Large Diastasis. My Surgeon is Board Certified, Yet Not a Plastic Surgeon?

I have a large diastasis, conservatively, the size of a nerf ball. The doctor I am considering is a board certified general surgeon whom specializes in nothing but abdominal repairs and at a university. my concern is, he seeming has great credentials yet is NOT a plastic surgeon. He said he can push it through my insurance, yet not likely through a plastic surgeon. Is it unheard of, that a doctor of his nature being able to perform the full diastasis repair and tummy tuck properly or not?

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9 Doctor Answers | Asked by Sailawaycher

Doctor Answers (9)
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Repair of Diastasis

General surgeons can perform hernia repairs.The end point for a successful repair for a general surgeon and plastic surgeon are two different things. The general surgeon will typically define success as elimination of the risk of strangulation of the contents through the hernia while a plastic surgeon will define success as a return to the pre-pregnant shape and position

Board Certification in WHAT SPECIALTY?

You are basically hoping this American Board of Surgery-certified General Surgeon can "push it through" insurance. What is the "it" he's pushing through? Tummy tuck with diastasis repair? Or will he be stretching his ethics and calling it a "ventral hernai repair?" (This is called insurance fraud.) Are you sure he's planning a low transverse incision (abdominoplasty incision), appropriate skin flap dissection, preservation of the umbilicus with adequate blood supply, rectus... more

Board Certification and Competence to Perform Specific Surgeries

Hello, Although this general surgeon may be certified by the American Board of General Surgery, and he should be able to fix an abdominal wall hernia and diastasis, performing the rest of the abdominoplasty is out of his scope of knowledge and practical skill-set. It is unlikely he has performed few if any abdominoplasties, and you wouldn't want to be one of his first, would you? If you want an abdominoplasty, you should go to a surgeon that is certified by the American Board... more

General surgeon

A general surgeon hasn't really trained in repair of diastase. I feel that you should get another opinion from a board certified plastic surgeon in your area

General surgeon performing tummy tuck

A diastasis is not covered by insurance, regardless of who is doing the operation. If you have an actual ventral hernia, then this may be covered. My concern would be that, notwithstanding the general surgeon's ability to perform a hernia repair, which is as basis a procedure as they come, he has not had the additional training in performing abdominoplasties which occurs during the plastic surgery residency. I would recommend that you see a board certified plastic surgeon in consultation... more

Choosing Surgeon for Tummy Tuck?

Thank you for the question. With all the well-trained and well experienced board certified plastic surgeons who do the operation you are seeking on a daily basis, why would you choose otherwise? The fact that you are asking the question demonstrates a level of sophistication and appropriate concern. My advice: be careful with your selection of surgeon. No surgeon is “perfect” and every surgeon has complications but your best bet (with this specific operation) is... more

Rectus diastasis repair

My suggestion would be to see a board certified plastic surgeon in your area for a consultation. It does not sound like you have an abdominal wall hernia. If you are seeking repair of your muscle separation and an abdominoplasty, then you need to see a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and who is also a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Accept no imitations (no matter what titles, university appointments, or confusing... more

General surgeon to fix diastasis?

I certainly wouldn't quit bowl about the qualifications of this general surgeon's (who specializes in abdominal wall repairs at University) qualifications to fix a diastasis. However without knowing who he is I certainly would not comment on his qualifications to do a tummy tuck. If you have any question I'm sure he has colleagues in his hospital or plastic surgeons with whom he could consult. Best wishes.

Rectus diastasis treated by general surgeon

Great question! The answer will depend on your medical history and your exam. Separation of the rectus muscles (6 pack muscles) in the midline of your abdomen is called a diastasis. If this diastasis is wide enough, then it can be a hernia. Have you had surgery through a midline abdominal incision before? Have you lost a lot of weight, such as after gastric bypass surgery? If you do have a very wide diastasis and it is creating a hernia, then a board certified general... more