AboutAlan 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.
Question Hello Dr.!
I am a 36 year old mother of 3, and finished with my family. I have been diagnosed with an Umbilical Hernia. My already apparent belly button (never an innie) developed a bulge that is painful. Along with this, my abdominal muscles have separated length wise, where they "tent" up with stomach exercises and cause my lower abdomen to look distended all the time. I'm a reasonably fit woman, weigh 132 lbs and 5'4, and exercise. However, I hate looking like I'm pregnant. I also have stretch marks that end at my belly button are, which causes the skin on my lower belly to look saggy and crinkly. Rest of me looks good, just embarrassed on the lower belly area and protruding hernia area.
My question... I am going to get the hernia repaired. Is it advisable to go ahead and get the diastasis repaired. Is the only option a tummy tuck/hernia repair combination? Can I have a plastic surgeon do both, and what are the chances of insurance covering both? Thanks so much!!
Answer from Dr. Alan Engler
www.bodysculpture.com
Hi Jen,
There are three separate issues here:
1) If you have an umbilical hernia, it needs to be repaired. It is often a general surgeon who performs those repairs, particularly depending on how extensive the hernia is, but plastic surgeons also perform the repairs, either separately or as parts of other procedeures.
2) If you have a significant diastasis, as you're describing, you will be happier with your appearance if you have that diminished (repaired). You need to have wider exposure to do that than just the hernia, and so it is usually done as part of a tummy tuck. If you are otherwise a candidate for that procedure, then doing all 3 - umbilical hernia, diastasis, tummy tuck - at the same time will give you the best result.
3) Each insurance company and situation is different, but, in general, hernias are covered and the other procedures are usually not. If there is an extensive diastasis with symptoms then, with prior approval, you may be able to get that covered.
You'll need to address these questions to the surgeon's who are doing the procedures, and see what they have to say. Insurance coverage is, of course, an enormous issue right now (it has been for a while but it is very much in the forefront at this time) and each case is assessed and determined individually. A lot will depend on what sort of a policy you have, and any restrictions. Be sure that you get in writing anything that you hope/expect to have covered.
