Post-pregnancy Diastasis Recti and Overweight?

Optimizing your weight prior to a tummy tuck is always a good strategy. However, a pitfall that you should avoid is undergoing a crash diet prior to the surgery that is not sustainable after the procedure is performed. It is important to lose the pounds but be sure you are at a stable weight to assure the best long term results following surgery. You should consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to evaluate your individual situation and guide you in planning for your tummy tuck.

For the best outcome in appearance,symptoms and function, I always recommend losing the extra weight before a tummy tuck. If your abdomen is protuberant because of loose rectus abdominis muscles and too much visceral (internal) fat, then a repair of the diastasis is more likely to fail. And, despite repairing and tightening your rectus muscles, you may still have a protuberant abdomen because of excess visceral fat. Back pain can certainly be caused by weak core muscles, but the extra weight around the middle can contribute to back pain, as well. This is another good reason to lose the extra weight prior to surgery.

Thank you for your question and best of luck!

 

Gregory C. Park, M.D.

Although you may find it difficult to get back to your "fighting weight" after a child, the best thing to do is to work hard so the end result will be the best. The diastasis repair is always better when the intrabdominal fat content is at the lowest point. Then it can be "cinched " tight to recreate your  curves and contours. This added tightening can  give you a sense of early satiety as in a gastric sapling procedure and often contributes to your losing those last few pounds.  The surgery is also safer (less complications) at a lower weight.