If diastasis recti is fixed through therapy, would a tummy tuck still be required?

Question

I have Diastasis Recti and loose skin. Due to the high cost of tummy tucks, I wanted to go for therapy to get my DR fixed. If my muscles do get fixed, would I still need the TT for the loose skin or what if I consider a mini TT?

Francis X. Fleming, MD · Answer

Therapy will not be able to correct a diastasis, but can improve the tone in other areas of the abdominal wall to improve your contour.

Alexander Zuriarrain, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for posting your question. The answer is that therapy will not be able to correct the separation that has occurred between your rectus (abdominal) muscles. Instead of spending money on what I assume is physical therapy to try to "tighten" your abdominal muscles, you should save your money for the gold standard treatment which is an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) with surgical plication (bringing together) of your separated rectus muscles. 
Plastic surgeons have a vast experience performing plication of the rectus muscles as it is routinely done during almost every tummy tuck procedure performed. I specifically perform repair of the diastasis during each of my tummy tuck surgeries. Patients are very happy after their muscles have been brought back together and no longer have a bulging abdomen. Hope I could help answer your question.
All the best!
Alex Zuriarrain MD, Plastic Surgery

Praful Ramineni, MD · Answer

There is no other treatment for diastasis recti repair other than surgery (don't waste your money on therapy).  The muscles are laterally displaced and therapy can't spontaneously realign the muscles.  You would still require excision of the loose skin and it is very likely that the cost would be the same for a TT - since muscle repair is included in this procedure.

If diastasis recti is fixed through therapy, would a tummy tuck still be required?

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If diastasis recti is fixed through therapy, would a tummy tuck still be required?

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Diastasis Recti Repair

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.