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

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.

We do not cut and sew the muscles but rather tighten the covering on top of them with stitches. It is that covering or fascia that gets stretched out with pregnancy or weight gain and is why all the sit-ups in the world don't help. The muscles can get stronger with exercise but the fascia can't be tightened!

The muscles are not cut, but are essentially pleated back together to pull the separated muscles closer together.  This is commonly done both above and below the belly button.

After pregnancy or even major changes in weight, the muscles of the abdomen can loosen, stretch, or move apart,  During a tummy tuck we tighten the rectus muscles (the muscles that form the "6 pack") by stitching them together-- we don't cut them.  This is a key step in a tummy tuck to give patients the flattest contour and a narrow waistline.