Does a Tummy Tuck Without Muscle Repair Make It Less Invasive or Dangerous?

It may be less invasive because the muscles aren't treated. Usually, a primary source of discomfort during tummy tuck recovery is muscle separation correction. 

Hi there-

Repair of the muscle damage caused by pregnancy or weight gain and loss is important in the achievement of the best outcome possible, and should not materially increase your risks related to the procedure.

Significantly, it is important for you to also understand that if you were to look for a surgeon willing to do a tummy tuck on you without tightening your muscles, you will find one, only to realize (assuming that you are having a tummy tuck because you need a tummy tuck to look your best) after surgery that your don't look anywhere near as good as you hoped, or as good as other women who had a more complete tummy tuck.

In other words, repairing the muscles should not increase your risks, and omitting this important detail will put you at risk of being unhappy with your outcome.

Thank you for your question and the photos.


A tummy tuck without muscle tightening has less pain after surgery.  Most women that need or want a tummy tuck usually benefit from the muscle repair.


To be sure, see two or more board-certified plastic surgeons in your area for a full and complete evaluation to make sure you are a good candidate and that it is safe for you to have surgery. I hope this helps.

Most women who get a tummy tuck need the muscle repair.  In some patients who only have lax skin you can remove just the skin and leave the muscle alone.  Muscle repair does not make the procedure more dangerous but significantly increases the time it will take for you to recover

Hi, muscle repair is an integral part of full tummy tuck surgery and it does not increase the invasiveness or danger of the procedure. almost all patients who are candidates for a tummy tuck will need their muscle repaired.

Since a tummy tuck is most often done because of changes following pregnancy, repair of a muscle separation is an important part of the plan more often than not. However, it does affect your recovery. If you don't need it then your return to normal activities will be sooner, but the decision should be based on whether you have the muscle separation.

I perform abdominoplasties (tummy tucks) every week and cannot think of a single case that did not require muscle plication or "tightening".  This is an important component of the procedure and without this the result is markedly diminished.  This does not make it more invasive or dangerous at all. 

I am not sure that having an abdominoplasty without the rectus plication step is technically less invasive. The incisions will be the same, the exposure of the abdomen will be the same, etc. I do not think that there are any medical risks that are avoided by not performing that step of the surgery. There are consequences, good and bad, of having the rectus plication. It typically improves the lateral and anterior abdominal contour and tightens the abdomen if it is weak. By putting sutures into the abdominal wall fascia, there is some more discomfort immediately post op. I have also had patients say that it has resulted in a restriction in how much they can eat before feeling full, which could be a good or a bad thing I suppose. If your surgeon feels that you a candidate for muscle repair, I think that the benefits far outweigh any risks that may be involved.

Thank you for the question. The tummy tuck procedure typically involves plication  of the abdominal wall muscle that have spread during pregnancy or weight gain/loss.  IN MY OPINION, omitting  this part of the procedure for the vast majority of patients who present for consultation will  possibly or likely leave them with continued abdominal wall laxity and, in my  opinion, a less than optimal result.  Make your decisions carefully…Best wishes.

The approximation of the muscles of the abdominal wall or plication are intended to strengthen the abdominal wall and correct the bulge (protrusion of intraabdominal contents) and weakness of it caused by physiological and anatomical changes during pregnancy or obesity with subsequent weight loss . This is a procedure that does not increase the surgical time significantly or produce negative physiological alterations if done properly. In short the realization adds no morbidity or risks but if not done the results may be adversely affected