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Are the Ab Muscles Cut and Removed During a Tummy Tuck - or Simply Stitched Together?

I was curious during the process of a tummy tuck, do you actually cut and remove part of the abdominal muscles or just the skin on top?

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13 Doctor Answers | Asked by LGMtnMom in Los Gatos, CA

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Are abdominal muscles cut during a tummy tuck?

Thank you for your question. No abdominal muscles are cut nor removed during a tummy tuck procedure. Excessive weight gain or pregnancy causes the abdominal muscles to spread apart. This spreading apart of the muscles causes the abdomen to sag or protrude outward. During a tummy tuck surgery these muscles or rather the covering over the muscles are sutured together in multiple layers. You can think of this as an internal corset. The excessive fat and skin... more

Donald M. Brown, MD

8 reviews

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck Procedure?

Thank you for the question. One of the steps of a tummy tuck procedure involves reapproximation (plication) of the rectus muscles. These muscles are not “cut”. These muscles have spread apart during pregnancy and/or weight gain. Bringing them together again in the midline helps to “tighten” the abdominal wall as well as to narrow the waistline. I use a two layered technique to reapproximate the rectus muscles. The first layer is comprised of... more

Muscles are not routinely cut or removed during tummy tuck

Thank you for your question. Typically, the separated muscles, diastasis recti, are sutured together during tummy tuck. They are not cut or removed. The medical term for this is abdominal plication. I hope this helps.

No Cut Muscles

During an abdomnioplasty, muscles which have separated from pregnancy or weight gain are sutures together. The suturing brings the muscles together, creating an internal corset, which narrows the waist and flattens the appearance of the abdominal bulge.

How are abdominal muscles tightened during a Tummy Tuck ...

When a patient undergoes Abdominoplasty the surgeon will lift the skin to expose the abdominal muscles. At that time your surgeon will examine the muscles to see the degree of tightening needed. The muscles are not cut. Instead, using special suturing techniques the muscles are tightened by plicating them together. Excess skin will then be excised and resutured to leave you with a flatter abdomen. I would make an appointment with a board certified... more

Abdominal muscles are NOT cut, only sutured together during TT.

Rest assured no muscles are cut or removed during a TT.. From either weight gain or pregnancies, the abdominal wall muscles get spread apart, so the abdomen bulges forward in spite of lots of toning excercises for the tummy. During a TT, the edges of the muscles are sutured together, to where they should be normally, so the foundation of the abdominal wall is tight, flat and smooth. The excess skin of the abdomen can now be pulled over this flat foundation and results in an... more

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD

18 reviews

Boston Plastic Surgeon

R Ab Muscles Cut & Removed During a Tummy Tuck - or Stitched Together?

We do not cut and sew the muscles but rather tighten the covering on top of them with stitches. It is that covering or fascia that gets stretched out with pregnancy or weight gain and is why all the sit-ups in the world don't help. The muscles can get stronger with exercise but the fascia can't be tightened!

Tummy Tuck and abdominal muscle treatment

In a tummy tuck the abdominal muscles are not cut or removed; instead, the the connective tissue between the two main abdominal muscles (Rectus Abdominus Muscles) is plicated or oversewn, bringing the two muscles closer together. this is done in a fashion similar to thightening up a corsette or shoelace. Along with this, the connective tissue in the up and/or lower lateral abdomen can be plicated. I this way the waist is narrowed without cutting or removing... more

Rectus muscles are not cut in a tummy tuck

As part of the tummy tuck, the paired rectus abdominis muscles which have separated apart are sutured together, thereby flattening the abdominal and tightening the muscle layer in general. The muscles are not cut. Skin and the associated fat is cut and removed as part of the tummy tuck.

Are the Ab Muscles Cut and Removed During a Tummy Tuck - or Simply Stitched Together?

Dear LGMtnMom, A tummy tuck is an excellent way to remove extra skin from your belly and to tighten your abdomen. During the procedure, an opening is made along the bikini line, the extra skin is lifted and removed, and the abdominal wall muscles (which are often stretched and separated from having kids) are tightened using sutures. The abdominal muscles are left intact and are not cut. I hope this helps. Warmest wishes, Larry Fan, MD

Muscles Plication with Tummy Tuck

The muscles are not cut, but are essentially pleated back together to pull the separated muscles closer together. This is commonly done both above and below the belly button.

Donald Griffin, MD

7 reviews

Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Tightening the abdominal muscles during a tummy tuck

After pregnancy or even major changes in weight, the muscles of the abdomen can loosen, stretch, or move apart, During a tummy tuck we tighten the rectus muscles (the muscles that form the "6 pack") by stitching them together-- we don't cut them. This is a key step in a tummy tuck to give patients the flattest contour and a narrow waistline.

Tummy tuck

The skin and fatty tissue is removed during this operation. The muscles are brought back together which have usually separated with age, weight changes, surgery, and pregnancy.