Hi, I am scheduled for lap band surgery on July 16th. The only problem is, I have had an umbilical hernia in the past and I fear it has come back. I am pretty positive of this. Will the need to get the hernia repaired cause my surgeon to hold off on lap band surgery? Or will it be ok to get the surgery as scheduled on July 16th? Thank you.

Well, obviously only your surgeon can answer that question. It will depend on so many factors, such as what sort of webbing was used, what options for port placement he has, etc.

But I have an umbilical hernia. The surgeon doing my lap band also does this sort of repair as one of his specialities.

I've never had it repaired before, but I asked him about it, fixing it, and whether I should wait before or after the surgery and whether having the hernia will impact my being able to get the lap band.

First, he said it won't impact the lap band placement.

Then he said that he would be able to repair the hernia after surgery, but wanted me to wait about 6 months or more (if I could).

He suggested waiting at least that long after Lap Band placement for any surgery.

OK, Thank you !

I have an umbilical hernia as well. I asked my surgeon about it. He told me that it won't be an issue for him because he will not be using my belly button for the laproscopic surgery. He's making his incisions above my waist. He told me that I needed to wait to have it repaired until I'd lost weight. He said if I had it done during the lapband surgery that the patch would not hold because of the weight loss.

I don't know how your surgeon will do your surgery so don't take my word for it. You will need to talk to him about it. Make sure he knows about it. The more he knows about your health before he does the surgery the better prepared he will be.

I have an umbilical hernia too thanks to birthing two big babies! My surgeon wasn't perturbed by the hernia since he was planning to operate well away from the belly button. Which he did - my wound sites are all around my upper stomach.

Unless the hernia is posing an immediate threat - ie becoming strangulated - it should not delay your surgery. It certainly didn't for me and I was banded 4 days ago.

Good luck!

great! this makes me feel better! thanks all

Happy to read this post as I have an umbilical hernia also but my surgeon is planning on taking care of it at the same time. I was approved by the ins co last week but surgeon is so backed up looks like August for me.

Hi, I am scheduled for lap band surgery on July 16th. The only problem is, I have had an umbilical hernia in the past and I fear it has come back. I am pretty positive of this. Will the need to get the hernia repaired cause my surgeon to hold off on lap band surgery? Or will it be ok to get the surgery as scheduled on July 16th? Thank you.

This incision sites aren't near the umbilicus, so it should not be an issue.

Happy to read this post as I have an umbilical hernia also but my surgeon is planning on taking care of it at the same time. I was approved by the ins co last week but surgeon is so backed up looks like August for me.

Petunia, are you sure you're thinking about the same kind of hernia?

Many, if not most, surgeons will repair a hiatel hernia during the lap-band surgery, but many, if not most, will wait for the umbilical hernia repair until 6 months or more AFTER lap-band surgery.

Unless they are doing the open surgery instead of the laparoscopic?

The umbilical hernia is around/at your belly button. The hiatel hernia is around/at your diaphram above your stomach.

Just checking to be sure.