Abdominoplasty
The desire for a flat tummy is nearly universal. However, a variety of different issues can make it hard for some people to achieve. Even after they lose any excess weight, so that there’s not much fat on the abdomen, there are still some people who find that their belly “pooches” out. Women who have been pregnant may find that, even after they lose the baby weight, their belly still “pooches” out, so that they look a little bit pregnant.
This often indicates a problem called diastasis recti, or abdominal muscle separation. What causes this, and what can be done about it?
What is diastasis recti?
The main muscle of the abdomen is called the rectus abdominis. It’s attached to the front part of the rib cage, and to the pubic bone. This is the “six pack” muscle, which can be visible in those who are fit and have very low body fat. The muscle has two halves, which are separated by a piece of connective tissue that runs vertically along the entire length of the muscle.
When this connective tissue becomes stretched out, then the two halves of the muscle become separated from each other. This causes the abdomen to have a protruding appearance, even if the person is not overweight. This stretching of the connective tissue between the muscle halves is called diastasis recti, or sometimes just diastasis. It’s very common after pregnancy, but can also occur in other situations.
Can diastasis recti be fixed?
Although there are a number of exercise programs that are designed to address diastasis recti, the unfortunate truth is that these have not been shown to be effective in scientific studies. The exercises may help the patient to compensate for the diastasis using other muscles of the abdomen, but will not actually address the connective tissue separation itself.
For those who are bothered by symptoms of diastasis, the only permanent solution is a surgical procedure known as abdominoplasty. During this procedure, excess connective tissue between the two halves of the rectus will be removed, and the two halves of the muscle will be brought back together. There may also be other components to this procedure, such the removal of any excess sagging skin (also a common consequence of pregnancy), which can be included if necessary.
Are you considering abdominoplasty in Wollongong or Bowral?
If you’re bothered by the appearance of your abdomen, then you may want to schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon. An examination will allow your surgeon to determine the cause of your problem, including whether you have diastasis. This will reveal whether you are a candidate for abdominoplasty. The consultation appointment does not at all commit you to having the surgery; you will simply learn about whether it would be an option for you, and what would be involved. Then you can make an informed decision about whether or not you’d like to have the procedure.
If you have concerns about the appearance of your abdomen, simply contact our office to start the process of scheduling a consultation with highly-trained plastic surgeon Dr. Adrian Sjarif.
