Each year, many people choose to get a tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, for a variety of reasons. Whether you are looking to fine-tune your results after reaching a weight loss milestone, are looking to get your pre-pregnancy body back or have other motivations, a tummy tuck may be able to help you achieve your unique goals.
As you do your research, you will likely come across the tummy tuck with muscle repair technique. Is this the best option for you? Do all tummy tucks include muscle repair? Find the answers to these and other questions you may have about your abdominoplasty options, below.
Is a Tummy Tuck with Muscle Repair Right for Me?
Not every tummy tuck includes abdominal muscle repair, because not everyone who is interested in a tummy tuck has separated muscle tissue in need of repair. However, most tummy tucks will involve some degree of abdominal muscle tightening in order to achieve a flat and toned appearance in the midsection.
Abdominal muscle separation, called diastasis recti, happens when your abdominal muscles pull away from each other down the center of your abdomen. This can cause a “belly pooch” that does not respond to diet and exercise. While pregnancy is one of the most common causes of diastasis recti, this condition can also be caused by obesity, poor form when lifting heavy weights and other factors.
Some signs of diastasis recti include:
- A protruding stomach that isn’t resolved with diet and exercise
- Overall feelings of weakness in the abdominal area
- Difficulty lifting items or performing routine tasks
- An indent or divot in the center of your abdomen when activating your core muscles
- Poor posture
- Lower back pain
What’s the Difference Between a Tummy Tuck With or Without Muscle Repair?
The main difference between a tummy tuck without and a tummy tuck with muscle repair is that the latter requires an extra step in order to address the separated muscle tissues.
Further, if your plastic surgeon tightens your abdominal wall to repair the separated muscles, your procedure will be more extensive than an abdominoplasty that does not require muscle tightening, and therefore, will require extra time to heal and recover. You may need around six weeks to recover before getting back to your normal routine.
Is Liposuction Always Included in a Tummy Tuck?
If Liposuction of the abdomen is necessary to create the best result, then it will be included in the tummy tuck procedure. Other areas, like the backside liposuction (posterior flanks and bra roll), are not included with a tummy tuck, but it is common to combine the two procedures to create excellent body contouring results.
Dr. David Kaufman earned a bachelor of science degree from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, graduating with distinction, the highest academic honor. As an active duty naval special warfare officer, he served our nation for four years, including duty in Operation Desert Storm. He then attended Harvard Medical School, receiving his medical doctor degree in 1996. From there, he entered and completed postdoctoral surgical training in a combined general and plastic surgery residency at Stanford University Medical Center.
A board-certified plastic surgeon and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Kaufman’s diverse surgical experience and skill enables him to choose procedures and techniques to best suit each patient. Consider him and his practice, Kaufman Plastic Surgery, if you are looking for a plastic surgeon in the Sacramento area.
