Is it possible to get a diastasis recti repair without a tummy tuck?

Question

I had liposuction done in my abdomen area in 2017. This year in July I experienced Diastasis recti. I didn't know at the time what I was experiencing until this October when I got an US and it confirmed 1.5cm DR. I know my DR gap has closed quite a bit since back in July my abdomen was more distended. My question is, will PT help my core muscles become strong so that I can have the flat abdomen I had after Liposuction. If the answer is no, is there a procedure wherere I can get my DR repaired without having a Tummy tuck? I can barely grab any fat in my abdomen. My abdomen just looks distended and I would rather not get the big tummy tuck incision especially since I don't have any loose skin. I heard about Laparoscopic DR repair but it has mixed reviews. Is there another minimally invasive surgical repair that can take care of this DR? What is my best option?

Chad Deal, MD · Answer

I certainly understand the difficult position that you’re in. If you have a nice flat abdomen because there’s little fat, but still the bulging because of the diastasis that can be very frustrating. As you mentioned that can be tightened from the inside laparoscopically but you are correct that It’s never really as powerful or consistent as truly repairing it openly. Exercise and physical therapy can help in the beginning but ultimately once you’ve tried this and it stopped improving that’s where it’s gonna stay . So to answer your question more directly and honestly, yes, it would take an abdominoplasty to access this and tighten it.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear skylee30,

it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Generally speaking, it is possible to get diastasis recti repair without tummy tuck. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.

Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Donald W. Hause, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. This is a common concern with patients that can be an isolated problem. When it comes to body contouring of the abdomen, there are essentially three problems that people can have. We're Americans and we're all a little overweight and liposuction can remove the fat that is problematic. However, when it comes to abdomen, you can also have separation in the midline muscles, which is called diastasis of the rectus muscle, as well as extra skin, especially in those people who have had children. Did you have a child after 2017? This would explain the separation of the muscles. There are some women who have experienced childbirth and did not have a significant amount of skin in the lower abdomen but do have separation of the muscles. The diastasis can be repaired through a small incision in the lower abdomen without removal of skin necessitating a large scar. This is called a mini tummy tuck and does not involve removal of any skin, which is why the scar is about the same size or smaller than a cesarean section. It can be done in conjunction with a touch-up liposuction, but will require a significant downtime of approximately 10 to 14 days and possibly a drain. Because the separation of muscles is actually fascial rather than muscular, it is unlikely that core exercises will improve this significantly, although is always wise to be as good a shape as possible. I recommend you seek consultation through an experienced plastic surgeon board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery as it is a common procedure that most of us are comfortable performing.

Is it possible to get a diastasis recti repair without a tummy tuck?

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