AboutAlan M. Engler, MD, FACS Expertise Dr. Engler has answered over 2100 plastic surgery questions for Allexperts. His expertise is in cosmetic plastic surgery including breast surgery (breast enlargement with implants, breast reduction, breast lifts), liposuction, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, facelifts etc.
Dr. Engler has been listed as one New York`s Top Doctors, and as "One of the World's Most Famous Aesthetic Surgeons" (Aesthetic Surgery, TASCHEN Books, Angelika Taschen, Editor). He is the author of 4 books, including "BodySculpture" (a best-selling plastic surgery book on breast surgery, liposuction and tummy tucks), "EyeScapes" (Plastic Surgery of the Eyelids), "Restylane," and "The Slim Book of Liposuction."
Dr. Engler has two US Patents for surgical instruments that he's designed, and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tyra Banks Show, The Ricki Lake Show (four times), and the Dr. Keith Ablow Show. Videos of his appearances are available on YouTube (SEARCH FOR "DR. ENGLER"). His website is www.bodysculpture.com.
Experience Dr. Alan Engler is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York and the author of BodySculpture - Plastic Surgery of the Body for Men and Women (ISBN 0966382749) one of the top-selling plastic surgery books on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.
Organizations belong to ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery); ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons); ACS (American College of Surgeons); Clinical Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York
Question QUESTION: I had a tummy tuck 11 months ago..I have been told that the sutures didn't hold at the top of my abdomen and that the Fascia had let go..I have to have a redo..My question is could the fascia have attached to itself, muscle or skin in a way that can't be undone....Is it important to have this corrected ASAP or can I wait 2 or 3 months??
ANSWER: Hi Carol,
There's more about tummy tucks at my site, www.bodysculpture.com.
My feeling is that it can wait a few months (of course, I am not seeing you in person, examining you, etc). And I'm assuming that you don't have severe symptoms (pain, abdominal discomfort, gastrointestinal problems, etc).
I'm sure that there is at least some scar tissue in there by now, but
it's hard to know exactly where it is, and what it is accomplishing (if anything). Most likely, though, it will be possible to separate it (at this relatively early stage - it would be harder if it were five years after surgery), after which your PS will do the repair.
I hope that this helps, and good luck,
Dr. E
www.bodysculpture.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I have quite a bit of abdominal dicomfort..and gatrointestinal problems.. Cat scan, colonoscopy other tests good.No pain though. Would it be a good idea to have surgery sooner?
Answer Hi Carol,
It depends - mostly on things that I cannot reasonably assess via this format.
However, if the discomfort is localized to that region then it may make sense to do the surgery sooner rather than later, even if it will be hard to be sure that the symptoms will be abated by the procedure.