Can I Have my Abdominal Muscles Tightened Without a Tummy Tuck? (photo)

     Yes, if there is minimal skin laxity this can be accomplished through a small incision.  This would involve dissecting a small path overlying the rectus fascia and sewing the fascia together to correct diastasis.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Yes this can be done and is called an endoscopic assisted abdominoplasty. Only a few patients out of a hundred need this particular operation. You need to have good skin elasticity and minimal stretch marks with of course the rectus diastasis that you want repaired.Make sure you find a certified doctor who knows how to do the procedure. The biggest risk is that you have excess skin after the procedure since the muscles will be sewn together and the skin has to shrink to the new flat surface. I use a short c section incision and remove a few inches of lower skin. Good Luck!

The rectus diastasis, or the split between the rectus muscles that often occurs after pregnancy, can be repaired through a C-section type incision. Not everyone does this procedure as it is technically more difficult, so best to ask the plastic surgeon's coordinator prior to making your appointment.