Are the Ab Muscles Cut and Removed During a Tummy Tuck - or Simply Stitched Together?

Thank you for the question.

One of the steps of a tummy tuck procedure involves reapproximation (plication)  of the rectus muscles. These muscles are not “cut”.  These muscles have spread apart during pregnancy and/or weight gain. Bringing them together again in the midline helps to “tighten” the abdominal wall as well as to narrow the waistline.

I use a two layered technique to reapproximate the rectus muscles. The first layer is comprised of interrupted “figure of 8” permanent sutures;  a second layer involves a “running” permanent suture line. Some judgment is required to re-approximating muscle's at the right tension (tight enough but not too tight). The tightening of the muscles extend from the lower border of the sternum (xiphoid  process)  to the pubic bone.

Occasionally, plication  of the external oblique muscles on each side may be helpful in achieving an improved abdominal wall contour.

After the muscle plication  is completed the  “excess” overlying  skin and adipose tissue is excised.

I hope this helps.

Thank you for your question. Typically, the separated muscles, diastasis recti, are sutured together during tummy tuck. They are not cut or removed. The medical term for this is abdominal plication. I hope this helps.

Rest assured no muscles are cut or removed during a TT..  From either weight gain or pregnancies, the abdominal wall muscles get spread apart, so the abdomen bulges forward in spite of lots of toning excercises for the tummy.  During a TT, the edges of the muscles are sutured together, to where they should be normally, so the foundation of the abdominal wall is tight, flat and smooth.  The excess skin of the abdomen can now be pulled over this flat foundation and results in an improved abdominal contour.