Do you have separation of your abdominal muscles?
Tummy tuck Sydney Kogarah Miranda
A flat, toned tummy is often seen as a sign of health and wellness. While some people are able to achieve this through living a healthy lifestyle, others find that their belly stubbornly remains rounded, no matter how well they eat and how much they exercise.
One reason that this may happen is a condition called diastasis recti, or separation of the abdominal muscles. This is most common in women after pregnancy, but it can also happen to others. How does separation of the abdominal muscles occur? What can be done to address this problem?
What is diastasis?
Diastasis recti, often simply called “diastasis,” is the separation of the two halves of the rectus abdominis. This is the main muscle on the front of the abdomen. It runs vertically from the bottom of the rib cage to the top of the pubic bone. This is the muscle that creates a visible “six pack” in some people, if the muscle is highly toned and their body fat percentage is very low.
There are two halves of the rectus abdominis, which are separated at the midline of the body by a band of connective tissue known as the linea alba. When the abdomen is stretched (such as during pregnancy), there’s tension on this connective tissue, and it will tend to stretch out as well. Although stretched muscles can later regain their previous length, stretched connective tissue tends to remain stretched, and doesn’t generally bounce back.
How can you address diastasis?
You may see exercise programs being promoted, which claim that they can heal muscle separation of the abdomen. However, none of these programs have been shown to be effective in scientific studies. It’s not the muscle itself that’s stretched out, but the connective tissue between the two halves of the muscle. Exercises can’t address this problem.
If you have separation of the muscles of the abdomen, the only effective solution is a surgical procedure to remove the excess stretched out connective tissue and bring the two halves of the muscle back into their proper positions. This is done during an abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck. Excess sagging skin, along with some excess fat tissue, can also be removed during this procedure, as needed.
By bringing the two halves of the muscle back into their proper positions, the tummy will look flatter and more toned.
Tummy tuck Sydney Kogarah Miranda
If you’ve been struggling with a tummy that remains stubbornly rounded despite your workouts and healthy diet, then you may be experiencing diastasis recti, or separation of the abdominal muscles. A surgical procedure to restore the proper position of these muscles may be helpful.
If you’re considering this procedure or wondering whether it might be able to help you, a consultation with a professional plastic surgeon is a good next step. After examining you, they’ll be able to let you know whether you have abdominal muscle separation. You can also learn about what would be involved in having a surgical procedure to restore the muscle, so you can decide whether this is right for you.
If you’re in the greater Sydney area, we invite you to schedule a consultation with A/Prof Marucci. As an associate professor of surgery at the University of Sydney, he has the extensive training and expertise necessary to perform plastic surgery well and get the best possible results for his patients. Please contact our office to schedule your appointment.
