Prune Belly Syndrome May Be Reversed with Plastic Surgery

One in 40,000 men (only four percent of recorded cases are of women) will suffer from the birth defect known as prune belly syndrome or triad syndrome. In this condition, the urinary system is characterized by a triad of symptoms. These include: a lack of abdominal muscles, undescended testicles and urinary tract abnormalities, including a frequency of urinary tract infections.

Patients that have this condition often have a large fold of skin that hangs down where the abdominal muscles should lie- hence the “prune.” The disease can cause a multitude of problems, including the size distortion of internal organs and eventual renal failure.

The disease can be detected extremely early- even during an ultrasound while the diseased fetus is in his mother’s womb. Treatment is possible. Usually, a team of doctors and surgeons work together to rebuild the abdominal wall and reroute the urine as it passes through the urethra.

Plastic surgeons can perform a procedure much like a typical tummy tuck, to hide the excess skin, and make the patient appear to have a normal abdominal structure. If you or someone you know has this rare condition and has already received treatment, contact a plastic surgeon today, to see what can be done about your embarrassing excess skin.