Will Flared Ribs Interfere with How a Diastasis Recti Repair Will Hold Up?

Question

I have diastasis recti after having my first baby in 2012. I am a petite women as I am 5'7 and 120lbs. I am especially petite on top. Before having my son I had a pretty flat tummy. Now since I have a diastasis of 3-3.5 fingers from my breast bone to pubic bone, my stomach bulges. I have flared ribs as well. I am concerned that the diastasis repair wont hold. I have heard stories from women where their muscles split again and the TT/diastasis repair and they didn't know why.

David Shifrin, MD · Answer

Great question. Your flared ribs will always be flared. That doesn't mean you can't have a tummy tuck that can achieve your goals of a flat tight abdomen. Educate yourself a little more with an in person consultation! 

	Best of luck,

	Dr Shifrin

Robert F. Centeno, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. Flared ribs can have some effect on the degree of repair that can be achieved, but it is unlikely to affect recurrence.  With a two layered repair it is uncommon to have recurrence.  Weight gain and repeat pregnancy are the most common causes of recurrence of diastasis recti.  Given your height, weight and diastasis, you should be an excellent candidate for a tummy tuck.   All the best.

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

usually holds up well unless sutures fail, tissue fails to hold the suture, or you gain a lot of weight afterwards.  Flared ribs will not affect the repair but it could influence your final contours.

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD · Answer

Flared ribs may have some effect on your result but it is not something that can be corrected.  It will have not effect on the repair of your anterior abdominal wall or correction your diastasis recti.

Peter E. Johnson, MD · Answer

If you carried high it is very common for the lower ribcage to flare after pregnancy. Ordinarily this will not interfere withthe diastasis repair, however we are careful to get fully up to the xyphoid (the notch in the middle) to avoid a bulge in the upper abdomen. The diastasis repair will hold up if repaired well, and we prefer a double row of permanent sutures to make sure.

Will Flared Ribs Interfere with How a Diastasis Recti Repair Will Hold Up?

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Answer: Repairing a diastasis recti

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Answer: Flared ribcage after pregnancy

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Will Flared Ribs Interfere with How a Diastasis Recti Repair Will Hold Up?

Answers (7)

Answer: Repairing a diastasis recti

Answer: Repairing a diastasis recti

Answer: Flared ribcage after pregnancy

Answer: Flared ribcage after pregnancy

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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.