I have a mesh over my diastasis recti. Will it need to be removed if I want to get pregnant again?

Question

Living in Europe for a while now & just had surgery for an umbilical hernia & fix diastasis but done by a general surgeon. He decided during surgery to put a mesh over my diastasis because he was not a plastic s. & said if he pulled the abs together there would be extra skin. Now I'm stuck with this mesh on my abs. I'm worried if I do want to get pregnant again I will have issues with this mesh there. Should I get this removed before? I'm thin, 118 lbs and 5'6". Will the mesh help the post pooch?

Gary Lawton, MD, FACS · Answer

If a General Surgeon placed a piece of mesh when they fixed your umbilical hernia, the amount of your abdominal wall exposed was probably very small. This should have no effect on a pregnancy.  If they had full exposure to your diathesis from the xyphoid to the pubis, then the mesh did nothing to fix your diasthasis.  Even a piece of mesh that large would not affect your pregnancy.  It would be a ridiculous thing for a General Surgeon to place a piece of mesh this large.  I suspect it was small around the umbilicus and they were just glorifying their umbilical hernia repair. I do not think you would need to have the mesh removed.  Get the operative report and show it to a Plastic Surgeon and a Gynecologist.  They will be able to tell you exactly what was performed.

Erik Miles, MD, FACS · Answer

The mesh should not have any effect on your ability to have a normal pregnancy.  This is been clearly demonstrated.  The pregnancy might however undo some of the surgical changes that you have had to repair the integrity of your abdominal wall muscles.  Make sure that you give your obstetrician a thorough medical history so they are aware of your prior surgeries.

Sugene Kim, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi, kcwhiteIf a general surgeon placed a mesh during umbilical hernia repair, I would assume that the mesh was not too large.  It should not hinder your future pregnancy.  However, you should talk with your surgeon about the specifics of the surgery and about your future pregnancy goal.Mesh will incorporate into your tissue; it will be difficult and unnecessary to remove the mesh.Best regards.

Sanjiv Kayastha, MD · Answer

It is unlikely that the diastasis repair with mesh will affect your future pregnancies. With pregnancy the abdominal wall is subjected to gradual expansion. It is hard to imagine that the mesh would have been large enough to hinder this. However, the only person that can truly answer this question is your surgeon because they know the exact details of your surgery.

Jourdan Gottlieb, MD · Answer

Better that this question be directed to your surgeon or OB. Most likely, unless this was a huge diastasis, the mesh should not interfere with the distensibility of the abdominal wall that occurs with pregnancy. I don't think the presence of the mesh will have an effect on the recovery of the abdominal tissues after pregnancy.All the best.

I have a mesh over my diastasis recti. Will it need to be removed if I want to get pregnant again?

Answers (5)

Answer: Diastasis repair

Answer: Diastasis repair

Answer: Mesh in abdominal wall and pregnancy

Answer: Mesh in abdominal wall and pregnancy

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I have a mesh over my diastasis recti. Will it need to be removed if I want to get pregnant again?

Answers (5)

Answer: Diastasis repair

Answer: Diastasis repair

Answer: Mesh in abdominal wall and pregnancy

Answer: Mesh in abdominal wall and pregnancy

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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