A traditional tummy tuck is typically performed in thin patients who have excess skin present after childbirths or weight loss. The excess skin (called a pannus) typically hangs over the genitals. A tummy tuck involves a long incision across the bikini line from hip to hip. The excess skin is removed and the belly button is reimplanted in a new position.

Many patients who have an incisional hernia will have excess skin after the hernia is repaired. Hernia patients are frequently overweight and the overhanging skin and fat is considerable. In some patients it may be possible to remove this flap of skin combined with the hernia repair. This too will involve a long incision across the bikini line from one hip to the other. It will leave a long scar and may need to be combined with a vertical incision in the middle of the abdomen to repair the hernia. Sometimes it is best to remove this skin a separate operation. It is sometimes possible to preserve the belly button with this type of repair and sometimes it is not.

This is a major operation and should not be taken lightly.