FlexaMed Umbilical Navel Hernia Belt with Compression Pad 8 Inch White - XXXL

The FlexaMed hernia belt (size XL, width 8 inches) has worked well for my large incisional hernia. I have a vertical, long (13-inch) incision from an abdominal surgery 12 years ago. I developed a large hernia about 3 inches above the umbilicus (navel) over the last 5 years. This hernia allows the small intestine to protrude through the hole in the muscle wall, which is quite painful and also creates a large bulge in my midsection just above the waist. In addition I have several small hernias close to the umbilicus. I am a woman, 5'3" with a 45-inch waist (which includes the large bulge due to the hernia), so the size I purchased is fine for me. I have a complex abdominal repair surgery coming up in two months, so the need to wear this belt, from the time I get out of bed until I go to bed, has become truly imperative. The removable foam pad is OK, but does not give me enough compression to keep the small intestine from pushing through the hernia opening. My fix was to remove the foam pad and use a tennis ball positioned at the critical spot below the hernia belt. The tennis ball stays mostly in place with a few adjustments during the day because I have the belt pulled as tight as I can make it. I anticipate that during the recovery period, after the repair surgery, the foam pad will become useful again, as I would no longer need the high amount of compression I am getting from the tennis ball. I have purchased a second belt, so that I can wash and dry one belt while wearing the second one.Overall rating: 4.5 stars. 5 stars for quality of materials and workmanship and the effectiveness of the belt, 4 stars because the elastic in the belt has developed creases where the belt tends to roll, making the belt a little uncomfortable. I will update this review if needed.

I would give this company a 10 if I could !! It was delivered very fast but was to small for me (had bought a medium). Called customer service and they shipped me large size even before I shipped back my original one. They even customized it for me to add more Velcro to extend the range of closure....was their suggestion, they make it on site and not in some remote overseas factory. Although originally I felt it was overpriced, the outcome made it all that more acceptable.I have a tennis ball size ventral hernia (not umbilical) and the stiff pad made it more effective in keeping "my guts" from sticking out. I was previously wearing the standard surgical binder (hernia is the result of a major abdominal surgery which I will eventually get it repaired correctly).As others have commented, the whole belt tends to move up after wearing it during the day, but that is no different than all my other surgical binders, and I have tried many of them in the last 11 months. The stiff pad does not slide out of its pocket and it is as comfortable as one could be if you want to keep the "guts" in place.Would highly recommend the product and the company.

this actually turned out to be something I really use! I ordered one size and changed my mind as order was being prepared and they got it right.They are on top of their game as they also sent me an e-mail with exact measurements of the belts unstreached. For me the 6" belt was a concern but now I see the 10' would be to wide for all day at work wear and comfort. It would have been a "slam dunk" 5 star except the pad does work its way up and partially out. That has to be addressed. I will do something for mine myself. but it should be redesigned with a flap to hold the pad in.As far as how it works? it works great for me. Does what it claims and I wear it most of the time. It takes practice getting it on but I am talking 2 days and its a piece of cake.

Very firm support for the umbilical area. The foam insert does exactly what it needs to do, putting solid pressure on the needed area. Easy to tighten and loosen as needed. Very helpful. I didn't know that black was an option, as I work outdoors and it would hide the dirt better than the white, but I wear under my shirt so no-one else sees that but me!

I'm a retired RN and while recovering from bilateral pneumonia, I had a coughing fit so bad that it opened a hernia in my umbilicus. When coughing, sneezing, or just blowing my nose, part of my intestine would pop (I use that word because that's how it felt) through the hernia and fortunately I could easily push it back in.I started looking for a truss to wear until I could determine whether I could get the hernia to close with exercise or if I would need to have surgery to repair it. After looking at several different hernia belts, I decided on the FlexaMed Hernia Belt as it was the highest rated, but in use, this belt falls short.The reinforcing pad used in the belt is made of firm white foam material that is 1/2 inch thick and measures 4 7/8" in length and is tapered so that one end is 3 3/8" wide and the other end is 4 1/8" wide. This pad fits into a pocket in the belt and is meant to be positioned directly over the hernia. The belt is well constructed of an elastic material and is secured with velcro.The problem with the belt is that the reinforcing pad is not stiff enough to keep the hernia from protruding whenever I cough or blow my nose. I still have to apply pressure over the hernia with my hand to keep the hernia from bulging through the umbilicus. The belt does provide enough support whenever I'm at rest or moving around the house and I have not recovered sufficiently from the pneumonia to determine whether the belt will be supportive enough when exercising. I also feel that the elasticity of the belt which is probably intended to facilitate fitting multiple sizes also contributes to the lack of support I have experienced.For umbilical and ventral hernias, the best belt would have to be size specific so that the belt itself does not stretch which actually takes away from its ability to be supportive, and the reinforcing pad needs to be made of a stiffer material that will not "give" so easily. But I don't know if such a belt exists since all the belts I have seen have been of a similar construction and features as this belt.