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Is a Tummy Tuck Required to Fix Diastasis Recti?

After having twins and another child, my abdominal muscles have stretched apart, causing about a 3 inch space between the two. Can I get the diastasis recti repaired without having a full tummy tuck?

If this can be done, how would a surgeon go about doing it? And will it create more excess skin? Perhaps a mini tummy tuck would be better?

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31 Doctor Answers | Asked by Mosche in New York, New York, USA

Doctor Answers (31)
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Repairing muscles after pregnancy

Yes, you can have just muscle repair done without having a tummy tuck, but I'm not sure that makes sense. After all, the muscle repair is the part of the tummy tuck that hurts the most. If you're going to have that done, why not get the added benefit from a fully tummy tuck with removal of the loose skin on the abdomen? A mini-tummy tuck does not repair the muscle all the way from the ribs down to the pubic bone, and it does not remove any loose skin around or above the belly... more

Carmen Kavali, MD

11 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

A full tummy tuck is necessary to repair a diastasis recti, a mini tummy tuck will not

A full tummy tuck is necessary to repair a diastasis recti. During a full tummy tuck, the surgeon can expose all of the rectus muscle so that it can be properly repaired. A mini tummy tuck is done on the lower abdomen below the umbilicus or belly button. During the mini tummy tuck the surgeon cannot repair the upper part of the rectus muscle. If the lower muscle diastasis recti is repaired during a mini tummy tuck and the upper muscle is left unrepaired, then an unsightly bulge will be seen... more

You will need a full tummy tuck

With the degree of stretching you have sustained, the tightening of your rectus diastasis will leave you with substantially MORE loose skin than you presently have. Only a full tummy tuck can deal with that loose skin properly. I operated on a woman who had a 3 inch diastasis just last week and it was AMAZING how much skin laxity was present after. I almost needed to do the full horizontal scar plus a full vertical scar to remove it. I was able to use some veteran tricks and avoid the... more

Diastasis repair

If you have had a few children and now have a diastasis, I would suggest having a full tummy tuck to repair the weak muscles.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

No, a full abdominoplasty is not necessary to fix a rectus diastasis

A rectus diastasis, which is a gap between the rectus abdominus or "six-pack" muscles, CAN be fixed through a c-section incision if your plastic surgeon can do it - it's not easy get up to the ribs through a smaller scar, but it definitely can be done. If your skin quality is great but you have a pregnant looking bulge, this a great procedure for you. To get the terminology straight, a "full abdominoplasty" means that the scar is long, and that... more

Lisa B. Cassileth, MD

3 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

A full tummy tuck is your best option

Having had twins, your abdominal muscles most likely have stretched apart much more than what typically occurs with a single pregnancy. Every patient I have ever seen that has had twins ultimately needed a FULL tummy tuck, even when there is not necessarily that much "loose skin." It is the inside that needs the most tightening, the myofascial wall (covering of the muscles). A mini tummy tuck (or mini-abdominoplasty) is really MINI RESULTS. If you are considering surgical... more

Separated abdominal Muscles, Diastasis Recti

You have a significant Diastasis Recti. Repair of the muscles of the abdomen is part of the abdominoplasty. Your seperation is huge (I have patientes that looked as if they were 6 months pregnant from Diastasis Recti). You may need a COMPONENT SEPARATION Type of Procedure to give you the best repair and results. This method repairs the posterior fascia then the anterior fascia amd advance the external oblique muscles to the repair to give you the waist you want.

Diastasis can be repaired without tummy tuck

Hi Mosche, Yes, you can. The plastic surgeon can repair the diastasis endoscopically, using small incisions. However, the surgeon has to discuss with you if you might need mesh to repair the diastasis; in this case it would be harder to do endoscopically. It is very unusual for someone to need repair of diastasis but not removal of excess skin. If you do have excess skin, in my experience you will be much happier with a full abdominoplasty. Make sure you discuss the pros and cons of each... more

Tummy tuck not necessary to fix a diastasis recti

SEE VIDEO BELOW for repair of diastasis recti: Because a diastasis recti is most commonly associated with pregnancy, a tummy tuck is the most common approach to its repair. However, men and nulliparous women can be effected by a congenital diastasis recti, and depending on the severity of the separation, a variety of approaches using limited incisions can be used to repair a diastasis recti. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

In a word, yes.

A tummy tuck is designed to improve three different elements of the abdominal wall: the muscles (rectus diastasis), the fat beneath the skin, and the skin itself. In different people more or less may need to be done to each of these elements. In women who have had multiple pregnancies or large pregnancies, the muscle separation or rectus diastasis is key to getting a good shape. In order to gain access to the muscles, the incisions and dissection for the tummy tuck must be performed. So,... more

Diastasis repair really requires a full tummy tuck

While other options have been advanced, like mini-tummy tucks and endoscopic muscle plication, the only real reliable way to repair a large diastasis is with a full tummy tuck. If you only do a mini, you only address the muscle and skin below the belly button, and just like squeezing a tube of toothpaste in the middle, the upper part of the abdomen will now be loose relative to the lower, and it will protrude. Unfortunately there is no shortcut around this muscle repair issue,... more

Is a Tummy Tuck Required to Fix Diastasis Recti?

Hi Mosche and thanks for your question. You will need an incision ( cut) and elevation of the abdominal skin above and below the belly button to expose the entire diastasis recti prior to repairing it. These 2 steps are identical to what is required in a tummy tuck. So, you might as well have a TT. I would be surprised if any PS would suggest otherwise.

Rectus diastasis and tummy tuck

Hi There are a number of key anatomical steps in a full tummy tuck: liposuction of the abdo and flanks excision of excess lower abdominal tissue reapproximation of separated rectus muscle recreation of a belly button If you have no excess skin or fat, then you may be a candidate for a endoscopic assisted tummy tuck where the belly button is "floated" and the muscles reapproximated. The incision is still a transverse one just above the pubic... more

Tummy Tuck to fix abdominal muscle weakness or Diastasis Recti

A tummy tuck fixes the separation between the two abdominal Recti muscles by bringing them toghter and sticking them. It is not possible to do this without a tummy tuck.

Repairing a Diastasis Recti Involves an Abdominoplasty at the Same Time

The paired rectus abdominus muscles are located on either side of the midline and are oriented vertically. They extend from the rib cage to the pubic bone and are the muscles we use when performing sit ups. There is usually only a minimal gap between these muscles under normal circumstances. During pregnancy the abdominal wall becomes stretched by the rapid expansion of the intra-abdominal contents. In many cases, this results in separation of the two muscles in the midline with the... more

An Extended Mini Abdominoplasty May Correct Weakened Abdominal Muscles

If diastasis recti is present, a full tummy tuck is normally required to repair it. However, you may also be a candidate for a relatively new technique known as Floating Abdominoplasty (FAB). Using a small incision in the lower abdomen, this new technique allows the tummy to be tightened and shaped with optimal results. Also referred to as an extended mini abdominoplasty, this procedure is an excellent option without the telltale signs as there is no incision around the belly button.... more

Jerome Edelstein, MD

13 reviews

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Yes and no.

Depends what you mean by a full tummy tuck. If you are referring to the length of incision required for a full tummy tuck then yes. It is possible to have a slightly shorter incision and just do repair of the the muscle. However it is not possible to do the repair without any scarring. Most patients who have a significant diastasis also have some loose skin and want that removed.

Is a Tummy Tuck Required to Fix Diastasis Recti?

Although a tummy tuck is not necessary to repair a diastasis recti, it makes it a lot easier for the surgeon to treat both problems at once. If a sizable diastasis is present then there would be a tremendous amount of redundant skin after the repair without a tummy tuck.

Endoscopic tummy tuck

Hello, Thank you for the question. Technically and endoscopic tummy tuck can correct the abdominal wall laxity (diastasis recti). An endoscopic tummy tuck is performed using an endoscope via an incision in your belly button and one incision near your pubic bone. The key, however, is skin laxity. If you have excess skin laxity an endoscopic tummy tuck will not be ideal for you since it does not remove excess skin. An endoscopic tummy tuck is ideal for someone... more

Is a Tummy Tuck Required to Fix Diastasis Recti?

Practically speaking, yes. Your surgeon must elevate the skin and subcutaneous tissue all the way up to the ribs to correct the rectus diastasis (separation of the rectus muscles) with sutures. Elevating these tissues is the most involved part of exposing the rectus muscles during the TT. If all of this work is to be done for the rectus diastasis repair, why not remove the excess skin at the same time since it will already be elevated? Most of the work will have already been done... more

Is a Tummy Tuck necessary for repair of a Diastasis Recti?

A tummy tuck is not absolutely necessary to repair a Diastasis Recti . A Diastasis Recti, which is a separation in the midline of the bilateral rectus abdominis muscles, can be quite large following pregnancy or gastric bypass. However, if one does just the Diastasis Recti repair there may be redundant skin that will need to be addressed. For full visualization and to avoid the problem of loose skin then a full abdominoplasty would be a better solution to the problem. more

Need to repair a diastasis recti

For the most part, a rectus diastasis needs to be repaired by a full tummy tuck. There are very few women who have this condition limited to the lower abdomen only. Thus a mini tummy tuck can acheive a tightening of this area, and limited skin excision. Furthermore, it is not only the muscles and fascia that have stretched out, but also the skin and soft tissue, which is usually evident by any stretch marks.

Tummy Tuck for Diastasis Recti

I have perfomed diastasis repair through a small suprapubic incision coupled with an umbilical incision when the diastasis is the only problem the patient has. The mini, or modified Tummy Tuck gives the surgeon better visualization and makes the operation technically easier - leading to a more predictable result. It also allows the removal of a small amount of excess skin many patients have in their lower abdomen and allows the surgeon to avoid the creation of a scar in the umbilicus. With... more

Correction of the Diastasis Recti With or Without a Tummy Tuck

If one has had children, especially after several children, you can have a diastasis or widening of the muscles. It is uncommon to not have extra skin if you have a diastasis, however I’ve seen this infrequently. This is when an endoscopic or minimal incision or a lower abdominoplasty can be used to do the correction of the diastasis recti muscle without having to do a full tummy tuck. This really requires a complete analysis of the patient’s abdominal wall and redundant skin. If... more

Rod J. Rohrich, MD

10 reviews

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Just a diastasis repair good, Mini tummy tuck better

Great question! Although it is possible to repair your diastasis recti with endoscopic techniques through several small incisions, you would most likely be best served with a mini tummy tuck. A mini tummy tuck will allow not only for the repair of your separated muscles but will also help treat any excess skin that may become apparent after such a repair in a way that endoscopic surgery alone would not. This is a common surgery in my practice with patients that are then but have... more

Benefits of a full tummy tuck

Depending on the severity and complexity of the case, you will mostly benefit from a standard (full) tummy tuck. A standard tummy tuck involves mucle repair and removal of the loose excess skin. Muscle repair includes tightening the muscles stretched from pregnancy, giving you the hour glass figure and improving your waistline. A mini tummy tuck only involves repair of the muscles from the belly button down. This will give you a result, but not a longer-lasting result. Find a board... more

Tummy tuck not required for diastasis recti

A diastassis recti is the separation of your abdominal muscles. the skin can be lifted alone to repair this. Removal of skin is optional, but if the excess is there, it should be removed for a better appearance.

Yes, it can be done...

Bringing the muscles back together is a major component of a "standard" tummy tuck, the other part being removal of excess skin. There are different versions of "mini" tummy tucks, one of which would fix your diastasis. When people refer to a mini tummy tuck, they are talking about the visible scar being shorter than a standard tummy tuck. With a mini, the scar is the length of a c-section scar, and standard is hip-bone to hip-bone. If your surgeon uses the endoscope,... more

Full tummy tuck to repair diastasis recti.

If you indeed have a prominant amount of diastasis recti I would recommend a full tummy tuck for best results. Consult a board certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in the tummy tuck procedure. Good luck to you.

Diastasis recti repair

For the degree of diastasis (separation) you describe, it certainly sounds like a full tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty would be required. An abdominoplasty generally includes repair of the diastasis of the rectus muscles, removal of any skin excess, and liposuction of the upper abdomen and flanks. Patients vary greatly as to which of these three components they will derive the greatest benefit from.

Is a Tummy Tuck Required to Fix Diastasis Recti?

Yes, the only way to gain access to the full abdominal wall in order to repair any significant diastasis recti is by a full tummy tuck. A lower tummy tuck does not offer access to the upper tummy, and if you just tighten the lower tummy fascia/muscles the upper tummy can bulge out more. Rarely, in a patient with very little excess skin and a high belly button, I have done an umbilical float to raise the belly button from underneath in order to gain access to the upper tummy,... more