How Soon Can I Get my Muscle Divarication Repaired After Childbirth? (photo)

I am 5 2", 138lbs. Hour glass shape body, love working out and eating healthy. These pictures Taken are me 5 days after childbirth of my 4th child. My stomach looked this way after my first child, but stuck out a little bit less, still carrying the little flap hangover and the stomach bulge was still quite noticeable. I've been asked if I'm pregnant several times when I wasn't. I plan on working out when I reach my 6wk postpartum but I know I won't be able to get ride of it entirely

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10 Doctor Answers | Asked by Mariah2013

Doctor Answers (10)
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How Soon Can I Get my Muscle Divarication Repaired After Childbirth

What you and your surgeon want to have is recovery from the delivery. The amount of extra tissue right after the birth is almost always much greater than the amount 3 or 6 months later, making it not possible to accurately assess the amount of excess needing excision. Too early surgery could result in too much having been removed, or too little. Either outcome would be unsatisfactory. Four to six months is a reasonable time to have your surgery. However, it is not too early to begin the... more

How Soon After Delivery Can a Tummy Tuck Be Performed?

I typically recommend waiting approximately 3 months after delivery to have a tummy tuck performed. This will allow the swelling from the delivery to go away and will give you an accurate assessment of whether or not you need a tummy tuck and your surgeon an accurate assessment of how much tissue needs to be removed. Congratulations on the new baby!

How Soon Can I Get my Muscle Divarication Repaired After Childbirth?

Try the postpartum plan. If at 3 months still unhappy than consider TT with muscle repair. But too early now to think surgery.

Diastasis

You will notice that your abdomen will shrink considerably in the next few months. I would wait at least 6 months if not longer

How Soon After Delivery Can I Have A FTT With Muscle Repair?

Thank you for this excellent question and your photographs. Most plastic surgeons would recommend you return to your pre-pregnancy weight. However, your photographs show that you are not carrying much baby fat, and so this recommendation probably does not apply to you. You need to allow your skin and muscles to regain their normal tone because a great deal of tension will be placed on them during the tummy tuck, and you do not want your tissue to tear, thereby causing the... more

How soon for Tummy Tuck after childbirth?

You need to wait until you are fully recovered from childbirth before having surgery. This could could take 4 to 6 months. While you are recovering, you may want to wear an abdominal binder for support. Take care of yourself, and seek an evaluation from a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss your concerns and expectations.

Robert E. Zaworski, MD

4 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck timing

Dear Mariah, Thanks for submitting your pictures. The are very impressive, but it's only 5 days from surgery. The pictures reveal significant skin laxity , large diasthesis recti (muscles separation ) and possibly umbilical hernia. In my practice I recommend 3 - 6 months interval from your delivery , in order to let the tissues shrink and achieve a stable condition. At that time you will need a full tummy tuck that includes skin and muscle tightening and possibly ,... more

Repair of muscle weakness and tummy tuck

I would recommend waiting for six months, but to wear some tummy support while you are waiting. Then if the problem still persists (and I suspect it might), you will need a repair of not just the divarication of the rectus muscles, but quite likely some tightening of the external oblique muscles (muscles on both sides away from the mid-line too. At the same time the surgeon will be able to remove any skin excess in the form of a tummy tuck.

Anindya Lahiri, MBBS

4 reviews

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

Timing to Repair Abdominal Wall Diastasis?

Thank you for the question and pictures. Your pictures do demonstrate impressive abdominal wall muscle diastasis. You will be an excellent candidate for repair; you are correct in that no amount of “working out” will be helpful in correcting the muscle separation that has occurred after the pregnancies. More specific advice would require in-person consultation but some general thoughts may be helpful to you. However, I think that it is safe to say that... more