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Diastasis Repair with Liposuction but No Tummy Tuck?

I'm considering Tummy Tuck but I've had much anxiety over the full procedure. I'm app 10 lbs from my pre-baby weight and I've had two cesareans, the last one was Feb 2009.

Though I do have a bit of loose skin, I'm hesitant to get a full tuck and would prefer to repair my Diastasis and possibly a bit of Liposuction instead. Can this be done or would I look deflated and end up with even more excess skin?

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19 Doctor Answers | Asked by mizuzjones in Canada

Doctor Answers (19)
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Repairing deep muscles without a full tummy tuck

Whatever choice you make, the plan should include a full tightening of the deep layer, repair of the diastasis, and repair of what appears to be a belly button hernia. A standard mini tummy tuck will not help the problems in the belly button or in the upper abdomen. A full tummy tuck will certainly accomplish all of these, but will leave you with a long and high incision. I am not sure that is justified with your frame and apparent fairly tight skin on the abdomen. It is possible to... more

Don't skimp on abdominoplasty

You must realize that if you have liposuction and diastasis repair you will have evn more loose skin than you already have. Since you already have a C-section scar and you have a diastasis and you appear to have loose skin you are an ideal candidate for a full tummy tuck. You will be far happier with the full treatment than with the compromise.

Loose skin problem.

The key phrase in your question is "loose skin". With pregancies you will probably need a plication of your abdominal muscles. You do not appear to have a lot of abdominal fat just a loss of your waist due to the lax abdominal muscles. Do not look to liposuction to solve either of these problems. You are correct in thinking that removal of abdominal fat may cause deflation with the problem of excess abdominal skin. Congats on being so close to your prepregnancy... more

Robert E. Zaworski, MD

4 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

T

You are a good candidate for that procedure. you have to cut the base of the belly button to do the repair. Your belly button looks as though it may have a umbilical hernia, which ,if so, would make it slightyly more difficult...If you have a mini, then, you can have a full because the belly button will have been cut off at the base. The problem is a full would cut off the blood supply and a high chance of belly button death. Please make sure to discuss all of this wit more

Endoscopic abdominoplasty or Mini Tummy Tuck

That is a great question. Some patients with a diastasis of their stomach muscles (widening) are candidates for an endoscopic repair which entails two small incisions (lower abdomen and belly button) and then using a small endoscope and special instruments, the muscles can be repaired. This procedure is combined with liposuction, and is only reserved for patients with no excess skin. As far as a mini tummy tuck, that procedure repairs the muscles and removes skin well below the belly button... more

Liposuction can't fix loose muscles

I think you already know that, based on your comments. You look great and have done a good job getting back in shape after pregnancy! You don't have much fat on your abdomen, so liposuction is not what I would recommend. You are likely to end up with wrinkly loose skin, if not contour deformities (dents). I hate to tell you this, but a tummy tuck would be best for you, as it would tighten the muscle and get rid of the loose skin you have. The scar can be placed low enough that it's hidden... more

Carmen Kavali, MD

11 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Full Tummy Tucks provide the best results

I hate to rain on your parade, but I would recommend a full tummy tuck. Of course, I can't see your entire torso, and your hands obscure your hips. Nevertheless, I bet that you do have rectus diastasis, and I don't know of any way to properly repair a rectus diastasis without at least some form of tummy tuck. I have never been a fan of mini tummy tucks. I have often seen dog ears result, and the belly button is always pulled a little too low. In particular, your belly button could benefit... more

A mini tummy tuck will give you a mini result

I do see that a lot of your issue is separation of the muscles based on the widening seen in your photos. There is probably a bit more excess skin than is obvious in the photos too. While repair of the muscles could be done through a small C-section incision, you will not have good control of the excess skin at all. Lipo of your abdomen will not be helpful. My experience is that patients who have a mini-tummy tuck will almost always complain of their excess skin, a rarely be pleased with... more

Mini-tummy tuck and liposuction after a c-section

Hi Mizuzjones - It appears as though you're an excellent candidate for a mini-tummy tuck with liposuction. This will remove a small amount of skin and your old c-section scar while allowing access to your entire abdominal wall to tighten your diastasis. Liposuction is great with this procedure as well, and you could get it for your hips if you'd like. The entire procedure can be done as an outpatient and should take around 3-5 hours. The post-operative discomfort is well controlled with... more

Well

I don't see quarter or side views. You appear to have an umbilial hernia. That said, I don't see how you can get the repair of the diastasis without a scar. Since you will have a scar, you should just get the tummy tuck and the navel fixed. Alternatively, you may want to investigate laser or UAL to help shrink skin, get small scars, and forget about the diastasis. sek

Tummy tuck for minimal deformity.

Hi! I would need to see a side view to be sure, but you look awfully good right now. Liposuction will not help you. If you do anything, it should be a full tummy tuck. This a lot of surgery with a long horizontal scar, and you would also need a short vertical scar. You may want to leave well enough alone.

You will be the happiest with a full tummy tuck

I have to add my agreement with the other doctors here. If you want to have the flattest stomach possible, look the best in bikini, and not regret our decision then without a doubt in your case a full tummy tuck will give you the best result. Anything less than that (liposuction alone, mini-tummy tuck) will leave you disappointed with residual loose. The full tummy tuck will also be able to tighten the loose skin at the top of your thighs that I see below your bikini bottom. Although it may... more

Can rectus diastasis be repaired without a tummy tuck?

Thanks so much for posting your photo since it gives us a lot of information. I agree with the other physicians. You should NOT just get liposuction. It will not do anything for the diastasis or the loose skin. In order to do the diastasis repair, it will require reopening your C-section incision, at the least. Your best procedure is one of two options: 1. Open the c-section incision. Do a diastasis repair. Then, do a mini-abdominoplasty 2. Do a full abdominoplasty with diastasis repair and... more

Tummy tucks. diastasis repair, and liposuction

Hey Mizuzjones, It's good that you have been willing to post a photo of yourself for us to look at in order to get a better idea of what your concerns are. Also, you are to be commended in getting back to your pre-pregnancy weight. My recommendation to you would be to have a tummy tuck (yep, the whole thing). And there are several reasons for this. The first is that you do have some excess or loose skin. If you do not have this addressed, you will not have the best result and you may... more

Diastasis Repair without Abdominoplasty

From your pictures, it looks like you would benefit from a full abdominoplasty with diastasis repair. Liposuction will not tighten your skin. If you have a endoscopic diastasis repair without excision of your excess skin, the skin will still be loose and you will look worse off. Good luck.

Very little gain with diastasis repair without Tummy Tuck

There is very little to gain by attempting to perform a diastasis repair without doing a tummy tuck. In order to gain access to the muscle to perform the repair, the skin and fat would need to be elevated off the underlying muscle. You already have a C-section scar, so removal of the excess skin would add very little morbidity (but a good bit of enhancement) to the procedure.

Diastasis and Liposuction

You appear to have some laxity of the abdominal wall as a result of your pregnancies. I feel that liposuction alone will not have a significant effect on your contour. The best option would be a complete abdominoplasty - the diastasis could be repaired, all your redundant skin would be removed. Repairing the diastasis, if it is wide, alone without elevating the subcutaneous tissue off the fascia can result in a midline fullness of the skin and subcutaneous tissues post-op. Liposuction alone... more

Full tummy tuck vs liposuction and diastasis repair

It looks like you do have some lax skin and stretch marks which are a sign of lost elasticity. If you just repair the rectus diastasis alone, your skin will not shrink well and neither will it from liposuction. If you want the tightest flattest abdomen you can have a full tummy tuck is the best choice. But meet with some plastic surgeons for alternatives and ask them for realistic expectations and what the compromises are from lesser surgeries.

You may not need a full tummy tuck (TT abdominoplasty)

You would end up with extra skin but a small amount of that could be treated with a mini-tummy tuck and you are an ideal candidate after having undergone a c-section. With essentially a slight legthening of the pfannenstiel incision, you could have liposuction, repair of the diastasis (possibly requiring an umbilical incision) conservative dermolipectomy (skin removal). see video