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About Alan M. Engler, MD, FACS
Expertise
Dr. Engler has answered over 2700 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.

Education/Credentials
Dr. Engler graduated from Yale University (undergraduate) and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University (medical school). He did his residency training in General Surgery and, after that, Plastic Surgery, at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York. He is on the faculty of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Surgery > Plastic Surgery > BB post TT with hernia and muscle repair

Plastic Surgery - BB post TT with hernia and muscle repair

Expert: Alan M. Engler, MD, FACS - 11/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: I had a TT with umbilical hernia repair (multiple midline hernias) 3 weeks ago. Everything seems to going well, but I still have some swelling below my binder along the incision line and below it. I was was wondering: 1)how long it normally takes for all of the swelling to resolve, 2)how much longer I should wear the binder, and 3)if it is normal to have no sensation at all at or below my BB. Also, my PS said he puts sutures on the sides as well as midline. Is this unusual? Thank you for your time.

ANSWER: from Dr. Alan Engler
www.bodysculpture.com

Hi Susan,

You should, of course, discuss all of these things with your PS.

However, here's what I'd say:

1) It can take many months (up to six or more) for all of the swelling to go down
2) I usually advise wearing the binder for at least 3 weeks, but each surgeon has his or her own routine
3) Yes - numbness after this surgery is common and it, too, can take months to resolve, and
4) Adding sutures where indicated is common, and helps produce and even tighter result

Sounds like you had a good job done - congrats and good luck on the rest of the recovery,

Dr. E
www.bodysculpture.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I think I did find a wonderful surgeon because I am already seeing some amazing results.
One final question: My BB is now quite small and more of an elliptical shape than the oval I had hoped for. Will the shape change at all as it heals, and is there a non-surgical way to help round it out a bit? I have been so impressed with your thoughtful answers on this web site and was even more impressed after going to your website. Your before and after photos are amazing, especially the eyelids! If I'm ever in the NY area, I 'll be paying you a visit.

Answer
Hi Susan,

I'm sure that you're not completely healed yet, so you'll need to give it some more time.

I can't really answer that question on the BB but, in general, they tend to settle down pretty well on their own BUT there's not always a lot that can be done non-surgically...sorry about that!

Good luck,

Dr. E

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