Question:
Has anyone had both WLS and repair to an umbilical hernia at the same time?

I am in hopes of undergoing WLS in the near future (still in the learning phase) and I have a fairly large umbilical hernia in need of repair. I spoke with Dr. Hess while he was here in FL and he stated that it could be done together. I am just wondering if anyone has, in fact, had them done together, and what their experience was during recovery?    — victoriandove (posted on June 22, 2001)

June 22, 2001
I actually found out I had one by mistake:) I was in for my year check up and the nurse left my file so I read my surgical report and found that my surgeon had found an umbilical hernia during my RNY and repaired it. Apparently it isn't that big of a deal since my Doc never mentioned it to me and didn't affect my recovery at all. Good Luck!
   — M B.

June 22, 2001
I had an umbilical hernia repair at the same time as open rny. It didn't phase me a bit and the only way I knew I had it was there was a little bruising around the navel. It healed very well! My incision was slightly longer than others because my surgeon fixed it up with the same incision as the WLS. The hernia repair was not a big deal at all. I knew I had a hernia before surgery because there was a small bulge right below my belly button. It was about the size of a 50 cent piece. It turned out to be strangulated and would've had to be repaired even if I didn't have WLS. Make sure you ask your surgeon what kind of a belly button will you have afterwards as they have to kind of make a new one....don't worry mine is better than before and smaller (the bellybutton). Some people I have read have had hernia repair and not had a belly button afterwards! That would be a shock! Good luck to you and much success with WLS. Life is wonderful after recovery!
   — Marilyn C.

June 23, 2001
I had laparoscopic Rny and had an umbilical hernia repaired. I was told that was one of the entry points for lap surgery and repairing hernias there was routine anyway. It was the least painful area and you can't even see any mark there. It looks and feels completely normal.
   — blank first name B.