Would a LBL (lower body lift) MESS up Mesh Hernia Repair?

I do not think I will be able to wait until my LBL before I get hernia surgery.

My hernia is causing me pain and finances don't allow me to pay for a LBL. (I don't *think*) I am exploring options right now

I am a cash patient.

I am researching my options and have sent out some emails already to surgeons

I am in Inland Empire, Southern CA if anyone has any ideas

Anyone use Dr. Albin?

My MAIN question is wouldn't my hernia repair get all messed up when they go back in for a lower body lift?

I am a DS patient

thanks, Loretta

I have an epigastric hernia that I am having repaired with an incision in the lower abdomen and my md is doing the lbl at the same time.  I never had the mesh repair but did have the hernia stitched during a gall bladder operation but it came right back.  My md said the incisional repair is better than the mesh as it repairs the muscle.  If I were you, I would ask the md about that type of repair vs the mesh.

Also, my md is a plastic surgeon.  He would do only the hernia repair if that was what I wanted, but as the incision will be part of the lbl incision I decided to do both.  You might want toconsult wt a PS about doing the hernia repair.

I will post results of my adventure when is scheduled for 3/21/11.

If your hernia is not too complex, I'd suggest doing it at the same time as you would prefereably not have to go back and reexpose the mesh in a 2nd surgery. Depending on the size/type of your hernia we find a lot of MWL patients have enough laxity of the tissue to repair them primarily without mesh (something that otherwise has high recurrence rates)

I had an incisional hernia from a classic c-section of my youngest.  It ran from pubic to belly button.  In 11/06 I had RNY, lost 130 lbs by 10/07 and had my hernia fixed with TT.  They put a 15x30 cm mesh in and had to repair/stitch the upper muscles also to give something to attach the mesh to.  Mine was completely covered by insurance.  I was not interested in LBL just removing the apron of skin in front and not looking like I was pregnant anymore...

I had referrals from my primary doc and my WLS surgeon.  When I consulted with the PS she told me the hernia was beyond her abilities and to consult a general surgeon to fix it.  They submitted the preauth to my insurance and it was approved without any issues.  I think the TT/panni was approved because it would otherwise put stress on the hernia repair.

"I think the TT/panni was approved because it would otherwise put stress on the hernia repair."

Most coverage guidelines would not consider that (ie. stress on the repair) an indication for panniculectomy. If the panniculectomy is in fact required for exposure for repair (which is actually usually not the case) then many carriers will cover that. That kind of claim gets scrutinized very closely and usually requires a very large, low-hanging pannus on submitted photos.

In any case, it is definately something to run up the flag pole for predetermination in most instances to see what happens

I had an incisional hernia running from just below my belly button to just under my sternum and i was repaired with both mesh and permanent sutures to pull the abdominal muscles together. My hernia happened between a diastasis - you know where the abdominal muscles separate down the midline when you're pregnent. I didn't realize I still had a diastasis 5 years after the fact and all the abdominal surgeries I've had just made my fascia weak enough that it ripped down between 6-8 inches.

It was covered by insurance. My surgeon referred to it as the "belt and suspenders" approach to keep everything all together. He likes the mesh because your tissue grows into it and there's a really low risk of recurrence but, for patients who can live with a more painful recovery, bringing the muscles together keeps it from being soft or protruding. Patients with just mesh weren't as happy with the esthetics of the repair as patients with both were. The recovery was tougher than I expected. But it was worth it since now I don't think I'll bother with a tummy tuck -- things are much flatter than I expected. If I end up with a little loose skin below my belly button (I've got 20 more pounds to lose) I can live with that since I'll never be wearing a bikini anyway. Leg and arm lifts have become more important to me because I'd like to feel comfortable in shorts and sleeveless tops.

Anyway, just my experience for whatever it's worth...

My hernia repair got most of my tummy tuck paid for by insurance. All I had to pay was an hour of anesthesia.