Tummy Tuck: Prices, Photos, Reviews, Info, Q&A

Tummy tuck required to fix diastasis recti?

To fully expose the abdominal muscles and repair them requires a incision closer to a full tummy tuck rather than a mini tummy tuck. When the muscle separation is repaired, the muscles are pulled toward the midline as well as the overlying tissues. Without adequate release of these tissues, as is done in a full tummy tuck for diastasis recti, the belly will not have a smooth contour.

Therefore, there is no real advantage to a mini tummy tuck for diastasis recti. The pain with either procedure will be the same due to the muscle repair and the full tummy tuck generally gives a better cosmetic result since more skin tightening can occur. (John Zavell, MD, FACS, Toledo Plastic Surgeon)

Rectus diastasis repair without tummy tuck?

A tummy tuck for diastasis recti

You could have just the rectus diastasis repaired, but there would likely be loose skin in the abdomen that will not look very good. One could make small incisions to perform the repair, but again, depending on the degree of diastasis, and skin laxity, you would likely have more excess skin. In the appropriate patient, a partial tummy tuck can be a good option.

Good candidates for this operation have only a small amount of excess skin in the lower abdomen. The entire rectus diastasis can also be repaired at the same time. You should consult with a board certified plastic surgeon who can examine you and advise you on the best treatment option. (David S. Chang, MD, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy tuck for diastasis recti

Tummy tuck surgery for diastasis recti

Repairing the muscle separation (diastasis recti) is an important part of most abdominoplasties, especially after pregnacies. Although the muscle separation can occasionally be found with minimum skin excess this is rare. Best to have the diastasis repaired with a tummy tuck for better long lasting results. (G. Wesley Price, MD, Bethesda Plastic Surgeon)

Diastasis Repair

Tummy tuck operation for diastasis recti

Diastasis is the stretching of the muscle connective tissue in the mid line after having a baby. It is not a true hernia, but a laxity of the abdominal wall because of being stretched out. You can improve the tone of the muscles, but cannot tighten the loose connective tissue no matter how many sit ups you do a day.

Some non-plastic surgeons will try to fix this as a hernia and occasionally use mesh through a direct approach or incision over the hernia without addressing the loose skin. In my experience, the diastasis is best repaired through a scar you can hide (tummy tuck scar) and you can get rid of the loose skin at the same time. (Christopher J. Kovanda, MD, Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy Tuck is Necessary to Repair Diastasis

Tummy tuck for diastasis recti photo

Diastasis recti refers to a separation of the muscles in the middle of the abdomen. The rectus muscles extend from the rib cage down to the pubic bone, one on each side of the belly button. Very often, childbearing will separate these muscles in the middle of the abdomen, leaving a weakness in this area.

This weakness can contribute to the appearance of a protuberant abdomen. In order to repair the diastasis, a tummy tuck approach is necessary.

When a tummy tuck is performed, an incision is usually made from one hip to the other. The incision is carried down to the underlying muscle layer. It does not go through the muscle layer.

A t this level, the skin and fat are elevated off of the muscle until the belly button is reached. In order to continue lifting this tissue it is necessary to make an incision around the belly button, lifting the skin and fat off the belly button and the underlying muscle layer.

The tummy tuck for diastasis recti

This allows for good visualization of the diastasis recti. Once it is well visualized, it can be brought back together with a series of stitches. Once this is accomplished, the skin and fat layer are then pulled down as tight as possible and a new hole is made for the belly button to come back out of. The excess skin and fat are then discarded.

The only other way to approach the diastasis may be by making an incision from the rib cage down to the pubic bone and identifying the edges of the diastasis recti. In this situation, however, the muscle is tightened without redraping the abdominal skin and fat.

Tummy tuck for diastasis recti patient photo

This can lead to very unwanted distortion of the overlying skin and fat. In addition to that, a scar is incurred from the rib cage down to the pubic bone which is significantly less appealing than the normal low tummy tuck incision. (John J. Edney, MD, Omaha Plastic Surgeon)

Diastasis repair

Usually a tummy tuck is a good idea if you are performing a diastasis repair, but it is not required. If the muscle laxity is significant, you need to undermine the skin to achieve the best result. At that point, removing the loose skin is usually the best option. (David Stoker, MD, Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon)

Is a Tummy Tuck Required to Fix Diastasis Recti?

Abdominoplasty for diastasis recti

Tricky to answer this question with a brief note, but the short answer is no. The diastasis could be repaired without the tummy incision, but this would leave you with a very large up and down scar in the middle of your abdomen.

The diastasis repair will be done well through a tummy tuck incision and the final results will be so much prettier that I am not sure why someone would want to do it other than through the tummy tuck incision. (Garrett A. Wirth, MD, FACS, Orange County Plastic Surgeon)

Just Repairing Diastasis Without A Tummy Tuck

There are two ways to correct the diastasis you are talking about without a full tummy tuck. The first is an endoscopic approach.

This is performed in some centers but certainly not in all. It has the downside of not addressing the skin unless a mini tummy tuck is added. The mini is an option in a relatively small selection of people with minimal excess but a bulge. This adds an incision that starts about the same width as a c-section incision but can be made longer if necessary.

Your best option is to find a surgeon who does a modern variation of many different kinds of tummy tuck (mini, full drainless, extended, fleur-de-lis, circumferential, high lateral tension, lower body lift etc) and spend some time talking over your options. (Jeremy Pyle, MD, Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon)