I have a diastasis recti, 8-9 fingers wide, If I have surgery now, will I be able to have more kids later?

Question

I have a diastasis recti, currently 8-9 fingers wide, mostly on the upper abdominals. I've done physical therapy for almost a year (it was 12 fingers before) and the therapist says I need surgery. I'm 29 with 2 kids and would like to have more. If I have surgery to fix this, will I be able to have more kids later?I am overweight and not sure how that effects everything. My blood pressure and cholesterol is in healthy ranges and my diet is good as well.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

You can have the diastasis repaired without harming future pregnancies, but it may make more sense to wait until you have finished children.A physical exam would be necessary to make a determination about the appropriate intervention.
Find a board certified plastic surgeon who performs hundreds of tummy tuck procedures each year.  Then look at the 
plastic surgeon's 
 website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can  
deliver the results.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Jaime Campos Leon, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.I definitely think that you should wait until you're done having children as this issue might not be subtle for your case as is. Speak to your surgeon and find out what other options you might have.Dr. Campos

Jeffrey K. Scott, MD · Answer

With a "diastasis recti" 8 to 9 fingers wide I would recommend you have this evaluated to be certain it is not actually a hernia. I personally don't recommend a tummy tuck procedure until you no longer plan on having more children. It is counter intuitive to undergo the expense, risks and recovery of an abdominoplasty if the results will be mostly reversed with future pregnancies. I would advise you to be patient, enjoy having more children, and then reap the long term benefits of a tummy tuck.

Gaurav Bharti, MD, FACS · Answer

Your diastasis can be repaired with an abdominoplasty with rectus muscle plication.  It all depends what your acute goals are.  If you plan to have children then the option that would make the most sense would be to wait and then have the surgery performed.  If you want to have your tummy tuck now with rectus plication, then you just need to understand that you may have recurrent diastasis and looseness of your tummy.  I would also advise my patients to loose weight prior to body contouring if possible.  Best of LuckGaurav

Vasdev Rai, MD · Answer

Repairing of diastasis does not impact future pregnancies.  However diastasis will happen again with pregnancy.  Thus it is better to wait till you have had all your children.In an overweight individual we recommend loosing weight prior to operation.  You can not have a good repair if you are overweight.

I have a diastasis recti, 8-9 fingers wide, If I have surgery now, will I be able to have more kids later?

Answers (7)

Answer: Diastasis Repair and Future Pregnancy

Answer: Diastasis Repair and Future Pregnancy

Answer: Repair of Diastasis does not impair future pregnancies

Answer: Repair of Diastasis does not impair future pregnancies

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Everything you need to know about Diastasis Recti Repair

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I have a diastasis recti, 8-9 fingers wide, If I have surgery now, will I be able to have more kids later?

Answers (7)

Answer: Diastasis Repair and Future Pregnancy

Answer: Diastasis Repair and Future Pregnancy

Answer: Repair of Diastasis does not impair future pregnancies

Answer: Repair of Diastasis does not impair future pregnancies

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Diastasis Recti Repair

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.