What is an Umbilical Hernia?
Umbilical hernias occur due to a weakness in the abdominal wall that dates back to birth. The umbilicus is the connection between the growing fetus and the mother, and blood vessels travel through the umbilical stalk. The abdominal muscles tend to close off this weak area at the umbilical stalk by age 5. In some patients with increased abdominal pressure due to pregnancy or due to other reasons, this weak area enlarges over time to reveal an umbilical hernia. Incisional hernias from laparoscopies can also occur exactly at the umbilicus. Umbilical hernias often occur in association with rectus diastasis (diastasis recti), a separation between the rectus muscles. Umbilical hernias can be painful, and can contain either fat or bowel. The medical reason for umbilical hernia repair is to prevent bowel obstruction and strangulation, and to treat pain.
Umbilical Hernia Treatment
Treatment of umbilical hernias begins with an incision in the curved part of the umbilical stalk and insertion of a type of prosthetic mesh. Umbilical hernia repair is generally performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia.
An alternative treatment is to have a full abdominoplasty including an umbilical hernia repair and a complete tightening of the linea alba. While the abdominoplasty is a more comprehensive procedure, it is also a larger, more expensive surgery with a longer recovery. In addition, the skin of the umbilical stalk has a greater chance of not remaining alive with the combined umbilical hernia/abdominoplasty procedure.