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When an Abdominoplasty is Performed. How Does the Rectus Abdominis Muscle Heal?

asked 1 year ago by Double55Nickel in Saratoga Springs, NY
Latest answer by Steven Wallach, MD
Question viewed 539 times
Tags: healing, muscle

What holds it all together? Yes, I know stitches, but do the muscles actually heal together? Is there scar tissue that helps strengthen the rectus abdominis? I just want to know how it all stays together and strong.

4 answers to When an Abdominoplasty is Performed. How Does the Rectus Abdominis Muscle Heal?

+2

Rectus repair

During an abdominoplasty, the diastasis recti is repaired usually with permanent sutures and then scar tissue develops which reinforces the repair.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+2

The muscle fascia heals together with time

Dear Double55Nickel, When abdominal wall plication is done during abdominoplasty, it is actually the tough connective tissue covering (the muscle fascia) that is stitched together. The muscles themselves are not technically stitched together, but the maneuver has the effect of putting the muscles back, side to side again.  When the muscles are brought back together like this, there are two main benefits: The rectus diastasis and laxity of the abdominal... more
Lawrence Tong, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon
+2

Tummy tuck muscle repair explained and compared to tree grafting.

We often use permanent sutures to hold muscles together until they heal, A simple analogy is grafting two tree brancehes with duct tape. initially the tape is all that holds the branches together. With time the branches grow into each other and the tape plays a secondary role and is eventually unnecessary. In a similar fashion stiches hold muscles together unitl they heal. With the proper exercise and core strengthening the muscles remian in alignment and rely less on the sutures. I hope... more
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+2

Abdominal plication techniques for tummy tuck surgery

There is some scar formation between the approximated rectus muscles- but what is really holding the connective tissue together is permanent, non-absorbing suture. Placing absorbable suture in a rectus muscle plication can lead to recurrent abdominal wall laxity.
Scott Sattler, MD

Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

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