The Truth About Diastasis Recti Surgery

diastasis recti surgery

Some people struggle to get a flat tummy. Those with diastasis recti may struggle more than most.

What Is Diastasis Recti?

Diastasis recti is also known as abdominal separation. “Diastasis” literally means separation and “recti” refers to the rectus abdominus muscles, aka the “six-pack”.

The linea alba is a piece of connective tissue that runs down the middle of the rectus abdominus muscle. It essentially holds the left and right sides of the muscle together.

If the linea alba stretches out too much, either from weight gain or pregnancy, a gap can form between the ab muscles. That gap can appear as a belly bulge, sometimes even a hernia, and can cause symptoms.

Conservative Treatment for Diastasis Recti

Treatment for diastasis recti is usually non-surgical. Strengthening muscles deep within the abdomen can sometimes help bring the ab muscles back together again. This can decrease the appearance of the bulge and, more importantly, improve symptoms.

That said, exercise will not tighten up the linea alba. The stretched out piece of tissue, if large enough, can still bulge through even the tightest muscles.

Unfortunately, not everyone will get their belly back to normal with physical therapy and exercise. If they still have symptoms and those symptoms affect their quality of life, they may consider surgery to correct it.

When to Consider Diastasis Recti Surgery

Most insurance companies consider diastasis recti to be a cosmetic condition. In those cases, they won’t pay for surgery. If you have symptoms or a hernia, your surgeon can make a case to your insurance company, noting the procedure is needed for medical reasons. There is no guarantee that your insurance company will cover it though.

Abdominoplasty, aka a “tummy tuck”, is the most common procedure used to treat diastasis recti. It involves the surgical removal of fat and skin, sometimes with liposuction. The surgery tightens the linea alba with stitches. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and can take anywhere from one to five hours to complete.

There are several studies that show suturing the tissue can treat the condition long-term but not for everyone. Sutures may not hold in all cases. The linea alba is not as strong as muscle and stitches can sometimes tear through the thin tissue. Weight gain or another pregnancy could also lead to a recurrence of diastasis recti when it stretches out again.

The Cost of Diastasis Recti Surgery

FairHealth Consumer is a free site that calculates the fair cost of medical care based on your zip code. They estimate a fair price for an abdominoplasty in New York City, including physician services and surgical site fees, to be approximately $4,543 to $5,955 if it were covered in-network by your insurance. It could cost as high as $10,544 to $16,764 if you were out of network or if you had no insurance at all. Costs may vary throughout the United States. If you want to check your own zip code, visit the site and use CPT code 15847, the procedure code for abdominoplasty.

Only you can decide if it’s worth it. After all, it’s not just about cost. Abdominoplasty is major surgery. You have to consider the risk for complications, not to mention scarring. Also, there is no guarantee the procedure will fix your diastasis recti long-term. You have to weigh the pros and cons of diastasis recti surgery based on your symptoms and quality of life.

 

References

Akram J, Matzen SH (2014). Rectus abdominis diastasis. Journal of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, 48(3), 163-9.

Chang CJ (2013). Assessment of videoendoscopy-assisted abdominoplasty for diastasis recti patients. Biomedical Journal, 36(5), 252-6.

Hickey F, Finch JG, and Khanna A (2011). A systematic review on the outcomes of correction of diastasis of the recti. Hernia, 15(6), 607-14.

Mestak O, Kullac R, Mestak J, Nosek A, Krajcova A, and Sukop A (2012). Evaluation of the long-term stability of sheath plication using absorbable sutures in 51 patients with diastasis of the recti muscles: an ultrasonographic study. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 130(5), 714e-719e.

Nahas FX, Ferreira LM, Ely PB, and Ghelfond C (2011). Rectus diastasis corrected with absorbable suture: a long-term evaluation. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 35(1), 43-8.

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