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.

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.  

Repairing a diastasis without a tummy tuck is possible.
However, in most cases the two go hand in hand. Most often when you are doing a
full tummy tuck some type of split between the rectus muscles will be noticed
because many patients who need tummy tuck surgery have had prior pregnancies.
For those patients who have minimal skin excess, but simply a large diastasis
there are techniques that would be more similar to a mini tummy tuck length
incision, which would allow the surgeon access to the split in the muscles. One
fairly common technique is what is called a bellybutton float where the
bellybutton or umbilicus is disconnected from the abdominal wall, but left
connected to the overlying skin. After the muscle repair is completed, the skin is shifted
down moving the bellybutton into a slightly lower position and some of the skin
just above the pubic area is removed leaving a moderate scar, which looks like
a long C-section scar. Performing a diastasis repair without any
significant incisions would be very difficult, as a certain degree of visual
exposure is necessary to perform an accurate repair.

A full abdominoplasty is the best way to fix a Diastasis Recti. Some
surgeons may say they can fix it with extra dissection and a mini but basically
it is still a full abdominoplasty. A mini tummy tuck only fixes the part of
your abdomen below your belly button.

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

Hi and great questions. A tummy tuck is essentially three to four procedures in one. The major procedures to a tummy tuck are:Removing the excess skin
Tightening and contouring the remaining skin
Tightening the underlying Tummy Muscles (aka Diastasis Recti)
Optional liposuction of the flanks and upper tummy (I typically perform liposuction on almost all tummy tucks) to further contour and sculpt the torso.

A “mini” tummy tuck is partially a marketing gimmick. It is really a good option for people who have a small little excess over the pubic bone only and do not have tummy muscles that need tightening. A “mini” tummy tuck would not give access to tighten your tummy muscles above your belly button. If you tighten your tummy muscles below your belly button but not above the belly button, then you would be left with a torso that appears more male.Tightening the tummy muscles significantly flattens the tummy. And because there is less of a bulge from the abdomen there will be some excess skin leftover. But this excess skin will be removed at the time of the tummy tuck. If you have tummy muscles that need to be tightened (diastasis recti), then I do not think a “mini” tummy tuck will be in your best interest. I hope that helps. Best of Luck!   

From the information that you have provided it sounds
like there has been so much stretching of your upper abdominal muscles that
only a full tummy tuck would repair the diastasis recti. As mentioned in other
responses, the mini tummy tuck would only address any stretching that has
occurred in the lower abdominal muscles, and with the upper stretched muscles
left unattended there would still be a substantial bulge viewable above the
belly button. Discuss with a surgeon the exact amount of your diastasis recti
and confirm that only the full tummy tuck will repair the entire abdominal
area.

Repair of rectus diastasis is best performed via complete exposure of the abdominal wall to allow proper plication and a good result.  This means it is a perfect opportunity to have a full abdominoplasty!  A mini abdominoplasty is not applicable to this problem.