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Other Options when Rectus Muscle Repair Doesn't Work?

asked 3 years ago by iseley in Great Britain
Latest answer by Hisham Seify, MD, PhD
Question viewed 2,693 times

I had tummy tuck with muscle repair 3 months ago, and my post op abdomen hardly looks any different from my pre op. I have no excess fat; I am very slim. My plastic surgeon says there is no separation of the rectus muscle but is going to open me up again to see whats going on.

If a rectus muscle repair does not flatten the tummy, are there other repairs that might be beneficial? For instance, can the transverse or obliques somehow be repaired or strengthened to pull a tummy flat?

2 answers to Other Options when Rectus Muscle Repair Doesn't Work?

+1

Multiple options exist to fix this problem

There are several causes for having a protuberant abdomen: Increased intraabdominal content: Large omentum,liver etc... Weakness of the abdominal wall muscles with generalised decreased tone. Divercation of the recti muscles. Plication of the recti will only help the last aetiology. Generalised atonia will benefit from muscle training and in severe cases plication in addition to mesh placement. The first aetiology must be excluded in all cases. I have seen some of my patients with this diagnos more
Hisham Seify, MD, PhD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

There are options for recurrent rectus diastasis

There are a few other options called the separation of parts technique. You may require the use of mesh to support and hold the repair. Lastly, I personally believe tat core strengthening excercises are highly beneficial for maintaintng and improving the results of rectus diastasis repair. Discuss these options with your surgeon or seek a consultatiion at a university setting. It is important that other causes for the bulging be excluded such as liver disease, ascites, megacolon, etc.... more
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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