Can a general surgeon perform a laparoscopic diastasis recti repair?

Hello @customframes, thank you for your question. Yes, a general surgeon can perform a laparoscopic diastasis recti repair as they are trained in a variety of surgical procedures, including hernia repairs and laparoscopic surgery. However, it is important to note that you should look for an experienced and skilled plastic surgeon. This is because a plastic surgeon, not only is a general surgeon but is specialized in plastic surgery and has the necessary knowledge, skills and experience in performing both of this procedure. This will help ensure that the best outcome is achieved. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS. American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science” Member (IFATS), American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery member (SCCP) FACS.

Thank you for your question regarding whether a general surgeon can perform your laparoscopic diastasis repair and then have your plastic surgeon perform a mini tummy tuck later. I don’t see any reason why not. Yes, your general surgeon can perform laparoscopic diastasis repair as well as repair of your hernias. This can be done laparoscopically. At a later date, you can have the excess skin and fat removed by a plastic surgeon through a mini tummy tuck. Your chosen plastic surgeon does not need to do the diastasis rectus repair. Thank you for your question regarding if your general surgeon can perform a rectus diastasis repair.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Although laparoscopic diastasis repair has been described very few surgeons adapted the technique and you’re going to have a hard time finding a surgeon who is experienced with it. I know you don’t want the scar of a tummy tuck but I can’t think of another option

To do a diastasis recti repair, the abdominal skin has to be elevated to expose the muscles. One cannot do this laparoscopically. Some plastic surgeons with general surgery backgrounds can repair abdominal hernias at the same time. DR is not something that general surgeons have been trained to do.

You may be able to find a surgeon to repair the diastasis but you will want to check that they are experienced and successful in doing so. You may also have issues finding insurance to cover it as it is considered cosmetic. There are surgeons, like myself, who are board certified in both general and plastic surgery. We may be able to repair hernias at the time of a tummy tuck, meaning only one trip to the operating room and one recovery.

Some general surgeons might do the repair and some may not. The best is just to ask to see if it can be done. The problem may lie with your insurance and combining a non cosmetic procedure with a cosmetic procedure.

Without a photograph, it is impossible to give any sort of advice.

Of course, a general surgeon can do a laparoscopic repair of your Daya stasis, but that will not solve your overall problem. That also requires an inter-abdominal approach, whereas a tummy tuck stays completely away from your internal organs.

Many plastic surgeons can do hernia repairs simultaneously with a tummy tuck.

Also, a mini tummy tuck does not illuminate the full length of the scar. It's simply implies a lack of umbilical trance position.

Consider posting a photograph.

If laparoscopic muscle repair worked well, then general surgeons would be doing the procedures on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the procedure does not work well and I would highly recommend not choosing that route.
Many plastic surgeons are fully trained in general surgery and are very comfortable and experienced and doing hernia repairs. Most likely your best option is to either find a plastic surgeon to do all the procedures in a single operation or have your hernia fixed first, and then have a traditional tummy tuck.
There are several reasons why laparoscopic muscle tightening is a poor choice in regards to quality outcomes. Muscle separation actually has very little to do with the muscles themselves, but rather the fascia covering the muscles. Abdominal muscle fascia is in a sense, the tendon of flat abdominal muscles creating the strength layer. With pregnancy it is not the muscles to get stretched, but the internal wall fascia. The fascia rests on top of the muscle between the muscle and the fat layer. This is the correct layer to do muscle tightening. From a laparoscopic approach, the general surgeon does not have access to the fascial layer but instead is working on the peritoneum or on the underside of the abdominal muscles.
During a tummy tuck by separating the skin and fat layer from the underlying muscle fascia layer the muscle fascia layer can be tightened in a horizontal direction while skin and fat layer is tightened and re-draped in a vertical direction.
Doing this with an aesthetic, good outcome requires re-draping the skin since muscle tightening brings the muscle wall together by several inches. If the skin in the fat layer is not re-draped at the same time, then the skin will be bunched up in the midline.
You will either need to have your hernias corrected prior to having a traditional tummy talk or find a plastic surgeon to do both for you. I recommend all patients considering any cosmetic surgery having multiple in person consultations before scheduling surgery. There’s no correct number of consultations patients need, but the more consultations you have the more likely you are to find the best provider. Considering there is substantial difference in variation in skill and experience among different providers patients should definitely have more than one consultation before choosing a provider. There’s no correct number, but I suggest patients have at least five in person consultations before choosing a provider. You’ll be reminded of the outcome every day for the rest of your life. The time to choose the right provider is before you have the surgical procedure.
Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. This is not that complicated. There are basically two different versions as described above.
I do not recommend having laparoscopic muscle tightening. It is not a well documented, proven procedure which consistent high patient satisfaction.
Without including pictures or more information we don’t really have an idea of your candidacy or the extent of your hernias.
I suggest having a few more consultations narrowing down your options and getting a more accurate assessment and better understanding of treatment options.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

There are general surgeons who do endo rectus diastasis repairs from inside the abdomen. The problem is that if you have excess skin to any degree, when you bring the muscles together without lifting off the skin, the skin could bunch up and look bad. That is why a tummy tuck is better because to deals with and redrapes the extra skin.