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Tummy Tuck for Diastasis Recti, What Risks are there with thie Surgery? (photo)

asked 8 months ago by paradise21 in Orlando, FL
Latest answer by J. Jason Wendel, MD
Question viewed 561 times
Tags: female, diastasis recti, risk

I have 2 children the youngest being 5 months, both were long babies for what was a small frame. I was told that I have a small hernia and Diastasis Recti. What are the risk if I do not have surgery to repair these issues being that the surgeon made it seem like it wasn't necesary. I was told that doing the abodemonplasti is the best thing but I am scared my insurance will not cover it. This has given me severe back problems and I constantly hold my belly feeling like things are loose inside.

15 answers to Tummy Tuck for Diastasis Recti, What Risks are there with thie Surgery? (photo)

Repair of Umbilical and Ventral Hernia with a Tummy Tuck

It is very common to have diastase's recti or even a ventral or umbilical hernia if you are a woman who has had several pregnancies in the past. Ventral or umbilical hernias can be repaired without any significant risk by a board certified plastic surgeon who has had experience in this area. Diastase's recti is routinely repaired by me in almost all tummy tucks that I perform in Los Angeles.

S. Sean Younai, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.beautifulself.com

Diastasis Recti and Tummy Tuck

Diastasis Recti, separation of the muscles from pregnancy is corrected during a tummy tuck. This is an elective cosmetic operation and not something that is covered by insurance. It is an operation to make your tummy look better. An umbilical hernia is a medical concern and does pose some risk of medical problems; therefore, it is often covered by insurance. You can choose to have umbilical hernia repair and tummy tuck done separately or together. It's up to you. Get... more

J. Jason Wendel, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Repair of Rectus Muscles With Tummy Tuck

As Dr. Aldea pointed out most, if not all, women who have ever been pregnant have diastasis recti and don't undergo surgery to correct it. Functionally it may help your back but I think your back issues are due to other concerns. So we're talking about a cosmetic surgery. Your insurance company isn't concerned about diastasis recti. If it's not fixed it really won't change anything and your surgeon is correct. The umbilical hernia is... more

Christopher L. Hess, MD
Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

Risks of not having a tummy tuck to repair muscle separation

Based on your photographs, a full abdominoplasty would correct your diastasis, excess skin and adipose tissue. During an abdominoplasty, the muscle is tightened to correct the diastasis, and your umbilical hernia should be repaired as part of the procedure. Tummy tuck surgery is a cosmetic procedure and is not medically necessary, as almost all women have diastasis to some extent. You should be able to obtain an awesome result if you pursue the procedure.

Donna Rich, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Umbilical hernias, diastasis recti, and tummy tucks.

These terms are often confusing for folks reading about tummy tucks or abdominoplasty. An umbilical hernia is a true defect or hole in the abdominal wall which can lead to protuberance of the intra-abdominal tissues. These are medically concerning because if that tissue gets stuck (goes through the hernia, but cannot get back in) they can cause serious problems. Therefore, true umbilical hernias are typically covered by insurance. A diastasis recti on the other hand is simply the normal... more

David Bogue, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

What are the Risks of NOT having a Tummy Tuck to repair Muscle Separation After having 2 Children?

For pregnancy to continue to full term your tummy muscles MUST be stretched and split. If they could not, the uterus could not grow to normal size and none of us would be here. As a result normal pregnancy = muscle stretching and separation AND well over 99.9999% of the mothers in the world have diastasis recti (muscle separation) and do NOT undergo abdominoplasties (Tummy Tuck). A Tummy Tuck WILL correct the muscle separation and flatten the tummy BUT it is a purely cosmetic... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck and hernia

Thank you for all the informtion. If you decide to have a tummy tuck, you will have to repair the hernia, my guess it is umbilical hernia. I usually repair it during tummy tuck. I must stress here, that the umbilica hernia must be repaired during or before having tummy tuck. There are risks associated with these hernial, including, but not limited, incarceration, strangulation( loss of blood supply to the hernia content) and may become more visible after tummy tuck. Tummy tuck is not a... more

Moneer Jaibaji, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck, muscle separation, and an umbilical hernia

The photographs that you have provided, along with your history, indicate that you have a number of different issues that are affecting your abdomen. Separation of the rectus muscles (diastasis recti) commonly occurs with pregnancy and can be improved or completely corrected with an abdominoplasty. You also appear to have relatively loose skin and adipose tissue that can be improved with an abdominoplasty. Unfortunately, an abdominoplasty is not a procedure covered by... more

Eric T. Emerson, MD
Charlotte Plastic Surgeon

www.seplasticsurgery.com

Insurance Very Unlike To Cover TT & Diastasis Repair

It is extremely unlikely that your health insurance will cover a tummy tuck with or without a diastasis repair regardless of the symptoms that you claim. All women who have had a pregnancy will some degree of diastasis recti which had no risks of bowel entrapment, etc. A true hernia may present reasons for coverage, but the tummy tuck still would not be covered.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Insurance issues and risks regarding an abdominoplasty and umbilical hernia

A tummy tuck is a cosmetic surgical procedure, not a medical necessity and, therefore, would not be covered by your insurance. The same is true of muscle separation that is the result of pregnancy, known as diastasis. On the other hand, an umbilical hernia is considered to be a medical issue and its repair should generally be covered by your insurance. With an umbilical hernia, tissue can get "stuck" or strangulated in the small, restrictive defect resulting in pain and even... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

Need for tummy tuck

I would get a 2nd opinion about the umbilical hernia. If it is sufficiently large, then paradoxically the risk of bowel strangulation is lower than if the hernia is small. It would certainly be more convienient to do a tummy tuck and hernia repair at the same time in your case since you would only need one surgery. However, you can do both separately as well. It really depends on your personal goals. Others have explained that an abdominoplasty is never covered... more

Tito Vasquez, MD
Southport Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck for rectus diastasis

You do appear from the photo to have lax rectus muscles from pregnancy plus some excess intra-abdominal fat. Regardless of symptoms, your insurance will not be covering a tummy tuck for you as this is not considered a medically necessary procedure. In addition, no tummy tuck would be worth doing in your case without a substantial muscle repair, because you wouldn't get a flat abdomen without one, so anybody proposing such procedure to you is possible not even a real... more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck and diastasis

You re correct that a tummy tuck is the best treatment for this and your hernia should also be treated at the same time. However, in my experience insurance will not pay for this.

Delio Ortegon, MD
San Antonio Plastic Surgeon

www.sacs-sa.com

Risks associated with tummy tuck

Greetings, Tummy tuck is the best treatment for diastasis recti and, almost certainly, your insurance company will not cover the costs associated with it. Diastasis recti is not a true hernia and, although some patients complain of discomfort associated with it, no life threatening complications are associated with it. If you do have a small hernia associated with the diastasis, a portion of your costs may be covered, however. Risks of tummy tuck include bleeding, infection, DVT... more

Sam Jejurikar, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck and Umbilical Hernia

Thank you for the question and pictures. Repairing the umbilical hernia is a medically necessary procedure. If you do not have it repaired you are at risk for eventual complications (incarceration or strangulation of intra-abdominal structures). In other words, intra-abdominal organs/intestinal tract can be caught in the abdominal wall defect causing potentially life-threatening problems. Tummy tuck surgery, on the other hand, is not considered a medically necessary procedure.... more