Written by William Rogers
07 December 2011

tj1Todd Jewell is currently taking three to four weeks off from training to heal from incisional hernia surgery, which took place December 5. An incisional hernia occurs when an incision on the abdomen from a previous surgery allows the tissues of the abdomen to protrude through the muscle.

When the 2011 NPC National Overall Champion went under the knife in December 2010 to have his gallbladder and appendix removed, the surgeon used an existing scar as one of four entry points through Todd’s abdominal wall. The incision on the ab muscle opened slightly (also known as the incisional hernia) at about six weeks out from the Nationals this year.tj2

In addition to repairing Jewell’s incisional hernia over his sternum December 5, the surgeon also removed scar tissue from a previous surgery (originally Todd had a lipoma removed from this location). The surgeon cut open the skin, removed the scar tissue, then closed up the hernia with a few stout stitches and sewed the skin closed horizontally this time rather than vertically like last time.

“With any luck the scar will be very streamlined and the incision will remain closed this time,” says Todd.

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