A tummy tuck with muscle repair is a type of abdominoplasty that removes excess fat and skin from a person’s abdomen, as well as tightening both the abdominal muscles and the skin. The muscle repair part of the procedure involves reconnecting the divided muscles.
The procedure typically takes between 2 and 3 hours, depending on how much work needs to be done. Afterward, patients are instructed to keep their abdomens wrapped in compression bandages for at least 1 week following surgery. They can start walking around after 2 days, but they should avoid strenuous activity for several weeks after their operation.
Doctors recommend that patients take antibiotics before and after surgery to protect against infection, as well as pain medications during recovery time. Patients may also need to wear drains after their procedure in order to collect any excess fluid from inside their bodies (this helps prevent swelling).
For most people who have had a tummy tuck with muscle repair, this procedure will result in smoother skin over time (because there will be no longer any excess fat underneath). However, some people may experience loose skin around their hips or backside after losing weight—so it’s important for them not only to lose weight but maintain it.
A tummy tuck with muscle repair requires the surgeon to suture the connective tissue (fascia) of the rectus muscles together, pulling them close together. This procedure is only performed under general anaesthesia and results in a more significant recovery time compared to a mini tummy tuck.
A tummy tuck with muscle repair is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdominal area, tightens muscles and tendons, and improves the shape of your belly. The procedure also removes excess skin in the lower abdominal area, which can cause sagging in this region after pregnancy or weight loss.
Tummy tuck surgery is often referred to as an abdominoplasty. It can be performed on people of any age who are in otherwise good health but want to improve their appearance by removing excess skin and fat from the abdomen. In addition to improving the appearance of your abdomen, a tummy tuck can help reduce back pain caused by weakened muscles or ligaments that pull on your spine.
The procedure usually takes about 2 hours under general anesthesia and requires at least 1 week of recovery time before you can return to work or other normal activities.
Not all tummy tucks are alike. Some involve more extensive surgery than others, and for this reason, what to expect during recovery can vary from person to person. The aim of the tummy tuck is to slim and tighten the waist for a more shapely and youthful appearance, but the surgical route to get you there (and into some cute new clothes) can vary quite a bit.
Depending on the amount of excess skin and fat to be removed, incisions can be shorter or more extensive, including the repositioning of the belly button. But one of the biggest factors to impact recovery from a tummy tuck, also called an abdominoplasty, is whether or not a muscle repair is included.
Why the muscle sometimes needs a repair
If you have seen the abs on even one superhero you will know the muscle we are talking about. It is called the rectus abdominis and it runs vertically from your sternum to your pubic bone. It has a left and right side separated down the middle by a band of tissue called the linea alba.
The linea alba can become over stretched, usually during pregnancy but also due to extreme weight gain or a lifting injury. When this happens the two sides of the muscle move further apart, resulting in an outward bulging of the belly that doesn’t go away, even when weight (baby or otherwise) is gone. This condition is called diastasis recti.
Besides being a cosmetic issue for some people, this condition can affect posture and trunk strength. It can cause pain in the abdomen, hips, and back, as well as bowel and bladder issues, all of which can have a huge impact on quality of life.
Why the muscle sometimes doesn’t need a repair
Not all tummy tucks include a muscle repair because not all bellies that can benefit from a tummy tuck have a diastasis recti. Even when the linea alba is stretched out, it can sometimes return to its normal size on its own. Furthermore, if a woman has had a cesarean section, a repair will likely have already been completed at that time.
How the muscle is repaired
Diastasis recti can be corrected by a general surgeon, but plastic surgeons routinely do this as part of their tummy tuck procedure. The surgery involves folding over the stretched tissue of the linea alba and suturing the two sides of the rectus abdominis muscle together. Though you can’t see it from the outside of the body, this involves suturing up and down the whole length of the abdomen.
Tummy Tuck With Muscle Repair Recovery Time
It takes around four to six weeks to recover from a tummy tuck, and up to three to six months before you can see the final cosmetic result. However, at Bella Vou, many of our patients feel ready to return to work less than two weeks after surgery. Between four and six weeks, you can safely reintroduce exercise, gradually increasing activity as you regain confidence and rebuild your fitness and strength.
Why a muscle repair impacts tummy tuck recovery
The difference in recovery between a tummy tuck with muscle repair versus one without has to do with the fact that muscles contract. Unlike the skin and fatty tissue that cover the abdomen, the muscles underneath (and the rectus abdominis is a big one) are prime movers and stabilizers of the whole trunk. This means that they contract nearly any time you move your body. Even simple movements like lifting your arms when sitting upright or rolling over in bed can engage these muscles — and then there’s coughing and sneezing.
When the muscle is repaired it needs time to rest so that it can heal up. Over exerting yourself too early can compromise your results and will certainly be painful.
How a muscle repair impacts recovery
When a muscle repair is included with your tummy tuck, you will be required to be more careful and your recovery will take a bit longer — from three to four weeks longer.
Symptoms
After a muscle repair patients often experience feeling more full quickly when eating and the sensation of not being able to take as deep a breath as they used to. This is due to a decrease in the amount of room inside the abdominal cavity caused by tightening the muscles. The stomach has less room to expand and the diaphragm meets more resistance as it moves down to allow you to take a breath. Both of these issues, if they occur, typically resolve within four to six weeks.
Abdominal Binder
Shortly after surgery you will be given an abdominal binder to help support the repaired muscle and to reduce overall swelling. You will be given instructions on how to put it on and will be told to wear it regularly. You will probably need help putting it on and taking it off in the first few days.
Lifting restrictions
After surgery, your doctor will restrict you to lifting no more than about 10-15 pounds. You will be prohibited from lifting anything heavier for a full six to eight weeks after surgery. You will also not be allowed to do any core strengthening exercises, such as sit-ups, to avoid stressing and potentially tearing the repair.
Posture
It is typical of all patients after a tummy tuck to have slightly hunched over posture. This is normal and it is important not to force an upright position and put undue strain while your incision heals. This becomes even more important after a muscle repair. You may even be given a walker to get around the first week after surgery.
You still have to get out of bed
Even with a muscle repair, your surgeon will require that you begin moving about within a day of your surgery. This includes getting up to go to the bathroom and with some restrictions, taking a shower. This is important for your overall health and healing and the prevention of blood clots. Many patients opt to sleep in a recliner to make these movements easier. Have someone at home to help you, especially during the first couple of weeks.
Though the muscle repair does add some challenges to your recovery, the long term benefits can far outweigh them. A study published last fall (2019), showed postpartum women who underwent a rectus abdominis repair had significant improvements in trunk function, urinary incontinence, and overall quality of life.
Tummy Tuck With Muscle Repair Cost
As everyone is unique and requires different needs, multiple factors can affect the cost of a tummy tuck surgery.
There are three types of abdominoplasty:
- Full or traditional
- Mini
- Extended
- Fleur-De-Lis
- 360 tummy tuck
The difference between these three options is the amount of fat removed and the extraction areas.
For example, a mini tummy tuck removes your lower abdomen’s sagging skin, excess skin, and fat. You can expect to pay between $3,500 – $8,000 for this procedure.
A full tummy tuck cost will range from $8,000 – $12,000. However, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, your most expensive option is extended surgery; an extended tummy tuck costs $12,000 – $18000.
When discussing costs with your plastic surgeon, please inquire about your fees, as they might hit you for additional charges.
Generally, the price of the procedure should include the following:
- Anesthetic
- Cost for the facility where the procedure will be done
- Any tests that need to be performed
- Post-surgery garments
- Prescriptions for medication
- How Much Does A 360 Tummy Tuck Cost
The procedure is targeted to both sides and the front of your abdomen. Prices can differ based on factors like the location and experience of your surgeon; costs typically fall within EUR 4,200–5500 range.
- How Much Does An Extended Tummy Tuck Cost
An extended tummy tuck, covering more area including sides and lower back, typically ranges in cost between EUR4,200 to EUR5,500 depending on factors such as location and surgeon.
- Male Tummy Tuck Cost:
Male tummy tuck costs can be comparable to female procedures, depending on the nature and cost of their surgery and the fees charged by surgeons.
- Tummy Tuck Revision Cost:
Cost of Tummy Tuck Revision Varies Widely Depending on the extent and surgeon rates for revisional surgery, costs for revision can range anywhere between EUR5,500–EUR7,500.
- Fleur De Lis Tummy Tuck Cost:
A fleur de lis tummy tuck, often used for patients with significant excess skin, can cost more due to its complexity. Prices might range from €5,200 to €7,500 or more.