Has anyone experienced muscle separation after a liver transplant?

Posted by lsheerin @lsheerin, Dec 29, 2024

Has anyone experienced muscle separation after a liver transplant? My husband had a liver transplant almost a year and a half ago and he developed a bulge in his stomach. We thought it was a hernia, but he had a CAT scan and there is no hernia. The gastro Dr. says it's muscle separation and the only way to correct it, is a very entailed surgery, which is cosmetic, so insurance will not pay for it. It's now a huge ball right in front of him. It looks like he has a basketball under his shirt. Not sure where to go from here????

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jackie421blfdgurl | @jackie421blfdgurl | Jan 26, 2025

In reply to @colleenyoung "@lsheerin, has this been confirmed by your husband's transplant team? Might there be other options?" + (show)

Isherrin..me too this year will b 5 yr since my liver transplant.and 7 most after I had hernia surgery on same site and a plastic surgeon was present in surgery he put in two sheets of mesch about a yr ago I started to have same problem it is very uncomfortable.saw my surgeon and he said same thing tummy tuck.
But the way it can b presented to ins this is not for cosmetic it is a necessity. Also any one out there who has been thru this i also developing kidney problems found out my GFR is 40 !!!! Now have to see kidney Dr.!!that bridge is looking good

beach56153 | @beach56153 | Oct 29, 2025

In reply to @lsheerin "Good Morning! Finally got the referral to go to the new gastrologist. We have an appointment..." + (show)

@lsheerin

Hi, I have just joined this group and have been reading about the same issue that I have been suffering with since my transplant in June of 2024.
Did you get any relief after seeing the gastro doctor?

pgruetz | @pgruetz | Oct 30, 2025

I had hernia surgery over a year after my transplant a 8 ,x 10 piece of mesh was put in which hurt like hell for 6 months and finally is feeling better enough to go swimming with a kick board a mile a day my stomach still still sticks out but I don’t care, my pool people ask me what happened and they are thrilled to see me and what I can accomplish, I take everything as a positive which everyone should do, I’m alive is all that matters

meekepa | @meekepa | Dec 13, 2025

I am dealing with this...had two transplants within the same year...I hate the bulge also and no matter how much weight you lose it doesn't help...the liver team told me it's the way they rebuilt the abdominal wall and also did cat scan...ho hernia...tummy tuck is only option is what they told me if the plastic surgeon would even touch such a case...I am looking into it...I was at Methodist hospital in Houston tx