Abdominal Muscle Separation (Diastasis Recti)

Abdominal separation is common in women who have pregnancies over 35, have delivered a large baby, had multiple pregnancies or had large weight changes during the pregnancy.  It can be seen in up to two-thirds of pregnant women in the third trimester. It is most apparent right after delivery of the baby and often gets better for the first several months after delivery.  You can also develop diastasis recti with abdominal obesity, this is more common in adult men.

Diastasis recti presents as a protruding bulge anywhere from the center of the upper abdomen between the belly button and the breast bone to a bulge below the belly button.  It might be noticeable only when the abdominal muscles are tense, such as during coughing or sit-ups.  Sometimes diastasis recti is misdiagnosed as a hernia.  It is not uncommon for a patient to initially be referred to a general surgeon for a hernia repair.  A good physical exam and imaging with a CT scan and occasionally an MRI will yield the correct diagnosis of diastasis recti.

Different variations of diastasis recti

Because diastasis recti does not represent a true hernia, repair is not covered by insurance.  The treatment for diastasis recti is an elective procedure that tightens the muscles and narrows the separation using stitches. Surgical repair of diastasis recti is generally performed through a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) incision to allow adequate access to repair the muscle separation.  After the muscle has been brought back together, it is quite easy to remove the extra skin that is frequently present and optimize your overall appearance and proportions.

Does a tummy tuck repair diastasis recti?

In this video, Dr. Gallus discusses how a tummy tuck can correct diastasis recti with surgery.

Combining diastasis recti repair with other procedures

Diastasis recti may also be repaired as part of a mommy makeover procedure, which includes a combination of the following procedures: breast augmentation, breast lift, tummy tuck, and/or labiaplasty.

“I went in for a consultation for a tummy tuck, bbl, and lipo and was very impressed with Dr. Gallus and her staff. She made me feel very comfortable and answered any and every question I had (I had a lot lol). She truly made me feel like she cared about my safety and would do great work to achieve the results I wanted…”

—Actual patient of Dr. Gallus

What they’re saying »

Repair of diastasis recti is done under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure and usually takes about 2-4 hours, depending on whether liposuction is added or not.  After the muscle has been returned to a more natural anatomic position, many of our diastasis recti repair patients tell us that they feel like they have improved core strength, less back discomfort, and an easier time with work or sporting activities that rely on abdominal strength.