Is liposuction necessary for a tummy tuck addressing diastasis recti?

Patient presentation and goals will determine best options. 2 finger diastasis is moderate and can be tightened via a tummy tuck with minimal skin removal. This does not always require liposuction with it.

Recovery from muscle tightening is usually 1-2 weeks for most activities and 4-6 weeks to begin light core movements.

An exam and consultation with a plastic surgeon is recommended to discuss your options and expectations.

First, if you do not have excess fat of your abdomen, there is no reason for you to have liposuction. Second, the easiest way for your surgeon to do a repair of your diastasis is with a lower abdominal incision and a release your belly button from your abdominal skin so they can easily elevate your entire abdominal skin and have full exposure all the way up to your breast bone (xyphoid). It is possible, although much more technically demanding, if your belly button is not released. It is more difficult because elevation of your abdominal skin is restricted from the belly buttons attachment. Your plastic surgeon, who has the benefit of a physical exam, could guide you and help you understand whether you would need any skin resection or not. Best wishes.

Concerns about the appearance of the abdomen are very common among patients consulting with a plastic surgeon. Just like every patient is different…so too is every abdomen. Different problems require different solutions. Your board certified plastic surgeon is uniquely trained to identify the problems as well as the appropriate solution.

These areas are commonly addressed via liposuction or abdominoplasty (“tummy – tuck”). Which procedure is best is dependent upon the source of the problem. Excess fat deposits underneath the skin can be addressed via liposuction. However, commonly patients concerns are centered around issues of excess skin as well as fat. A third factor, which is often overlooked by most patients is abdominal wall muscle laxity (typically seen in post partum mommies). Despite the commonly held misconception, neither liposuction nor tummy tuck is intended as a weight loss tool nor is it a solution for stretch marks on the stomach.

The tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure designed to eliminate excess skin and fat and tighten the muscles in the abdominal wall to create a smoother and slimmer contour. The tummy tuck is designed to target areas of the abdomen that have not responded to diet and exercise, making it particularly popular among people that have a lot of loose or sagging skin around the abdominal area due to significant weight loss, as well as women with excess skin and stretched abdominal muscles following pregnancy and childbirth. Candidates for tummy tuck should be already at or near their ideal weight for optimal results. It is recommended to women that are planning on becoming pregnant to postpone the procedure until they are finished having children.

An incision is made between the hip bones at the bikini line (easily camouflaged by most undergarments). There is typically an incision around the navel to elevate it to a higher position depending upon the amount of skin that needs to be excised.

With regards to your specific question, liposuction may be performed as an adjunct at the same time to refine the results. Liposuction is not an inherently risky procedure. However, it needs to be employed judiciously in abdominoplasty patients in order to preserve blood supply necessary for healing. Thus the upper abdomen is usually avoided.

To determine if you are a candidate for abdominoplasty or other body contouring procedures, consult with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

Probably no wound truly needs liposuction with a tummy tuck. It is used to help contouring of the extra fat. It seems likely that you do not fit into this category of having extra fat and it therefore you probably will not need liposuction!

You can certainly get muscle wall repair as part of a tummy tuck to address the rectus diastasis. You don't have to do liposuction with it. Those who get liposuction with their tummy tuck are often trying to address excess fatty tissue around the flanks and back. If liposuction is combined with a tummy tuck, the liposuction that is done in the front of the abdomen is usually very modest in order to preserve the bloody supply in that area.
There are some surgeons who offer repair of rectus diastasis without a tummy tuck. The number of patients who are candidate for that type of approach is fairly low, and the surgeons who offer it are trained in minimally invasive / laparoscopic surgery.

If you’re bothered by mild abdominal muscle separation (diastasis) and have a small amount of loose skin, a mini abdominoplasty can effectively address these concerns and provide a beautiful result. In many cases, the umbilicus (belly button) can remain attached while the surgeon tightens the skin and repairs the diastasis. Liposuction is not always necessary for this procedure, and it’s important to feel comfortable advocating for your preferences during your consultation.

Liposuction is not automatically required during a tummy tuck, especially when the main goal is repairing diastasis recti. Muscle tightening alone can dramatically improve abdominal shape and function. However, many patients benefit from adding liposuction to address excess fat in the upper abdomen, flanks, or waistline.

Whether you need liposuction depends on your body fat distribution, skin quality, and the overall aesthetic outcome you want. Some patients have very little fat and do not need it, while others see a noticeably better shape when both procedures are combined. A consultation will help you determine whether muscle repair alone is sufficient or if adding liposuction would give you an ideal outcome.

While liposuction is often combined with a tummy tuck, not everyone wants or needs it. When performed it is often done to the hips/flanks area in order to refine curves to give a more complete result with the tummy tuck. If you do not want it, you do not need to have it. I encourage you to visit with a board certified plastic surgeon near you for a consultation to learn more about the procedure and to determine if you are a good candidate. I've included a video that I hope you find helpful.