Is there a difference between the terms muscle repair and internal corset?

Question

I’ve heard many women talk about having muscle repair done during their tummy tucks and I’ve heard the term internal corset used in blogs and videos. Just wondering if everyone is referring to the same thing or if there is a difference. Thanks!

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

The abdominal wall is composed of two major components: muscle and fascia. Muscle increases tone with physical fitness. However, fascia is damaged, in women, after pregnancies. Both contribute to the mechanical strength of the abdominal wall. At the time of tummy tuck, muscle is not repaired. However, the fascia envelope surrounding the muscle is repaired and that makes the muscle stronger by LaPasse's Law. The muscle is returned to a more normal length. There is a difference between abdominoplasty and abdominoplasty with mesh reinforcement. Mesh is used to create an internal corset that extends from side to side at the level approximately 1 inch above the umbilicus. This changes the capacity of the abdominal cavity and complies with the abdominal wall, results in early satiety and helps maintain a reduced weight. I recommend this technique on women who are not planning future pregnancies.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

The abdominal wall should be reconstructed anatomically by correcting diastasis which consists of stitches that pull the muscles together in the midline. A nonanatomic corset or undue tightening has the potential to create undue and prolonged abdominal pain, prolonged recovery, increased abdominal compartment pressure, reduced lung expansion, increased pressure on the pelvic venous structures and implications on DVT.

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

All of these terms generally mean the same thing but there are variations on how it is done. If there is a muscle separation (diastasis) then it will be securely repaired with a routine tummy tuck. If the tissues are weak and/or the diastasis wide, then the addition of mesh reinforcement may be done, using Galaflex or Durasorb, or more rarely a permanent material. The term "internal corset" might imply that extra effort will be made to tighten the waistline as much as possible, but really this is always the goal.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question. Yes, these terms are synonymous and refer to the abdominal muscle tightening procedure.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

They are the same thing. The muscles are turned into a corset with stitching down the midline. The muscles are not cut but only sutured together.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Yes, these terms mean the same.  It is a reference to the repair of the muscle wall during a tummy tuck.  This will correct laxity and separation of the abdominal muscles.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

I think for the most part you can consider internal course set as being synonymous with muscle tightening, muscle Playcation or correction of diastases recti.

In the end it is bringing the two rectus abdominis muscles back together side-by-side the way they were pre-pregnancy.

Some surgeons also do muscle tightening‘s over the oblique muscles.

In the end the wording isn’t particularly important compared to actual surgical skill and experience.

It is however important to discuss if muscle tightening is part of the procedure or not.  muscle tightening is almost always indicated in postpartum women’s abdomen‘s as part of a tummy tuck and is often not needed on patients who have not had previous pregnancies but may have skin laxity because of weight loss etc.

Muscle tightening is the part of a tummy tuck causing the recovery to be painful and making this seem like a very intense invasive operation.

A skin only tummy tuck without muscle tightening it’s a pretty simple procedure to recover from though typically both versions of the procedure require the use of drains which tend to be annoying and unpleasant.