Is the only way to fix a 5.5 cm diastasis recti with abdominoplasty?

Thank you for sharing your question. Unfortunately the only way to correct either/both the diastasis and umbilical hernia is through surgery.  Whether or not skin removal needs to take place can only be assessed with an in-person examination of your abdominal tissues.  Hope this helps.

Vibella.   Photographs and or examination would be helpful to fully evaluate your particular situation. Unfortunately, there is no other way to correct diastases recti other than abdominoplasty. However if you do not have enough redundant skin, then that would be an issue. You can certainly elect to not treat for diastases, however A general surgeon should evaluate your umbilical hernia and need for repair. I recommend that you see me or another board-certified plastic surgeon in the area to explore all options for your other abdominal issues. Good luck.

Hello and thank you for your
question. A 5.5cm diastasis and umbilical hernia can be repaired with an abdominoplasty.  This can be done
through a low and short incision, all completely below the bikini line.  The belly button can be designed to look
natural and have no scars on the exterior.  
Your muscles can also be plicated resulting in a flat abdomen.  Make sure you specifically look
at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery
performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.  The most important
aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend that you seek
consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate
you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D. FACS
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Thanks for this question.Separation of the recti muscles and the formation of the diastasis is an anatomical problem which can only be treated with surgery. See an expert plastic surgeon.

Hello,
The only way to corrected diastasis  recti is to during the course of surgery correct the muscular mal position back to a normal with sutures. No amount of exercise will fix the problem.
You need to see a board certified plastic surgeon to have the surgery. 

A diastasis does not have to be treated. This is usually the result of stretching from weight gain/pregnancy.  An umbilical hernia is recommended to be repaired because of the possibility of having an incarceration of bowel.

The only way to repair a wide diastasis recti and an umbilical hernia is with surgery. Umbilical
hernias are frequently repaired at the time of the tummy tuck. Some plastic
surgeons will have a general surgeon perform the umbilical repair, but most
will repair the hernia themselves.Most patients prefer undergoing one
anesthesia and one recovery period which is usually more cost effective.
The  additional
risk is delayed or non-healing of the umbilicus because of compromise of the
blood supply to the belly button from the dissection. 
Keep
in mind that following advice from a surgeon on this or any other website who
proposes to tell you what to do without examining you, physically feeling your
tissue, assessing your desired outcome, taking a full medical history and
discussing the pros and cons of each operative procedure would not be in your
best interest. I would suggest that you find a surgeon certified by the
American Board of American Plastic Surgery and one who is ideally a member of
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) that you trust and
are comfortable with. If you live outside of the United States, the surgeon should
ideally be a member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
(ISAPS). You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in
person.
Robert
Singer, M.D., FACS
La
Jolla, California
 

The only way to correct diastasis and/or umbilical hernia is with surgery. Abdominoplasty can be performed at the same time but, obviously, this is cosmetic as opposed to reconstructive.  The hernia can incarcerate so it should be monitored and you should avoid inciting activities such as heavy lifting. 

The only effective way to treat it is with an abdominoplasty. With your history, odds are you have extra skin and the final result will be a nice flat stomach. The scar, when well done, fades and is not an issue. If you do nothing, you will always have the diastasis and small hernia. 

Unfortunately surgery is the only treatment for significant rectus diastasis. The separation of the edges of the rectus abdominus results during pregnancy from the “softening” of the tissues between the muscles and stretching of the tissue. This resulting separation represents scar tissue, which cannot be tightened with exercises just as a hernia cannot be fixed with exercise. The repair of rectus diastasis uses the same techniques as a hernia repair, with re-approximation of the edges of the rectus muscles with permanent sutures to restore the original muscle anatomy. In my practice I often see women in their 40’s and 50’s who complain that the fullness of their tummies becomes worse as they get older, which may represent some increasing muscle weakness with age that effects their ability to “hold in” their rectus diastasis.