Diastasis Recti Surgery Everything You Should Know

Diastasis Recti, often known as belly separation, affects many people. The muscles in the abdomen must separate for this illness to occur. When you have this disorder, which frequently occurs after giving birth or after losing a significant amount of weight, your tummy may appear “pooched” or protrude from your body. Certain illnesses induce pain, which makes it difficult for patients to do daily tasks. A “tummy tuck,” or surgery to correct diastasis recti, helps narrow the gap and tighten the abdominal muscles.

This tutorial goes over the components of diastasis recti surgery, including the recovery period, how long it takes to recover from diastasis recti surgery, and diastasis recti surgery without a stomach tuck.

Diastasis Recti Surgery

What is surgery for diastasis recti?

One kind of surgery that corrects the split abdominal muscles is diastasis recti. During the procedure, the surgeon will create a cut down the lower abdomen to reach the abdominal muscles. The abdominal wall will then be tightened by the surgeon by sewing the muscles back together. Occasionally, excess skin is also removed, which results in a more toned and smaller tummy.

Who Should Get Surgery for Diastasis Recti?

Most often, diastasis recti surgery is an excellent option for those who have a large gap between their abdominal muscles that causes them discomfort or affects their quality of life. Surgery should only be performed on people who are generally healthy and have reasonable expectations for the outcome. Individuals who have experienced significant weight loss or women who have had many pregnancies are frequently suitable candidates for the procedure.

How to Get Better After Diastasis Recti Surgery

After diastasis recti surgery, recuperation can take a few weeks to a few months, depending on how severe the procedure was. Patients may experience some pain, swelling, and bruises following surgery; these side effects can be managed with the use of medicines prescribed by the physician. For a few weeks after surgery, patients should avoid heavy lifting and other strenuous activity to ensure the stomach muscles heal completely.

Additionally, patients will be instructed to use a compression device to aid with muscle healing and reduce swelling. The compression device may need to be worn for a few weeks to a few months, depending on how well the patient is recovering.

What Surgery for Diastasis Recti Does

Diastasis recti therapy can improve the appearance of the belly and usually has long-lasting effects. Patients may immediately notice a difference in the appearance of their abdomen following surgery. As the tissues heal completely over the coming months, the appearance might continue to improve.

It is crucial to keep in mind that diastasis recti surgery is not a weight loss method. Patients should maintain the benefits by eating healthily and exercising frequently. In order to monitor their progress and ensure a seamless procedure, patients should continue to see their surgeon for follow-up appointments.

Diastasis recti treatment may be helpful if an abdominal split negatively impacts a person’s quality of life or makes them feel bad. If you are considering diastasis recti surgery, you should schedule a consultation with a skilled surgeon to discuss your objectives and aspirations and to determine whether you are a good candidate for the procedure. If you take care of it and wait for it to recover, diastasis recti surgery can improve your life overall and give you a flatter, more toned tummy.

diastasis recti surgery without tummy tuck

Most people choose diastasis recti surgery instead of a stomach tuck when they don’t need to remove excess skin or fat around their waistline. Under such circumstances, the procedure is typically referred to as abdominal wall repair or diastasis recti correction.

To reach the abdominal muscles, the surgeon will create a little incision in the center of the abdomen. Following that, the physician will reassemble the muscles and raise the abdominal wall. Additionally, you can eliminate excess fat and skin if necessary.

In general, diastasis recti repair heals faster without a belly tuck than with one. Because there is less muscle to repair, this is the case. Surgical patients may still experience some discomfort, stiffness, and bruising. The surgeon’s recommended pain relievers may be helpful. For a few weeks following stomach surgery, patients should avoid heavy lifting and other strenuous activities. The muscles will entirely mend as a result of this.

Fixing diastasis recti without a stomach tuck usually results in a far more attractive and long-lasting stomach. After surgery, some people may immediately notice a change in their belly’s appearance. As the tissues completely mend in the upcoming months, the appearance can continue to improve.

It is crucial to remember that diastasis recti correction alone, without a stomach tuck, is not a weight loss method. For the effects to last, patients should eat healthily and exercise every day. Those who have surgery should also attend their follow-up appointments to check on their progress and ensure a speedy recovery.

Diastasis Recti Surgery Without Tummy Tuck Recovery

Every building requires a solid foundation. In the event that one corner of that base collapses, the building will become weaker. Muscle separation during pregnancy, known as diastasis recti, or problems with the abdominal wall, such as a hernia, result in the same outcome.

Your weak muscles make it difficult for you to sit, walk, or bend. This can lead to reduced mobility, joint and back pain, and even issues with self-esteem, all of which can worsen your quality of life. Individuals with large, protruding stomachs have been suspected of pregnancy and even charged with theft while their shirts are off.

Abdominal wall reconstruction is a surgical procedure that can be successful if performed properly by a team of skilled medical professionals. It was a long drive for many of our patients to reach our facility, however. On average, patients who visit us have undergone eight to fifteen procedures. There may be as many as three or four unsuccessful attempts to repair a hernia. Many have visited multiple surgeons who informed them they had no other options.

The decision to get surgery was made when they learned about our experts at the UT Southwestern Plastic Surgery Clinic. Compared to the majority of surgery centers, our team’s transformational treatments are more intricate.

As opposed to some centers that might only perform that many belly reconstructions once a year, our center performs two to four of them monthly. Because we cater to them, we get around 60% of our business from beyond the Metroplex. After a complex abdominal wall hernia repair and reconstruction, our physicians collaborate with the physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) specialists at UT Southwestern to reduce recovery time, specify recovery plans, and reduce recurrence risk.

Our goal is to assist people in achieving the best possible physical and mental health. Following stomach surgery, there is no one recovery and reconstruction method that works for everyone. Your doctor will review your medical history, including previous treatments, as well as your professional and personal objectives and interests, before you begin.

Who Needs Surgery for Diastasis Recti?

Diastasis recti may resolve on its own; for instance, it may become better in the weeks and months following the end of your pregnancy. Diastasis recti can occasionally be somewhat improved by performing abdominal workouts to strengthen the muscles. However, surgery will be required to correct diastasis recti if it does not improve.

The muscles can be closed and reconnected by a surgeon either alone or in conjunction with an abdominal reconstruction, sometimes known as a “tummy tuck.” After having surgery to treat RAD, many people report feeling better. If you are thinking about having surgery for diastasis recti, there are a few things you should be aware of.

Contraindications

• Before undergoing diastasis recti surgery, most surgeons advise waiting a few months after your baby is weaned if you are nursing.
• If you intend to get pregnant again, keep in mind that pregnancy causes your abdominal muscles to split. Surgery to correct RAD should be postponed until after you have finished having children.
• In order to correct diastasis recti, most surgeons advise waiting at least six to nine months after giving birth.
• After giving birth, you should allow your body to recuperate. Additionally, it is important to let your hormone levels recover to their pre-pregnancy levels.

Potential Risks

Surgery for diastasis recti carries several possible hazards. The type of operation you have will determine the risks to a considerable extent.

For instance, laparoscopic surgery involves only a few tiny incisions and is used to treat RAD. The surgeon uses a camera to view into your abdomen during the treatment.

More or larger incisions are made during other procedures, such as a stomach tuck.

Risks associated with any procedure include:

Speak with a board-certified plastic surgeon if you are considering diastasis recti surgery. It is important to be aware of the risks associated with surgery, as they may differ for you and others.

To demonstrate to you how they corrected diastasis recti for other people, a surgeon might show you “before and after” pictures.

Purpose of Diastasis Recti Surgery

Most of the time, diastasis recti can only be repaired surgically. Because RAD surgery is seen as an elective procedure, you should be aware that your insurance may not cover it. Therefore, since it is not an emergency, it can be booked in advance. Your belly looks different if you have RAD. Surgery for diastasis recti can also be seen as a cosmetic technique if it is repaired.

Surgery can make your abdomen seem better, but that’s not the main reason people get it done. In order to treat incontinence and back pain, many people undergo surgery. Additionally, hernias—a condition in which a portion of an organ or tissue protrudes through the abdominal muscle—can occur in people with RAD. Hernias can make it difficult to carry out your everyday activities and are uncomfortable.

Surgery to repair muscles that have separated from RAD can be beneficial because hernias cause weak or strained abdominal muscles. Even if an insurance company may not agree, having surgery to correct diastasis recti is frequently less about “looks.” People can also feel better physically after having surgery to treat RAD. Alternatives to RAD surgery include liposuction and other body reshaping techniques.

Although these procedures remove belly fat, they do not repair muscle separation or remove extra skin. Engaging in workouts that build core strength can also aid you physically and with the appearance of your tummy. However, diastasis recti cannot be repaired by exercise.

Conclusion

Diastasis recti is a common condition that most pregnant and postpartum women experience (although it can also occur in men and infants). It usually develops in the third trimester, when the baby is growing rapidly, putting more pressure on the abdominal wall. Most people don’t notice diastasis recti until the postpartum period. Diastasis recti is caused by the rectus abdominis muscles (six-pack ab muscles) separating during pregnancy from stretching during pregnancy, which can cause a person’s belly to protrude or bulge months or years after birth.