 8, 7 stone I baby and twin producer too!) I nearly went for a tummy tuck too as have some excess skin but the fact that I would likely loose my tummy button and have a huge scar from thing to thing put me off. Do you think sport might help to tighten up muscles post hernia op? Am happy with how hernia has been fixed and looks better though won't be braving the beach in a bikini this summer or ever again

Hi, What sort of hernia did you have? Did they actually bring your muscles together before putting the mesh over? Did it bring your stomach in a bit more? Where did they cut you to do hernia? Also what was the recovery like? Sorry, so many questions.

I can't remember the exact medical term in English (as I had it in France) but it involved huge separation of the tummy muscles due to twin pregnancy and 2 c-sections. Tummy is a bit better but I do heaps of sport and to be honest it looks fine and quite flat when in clothes, naked it is horrid but tummy button is all deformed as well. I had the op through key hole surgery so just 5 or 6 tiny incisions. Felt painful for about a week after and four weeks of no lifting allowed - problematic with a baby and twins. Bits of my intestines were apparently sticking through - lovely, so they put them back. Best of luck, it sounds like you are having a very rough time. I had my op when Dt's were 5 but largely because we had decided after DC3 that we were unlikely to have any more children. It is best to have it done when you are fairly sure that you are not going to have any others as they would have to re-do the mesh post subsequent pregnancies.

The phrase you're looking for is diastasis rectii...

I know this because I suffer badly with herniation too. Have been musing on surgery option discussed with GP but not keen. Am trying to lose weight and use the sucky in exercises recommended by Julie Tupler in her book (forget the name). If I still have hernia/bulgy bowels after trying that, I might consider it.

I don't know if the NHS will do the abdominoplasty as well as stitching your rectus muscles together...?

Thanks for the terminology - I was pretty much obliged to have the op as was apparently at risk of 'hernia strangulation' or some equally undesirable ailment.

Hi all, yes i was told that too about hernia strangulation by the dr. I have an appointment soon with the hernia consultant and am expecting an appointment with Plastic surgeon so i guess between them they can decide whos best to do it. He told me about the key hold surgery which obviously would be better but i dont see how they can pull the muscles together with key hole surgery?? My belly button has died on me anyway so im not too worried about that - its gone completely black and is deformed.Its good that you are able to do sport etc, at the mo it hurts to even walk - dont know why - could be all muscular due to no support from stomach muscles and its pulling down on scar etc. Anyway - thanks for comments, its been a help. x