Do they pull your muscles together?

I am 14 months post-op from my RNY surgery. I have a hernia that I had long before my wls (it is from having two c-sections using the same incision). I was hoping to wait to have the hernia repaired until I was ready to have a tummy tuck. Well, I do not think the hernia will wait much longer, and although I have lost over 170 pounds I am not near enough to goal to go for plastic surgery just yet. My insurance specifically states that they cover a tummy tuck for wls patients who have lost more than 100 pounds and are at least 18 months post-op (with a few other requirements). So I figure I might as well wait to have that done and have them pay for it. Anyway, back to my question: I have been having some pain and I think it is time for the hernia repair. Well I was researching and reading through the library and ran across someone who said that their surgeon just went in and layed the mesh over the opening and sticthed it into place. That person said her stomach now sticks out and you can tell where the mesh was stitched in. I always thought that they pulled your muscles back together and then added the mesh. I really thought it was there more for reinforcement than to cover a hole that would still be there. Anybody out there that can shed some light on this? Is there a nurse or someone who had this done that can answer? I hate to think that I will have to go through the rest of my life with this giant lump in the front of my stomach! Someone told me that I really should find out how much more it would cost to have a tummy tuck at the same time and then pay the difference out of pocket rather than wait umtil I qualify for insurance to pay for the tt. She was convinced that the only way I would get a good outcome would be to go ahead and have both procedures together. Please share your thoughts...Thanks in advance! RNY 07/08/02 388/217/175ish :-)

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