What is a Belly Button Hernia?
What is a belly button hernia?
A belly button hernia, also known as an umbilical hernia, begins when a weak spot develops in a wall of the muscle in your belly. Intestine, fluid, or fat can then push through this weak spot, resulting in a bulge near your belly button.
Who is more prone to suffer from one?
Infants, as well as adults, can get belly button hernias. You may be more prone to this type of a hernia if you’re overweight.
Other risk factors include:
Infants
- Prematurity
- Low birth weight
Adults
- Obesity
- Multiple pregnancies
- Older age
- Family history of hernias
- Previous abdominal surgery
- Fluid in the abdominal cavity
- Gender (Women are more likely)
How severe is this type of hernia?
Adults have complications more often than children do. The protruding tissue may become trapped, which reduces the blood supply to the section and can cause damage to the tissue as well as pain.
If the blood supply to the trapped tissue becomes cut off completely (called a strangulated hernia), the tissue can die. You may have an infection that spreads throughout the abdominal cavity, which can be life-threatening.
When should you see a medical professional for your belly button hernia?
If you have any symptoms associated with a hernia, you should see your doctor. Early treatment could help prevent severe complications such as a strangulated hernia. A bulge or swelling in the belly button area is the most common symptom of a belly button hernia.
In addition, any of the following symptoms could indicate that your hernia has become strangulated:
- Abdominal pain and tenderness
- Constipation
- Fever
- Vomiting
- The bulge turns red, purple, dark, or discolored
- The bulge swells
If you have any symptoms of a belly button hernia, contact us today for a consultation with Dr. Reiner. Dr. Reiner is a leading expert and leader in the field of minimally invasive hernia repair and will accurately diagnose and effectively treat your hernia. The sooner you receive treatment, the less likely you are to experience potentially dangerous complications. Fill out the form on this page to request an appointment or call 212.879.6677 to learn more.