How common is it for a tummy tuck to bulge or come undone due to severe diastasis recti?

The answer is that this can happen. It has not occurred in the thousands of tummy tucks I have performed. Diastasis recurrence is more closely associated with the type of plication technique used.

While it is possible for this to occur, it is rare. Typically the correction is made and heals completely with no failure in the future. It is important that you select an experienced board certified plastic surgeon for your procedure. Be sure to review credentials, look at before/after photos, and get answers to your questions during your consultation.

You may be looking at pictures of cases in which the surgeon did not tighten the abdominal wall. Sometimes, in larger people, there is little to be gained by repairing the diastasis or tightening the abdominal wall. However, it is possible that the repair could come undone, especially if the patient was extremely constipated or coughing after the surgery.

There are two primary reasons someone would bulge after a tummy tuck. The first and by far the most common is people who carry axis visceral fat that pushes against the abdominal wall causing at the bulge. That fat has to go somewhere and it will overpower any attempt of a muscle tightening. The second is insufficient muscle repair. I’ve seen different versions of this from very quick and dirty to highly meticulous work.

Pick the right surgeon and everything falls into place including making an assessment about the presence or absence of excessive amounts of visceral fat.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD