Ventral hernia/belly button hernia

URGENT AND IMPORTANT! About two and a half years ago, I underwent surgery for a perforated duodenal ulcer. To be honest, the incision left behind a pretty tragic, asymmetrical scar that’s anything but aesthetic, but I didn't dwell on it much at the time—after all, I survived, and I had to deal with the fallout of peritonitis and a pulmonary embolism following that procedure. However, I received a new shock yesterday: an ultrasound confirmed I have a ventral hernia. Since I’m likely facing another surgery very soon to repair it—which, given my medical history, feels like a massive gamble—I stumbled upon the idea that this could potentially be combined with an abdominoplasty. If I’m going to take the risk of being under anesthesia again, I’d much rather kill two birds with one stone, especially since, despite being 48, I still fully intend to enjoy some sunbathing on the beach in a bikini. I am covered by both supplemental and primary insurance. Given that these issues seem to stem from what was clearly a "clumsy" job stitching up my initial surgical wound (likely some resident who wasn't quite up to speed yet), I'm wondering if I have any grounds to have these procedures covered by Medicare. And if there is a way to do it, even partially, which hospital would you recommend? I would truly appreciate any insight or advice you can offer.

shadownomad43 said:URGENT AND IMPORTANT! About two and a half years ago, I underwent surgery for a perforated duodenal ulcer. To be honest, the incision left behind a pretty tragic, asymmetrical scar that’s anything but aesthetic, but I didn't dwell on it much at the time—after all, I survived, and I had to deal with the fallout of peritonitis and a pulmonary embolism following that procedure. However, I received a new shock yesterday: an ultrasound confirmed I have a ventral hernia. Since I’m likely facing another surgery very soon to repair it—which, given my medical history, feels like a massive gamble—I stumbled upon the idea that this could potentially be combined with an abdominoplasty. If I’m going to take the risk of being under anesthesia again, I’d much rather kill two birds with one stone, especially since, despite being 48, I still fully intend to enjoy some sunbathing on the beach in a bikini. I am covered by both supplemental and primary insurance. Given that these issues seem to stem from what was clearly a "clumsy" job stitching up my initial surgical wound (likely some resident who wasn't quite up to speed yet), I'm wondering if I have any grounds to have these procedures covered by Medicare. And if there is a way to do it, even partially, which hospital would you recommend? I would truly appreciate any insight or advice you can offer.

Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins Hospital do this, and I'm fairly certain a major metropolitan hospital like Mount Sinai would as well.

Since this entire mess is a direct consequence of the initial surgery, you absolutely have the right to have everything covered by Medicare😉. I personally know several women who had their aesthetic issues resolved for these exact reasons, and Medicare picked up the tab for the whole thing
.

Thank you truly. I feel a bit more at ease now, mostly because those numbers are nothing short of tragic... Still, I fully intend to knock on quite a few doors before I make any final decisions. That is, assuming an ambulance doesn't just whisk me away unexpectedly in the meantime....

I’ve just been diagnosed with a ventral hernia—specifically, it says "Dg Hernia ventralis p.o. reponabilis" on my chart. They're recommending surgery.

For those of you who have gone through this, what is the procedure actually like, and how long does the recovery process typically take?
It first showed up after my second C-section; I noticed it while still at the hospital, but the doctors just told me it was normal for my abdomen to be swollen and all that. Now that three months have passed and my swelling has gone down, it's even more noticeable! It doesn't cause me any pain or discomfort, but it seems like they always push for surgery regardless. What have your experiences been like?

Does anyone happen to know if a ventral hernia is actually the same thing as diastasis recti? My OB-GYN told me it’s just diastasis and doesn't require surgery, yet an abdominal surgeon insists it’s a ventral hernia that needs an operation!

Sean Ross8 said:Does anyone happen to know if a ventral hernia is actually the same thing as diastasis recti? My OB-GYN told me it’s just diastasis and doesn't require surgery, yet an abdominal surgeon insists it’s a ventral hernia that needs an operation!

Look, whenever a doctor suggests you go under the knife, they should be giving you the full rundown—whether it's an emergency or an elective thing you can take your time with, all the perks of getting it fixed, the potential risks involved, and honestly, what kind of mess you're looking at if you decide to just walk away and do nothing.

So, basically, you just need to go back to that surgeon with some very specific questions 😉

By the way, let's be real: an OB-GYN and an abdominal surgeon are rarely looking at the same situation through the same lens 😉

I went out to get a second opinion, but the verdict remains the same: they’re recommending surgery to install a mesh. It isn't an emergency, though I should probably get it scheduled within the next few months. What I’m most curious about is the recovery timeline—specifically, what are the lifting restrictions? Since I have a little one at home, does that mean I won't even be able to pick up my baby (around 13-15 lbs) for a while?
The surgeon, naturally, didn't have any time to sit down and address those kinds of practical questions, so I haven't gained much clarity beyond knowing that surgery is definitely the way to go.