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Is a Tummy Tuck Required to Fix Diastasis Recti?

asked 3 years ago by Mosche in New York, New York, USA
Latest answer by Jaime Perez MD
Question viewed 44,834 times
Tags: diastasis recti, repair, twins

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?

20 answers to Is a Tummy Tuck Required to Fix Diastasis Recti?

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
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

Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

www.drseckel.com

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

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

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
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
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

James F. Boynton, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.BoyntonPlasticSurgery.com

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.

Samir Shureih, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

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

Tracy Pfeifer, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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
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

David B. Reath, MD
Knoxville Plastic Surgeon

plasticsurgeryknoxville.com

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.

Tito Vasquez, MD
Southport Plastic Surgeon

www.ctpsg.com

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

Jon F. Harrell, DO
Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.westonsurgery.com

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
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

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.miamiaesthetic.com

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

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

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.

Barry E. DiBernardo, MD
Montclair Plastic Surgeon

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

Michael A. Bogdan, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

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.

Jaime Perez MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

www.jaimeperezmd.com

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.

Glynn Bolitho, PhD, MD, FACS
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

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