Partial tummy tuck

I would really love to have a tummy tuck and believe that the partial or minimal type would be enough.  I had an umbilical hernia repair decades ago, and had a ventral hernia repair with mesh in the same area about 1996.  My babies were huge and I am overweight also, so I guess these two factors contribute.  I am a heart patient and know that I would have to get cardiology clearance.  If I do get the clearance, would I still be a candidate with my history of the ventral repair with mesh?  What are complications besides infection, and how long is the typical recovery period?  Thanks for taking my question.

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

The presence of mesh used for a previous ventral hernia repair many years ago would not inhibit me from performing a tummy tuck.  The technical issue would be the need for additional tightening of your abdominal fascia (the tendinous layer above the rectus muscles).  This is the layer in which your mesh has been sown to repair the previous hernia.  This would be determined by your surgeon at the time of your consultation.

Your potential complication rate would not increase with mesh in place and you certainly would be at no significant increased risk for infection.