Rady Rahban, MD, FACS

Hello, You bring up a great question. Unfortunately, insurance companies don't recognize DR as more than a vanity issue hence, don't typically cover it. However, for many it truly is more than a vanity issue and has contributed to pain and discomfort. Correcting the DR has alleviated most of these symptoms for a majority of my patients. It's a shame it's not covered.

Hello, Thank you for your question. For multiple reasons, it's not advised to do a DR repair during a C-section. One reason being the risk of infection. My advise is to have the repair after done having children. Ideally, waiting 6 months+ after your last pregnancy. Hope this helps! Included are some resources that you may find helpful.

Thank you for your great question! Diastasis recti can be a debilitating and painful condition for many women. I have worked on many women who suffer from diastasis recti who have had excellent outcomes in terms of DR associated pain. It is absolutely crucial to seek out and consult with a Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon who has extensive experience with severe cases of diastasis recti repair. I happen to be a DR expert and use a meshless approach. I make a low incision, and plicate the connective tissue back into the midline using permanent sutures. In my experience, this surgery has been extremely effective for a majority of my patients with regaining function and alleviating symptoms associated with DR. I've attached that I hope is informative to you as you embark on your DR journey. If you haven't yet listened to my podcast, Plastic Surgery Uncensored, I highly recommend it as there is a lot of discussion pertaining to DR.

Hi. Congratulations on the weight loss. In my opinion, I would wait to undergo a Tummy Tuck until after you are done having kids so you can enjoy the results for the long haul. A few helpful resources on tummy tucks. Hope this helps!

Hi. Thank you for your question. Congratulations on your newest addition. After giving birth it's a good idea to start strengthening the core and pelvic floor (once you've received clearance by your OB) with DR friendly exercises and modifications so to not make it worse. With regards to curing your DR, there are many programs out there claiming to cure it, unfortunately, DR itself can't be cured by diet and exercise. The tissue is thinned and damaged, and the only way to permanently correct it, is to surgically plicate the abdomen. I highly recommend seeking a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who has extensive experience with various severities of DR. Here are a few resources that you may find helpful.

Hello, Thank you for your question and photos. Yes, muscle repair can be corrected during a tummy tuck through plication of the abdominal wall. It's generally a part of a tummy tuck. I have corrected various degrees of Diastasis Recti ranging from severe to mild via a tummy tuck. I would advise you to see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who is an expert in Diastasis Recti repair. With regards to lipo, I personally am very conservative and selective with performing liposuction to patients who are true candidates. I only end up needing to perform it on about 30% of patients. It's something that I discuss during the consultation after a thorough exam. I have attached some resources for you. Hopefully you find them helpful!

Hi Nikkyg123, Thank you for your question and photos. Based on these photos, it's possible you do have DR. However, it's difficult to give a firmative answer without examining your abdomen. There are very few candidates who qualify for a mini tummy tuck as once the DR is closed, there tends to be more excess skin. I highly recommend you see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who can further assess your abdominal wall. I have attached some videos you may find helpful. Hope this helps!

Hello, Thank you for your great question. I have worked on many women who suffer from severe diastasis recti who have had excellent outcomes without the use of mesh. I use a meshless approach to repairing even the most severe DR cases as there are various potential issues surrounding the use of mesh. It is absolutely crucial to seek out and consult with a Board-Certified Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon who has extensive experience with severe cases of diastasis recti repair.

Thank you for your great question! Diastasis recti can be a debilitating and painful condition for many women. I have worked on many women who suffer from diastasis recti who have had excellent outcomes in terms of DR associated pain. It is absolutely crucial to seek out and consult with a Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon who has extensive experience with severe cases of diastasis recti repair. I happen to be a DR expert and use a meshless approach. I make a low incision, and plicate the connective tissue back into the midline using permanent sutures. Additionally, the belly button is recreated, and loose skin is removed. In my experience, this surgery has been extremely effective in regaining function and alleviating symptoms associated with DR. I've attached that I hope is informative to you as you embark on your DR journey. If you haven't yet listened to my podcast, Plastic Surgery Uncensored, I highly recommend it as there is a lot of discussion pertaining to DR.

Thank you for your question! Diastasis recti is a condition that is a result of internal pressure leading to the stretching of the connective tissue responsible for holding the left and right abdominal muscles in the midline. Circumstances such as weight gain, and pregnancy are culprits to the development of diastasis recti. The good news, there are treatment options. However, the most sustainable treatment option is surgery to manually plicate the abdominal wall. Although it's always a good idea to strengthen the accessory muscles as much as possible pre-surgery, diet and exercise alone will not be able to "cure" the damaged fascia. Surgery becomes the most viable option to address the root of the issue. I highly recommend seeking a Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon and schedule an in person consultation. I have extensive experience with diastasis recti repair ranging from mild to severe with excellent results. I've attached a link with some information pertaining to diastasis recti repair that can be helpful as you navigate this process.