Is a Tummy Tuck Required to Fix Diastasis Recti?

The degree of separation that you are describing is borderline for an endoscopic  assisted tummy tuck which does not necessarily remove skin.It very much depends whether you are abdominal skin still looks elastic or has significant stretchmarks. In the presence of stretch marks,  the endoscopic assisted technique does not work well.The surgical procedure can take place through the umbilicus or the C-section scar if you have one.  there is frequently a small hernia around the umbilicus in situations like yours and it would require repair. When tightening the muscles,  the skin also gathers together and  liposuction to the central part of the abdomen is generally required.Because the umbilicus needs to be floated for this procedure it is then reattached to the abdominal wall either in the same position or slightly lower which puts some tension in the upper part of the  abdominal skin and then requires a small amount of skin reduction at the C-section scar level.

If the muscles need to be repaired, the entire area from the pubic hairline to the ribcage needs to be exposed.  This is the majority of the work involved in a tummy tuck.  The only additional part of the procedure that could be left out would be excision of the excess skin and revision of the belly button.  However, it would make no sense to go this far into the operation, only to eliminate two of the most outstanding benefits of the surgery. A mini tummy tuck only gives access to the lower half of the abdomen.  If you have diathesis recti and you repair the muscles of only the lower half of the abdomen, it will create a contour abnormality in the upper half of the abdomen.

Thanks for the question and this a very common scenario of discussion. To get a good results, patients go for full tummy tuck and muscle repair at the same time and i also perform liposuction to get ideal results. Please see my results to get better idea of the outcome. Performing only muscle repair will get muscle tightening but willed to loose hanging skin.

If you have excess skin already, especially above the belly button you will have excess skin and you won't be satisfied with the results. In my experience, the only way to eliminate and improve skin laxity (at this time) is to excise it. The muscle repair will address the contour and the diastase's but will not address the skin laxity. Best, Dr. RG

Diastasis recti, speration of the muscles, can be repaired without performing a tummy tuck.  It will not address any associated skin laxity or localized fat.