What happens when you have your omentum removed?

September 24, 2025 •

4 min read

The omentum is a large, fatty apron of tissue that plays a protective role in the abdomen by fighting infection and assisting in healing. For those facing cancer treatment or other conditions, a surgeon may decide to remove this organ, which begs the question: What happens when you have your omentum removed?

Quick Summary

Undergoing an omentectomy, or removal of the omentum, is generally a safe procedure, though it may result in short-term side effects like pain and fluid retention. The organ does not regrow, but since it doesn't perform a vital function for organ operation, its absence doesn't cause major long-term health issues, though it may increase the risk of adhesions in subsequent surgeries.

Key Points

Surgical Necessity: Omentum removal (omentectomy) is most often performed during cancer surgery for diagnosis, staging, or treatment, especially for ovarian, colorectal, or stomach cancers.
Limited Long-Term Impact: The omentum is not a vital organ for normal bodily functions, and the body compensates for its loss. Patients can live normal lives without it.
Temporary Side Effects: Expect short-term recovery side effects like pain, fatigue, fluid retention, and changes in bowel habits, which vary based on the extent of the surgery.
No Regeneration: The omentum does not grow back after being surgically removed.
Considerations for Future Surgery: Informing future surgeons of the omentectomy is crucial, as its absence alters the anatomy of the abdominal cavity and may affect subsequent procedures.
Potential Complications: While manageable, potential risks include infection, bleeding, adhesions, bowel obstruction, and, rarely, a hernia at the donor site.

Understanding the Role of the Omentum

Often called the 'abdominal policeman,' the omentum is a sheet of fatty tissue that covers the abdominal organs, including the stomach and intestines. It is rich in blood vessels and clusters of immune cells known as 'milky spots'. Its primary functions are protective:

Immune Response: The milky spots act as filters, absorbing and clearing bacteria and other contaminants from the peritoneal cavity.
Wound Healing: It moves to inflamed or injured areas, adhering to them to wall off infections and aid in tissue repair.
Fat Storage: It serves as a significant depot for visceral fat, which also has metabolic and endocrine functions.

For most individuals, the removal of this organ, known as an omentectomy, does not lead to significant long-term functional deficits, as the body's other defenses compensate.

Why an Omentectomy is Performed

An omentectomy is most commonly performed in conjunction with surgery for certain types of cancer. The omentum is a common site for cancer cells, particularly those from ovarian, colorectal, and stomach cancers, to metastasize.

Common reasons for removal include:

Cancer Treatment: As part of a debulking procedure, where the surgeon removes as much cancerous tissue as possible.
Cancer Staging: To determine if cancer cells have spread beyond the primary tumor, even if the omentum appears normal to the naked eye.
Diagnosis: To examine the tissue for signs of disease, especially in cases where imaging shows abnormal thickening, sometimes referred to as 'omental caking'.

The Omentectomy Procedure and Types

The surgical approach for an omentectomy depends on the patient's condition, the extent of the cancer, and the surgeon's expertise. The procedure can be performed in two main ways:

Laparoscopic or Robotic Surgery: A minimally invasive approach using several small incisions and specialized tools. This typically results in a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery.
Open Abdominal Surgery: A traditional approach using one large incision across the abdomen. This is more common when multiple organs need to be removed or when the cancer is extensive.

There are also different types of omentectomy based on how much of the tissue is removed:

Total (Supracolic) Omentectomy: The entire omentum is removed.
Partial (Infracolic) Omentectomy: Only a portion of the omentum is removed.

Short-Term Recovery and Side Effects

As with any surgery, there are potential side effects and a recovery period following an omentectomy. The length of recovery can vary significantly depending on whether other procedures were performed simultaneously, such as a hysterectomy or colectomy.

Common short-term side effects include:

Pain: Tenderness and discomfort around the incision sites.
Fatigue: A common side effect following major surgery.
Fluid Retention (Lymphedema): Swelling caused by blocked lymphatic vessels.
Gastrointestinal Issues: Temporary changes in bowel habits, nausea, or vomiting.
Risk of Infection and Bleeding: As with any surgery, there is a risk of infection at the incision site or internal bleeding.

Long-Term Implications of Omentum Removal

Despite its protective functions, the omentum is not considered a vital organ for normal bodily function. The body's other immune systems and structures compensate for its removal. While most people live normal, healthy lives without an omentum, there are a few long-term considerations.

No Long-Term Functional Deficit: Its absence doesn't cause major issues with organ operation, and the body adapts effectively.
Risk of Adhesions: Following surgery, there is a possibility of developing adhesions (scar tissue) that can lead to a small bowel obstruction.
Subsequent Surgeries: During any future abdominal surgeries, surgeons must be more cautious when entering the cavity, as the protective 'apron' of the omentum is no longer present. This can increase the risk of bowel injury.
Donor-Site Hernia: A long-term complication associated with the healing process can be the formation of a hernia at the surgical site.
Compromised Immune Function? While studies have shown some systemic compensatory mechanisms, some research suggests a potential impairment of peritoneal defenses, though this risk is often weighed against the benefits of cancer treatment.

Total vs. Partial Omentectomy


Feature	Total Omentectomy	Partial Omentectomy
Extent of Removal	Entire omentum is removed.	A section of the omentum is removed.
Reason for Surgery	Advanced cancer or thorough staging.	Localized cancer or for biopsy.
Surgical Incision	Often requires open abdominal surgery.	More frequently can be done laparoscopically.
Recovery Time	Potentially longer, especially with other procedures.	Potentially shorter, especially with laparoscopic surgery.
Risk of Complications	Potentially higher risk due to extent of procedure.	Lower risk due to less invasive approach.

Life After Omentum Removal

Most patients do not notice any significant difference in their daily lives after recovering from an omentectomy. The primary focus of post-operative care is managing recovery from the entire procedure, which often includes the removal of other organs. Follow-up may involve chemotherapy or radiation, depending on the cancer diagnosis.

If you have had an omentectomy, it's crucial to inform any future healthcare providers or surgeons, as the absence of the omentum is an important factor to consider during subsequent abdominal procedures.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. For specific medical concerns, always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Learn more about the procedure and outcomes from the Moffitt Cancer Center.

Conclusion

Having your omentum removed is a common procedure, particularly for certain types of cancer. While it serves a number of protective functions in the body, its removal does not typically lead to major long-term health problems. Patients should expect a recovery period with temporary side effects, and should always inform future medical teams of the procedure. Ultimately, the decision to undergo an omentectomy is based on a careful weighing of risks and benefits by your medical team.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main reason is typically to remove cancerous tissue that has spread to the omentum, particularly from ovarian, stomach, or colorectal cancers. It can also be removed for diagnostic purposes to check for microscopic cancer cells or as a preventative measure.

Yes, you can live a normal life without an omentum. While it serves some immune and protective functions, the body compensates, and its absence doesn't cause major long-term problems with your abdominal organs.

While temporary changes in bowel habits like nausea and constipation can occur in the short term during recovery, the long-term effect on digestion is negligible. The omentum doesn't play a crucial role in the digestive process itself.

Omental caking is a radiological term used to describe the abnormal thickening of the omentum caused by inflammation or, most commonly, by metastatic cancer cells infiltrating the tissue.

The risks include general surgical complications like bleeding, infection, and nerve damage. A specific long-term risk is the development of abdominal adhesions, which can cause a small bowel obstruction.

No, once the omentum is removed, it does not grow back.

Not always. It can be performed minimally invasively via laparoscopy, though it is often part of a larger, more extensive open abdominal surgery when treating advanced cancer.