Many people notice that their abdomen still looks rounded or stretched even after weight loss, exercise, or recovery from pregnancy. When core workouts and healthy habits don’t change the shape of your midsection, the issue may involve diastasis recti, which occurs when the right and left abdominal muscles separate.
At Bella Cosmetic Surgery in National Harbor, Maryland, Dr. Michael Chiaramonte helps patients from Alexandria, VA, Clinton, MD, and nearby communities understand whether abdominal muscle separation plays a role in their concerns. Dr. Chiaramonte is a board-certified plastic surgeon and Medical Director with over 20 years of experience. He performs surgical procedures at Harbor Surgery Center, a fully accredited ambulatory surgical facility.
Before considering your repair options, it helps to understand what diastasis recti is and why it can change the shape of your abdomen.
What Is Diastasis Recti?
Diastasis recti happens when the left and right abdominal muscles separate along the center of the abdomen. Pregnancy commonly causes this because the abdominal wall stretches as the baby grows. Significant weight changes, genetics, and aging can also affect the abdominal area.
This separation may give you a belly bulge that doesn’t respond well to exercise. You might also notice a weaker-feeling core, changes in your posture, or frustration with how your clothing fits.
While core-strengthening may be helpful for some mild cases, it cannot always bring separated abdominal muscles back together once the tissue has been stretched.
How a Tummy Tuck Helps Repair Diastasis Recti
A tummy tuck for diastasis recti can repair the abdominal wall by bringing separated muscles back together with internal sutures.
During the procedure, Dr. Chiaramonte makes an incision low on the abdomen, lifts the skin, tightens the abdominal muscles, removes excess tissue, and closes the incision. The goal is a flatter abdominal contour and better overall core stability.
Bella Cosmetic Surgery also offers a combined abdominoplasty and liposuction procedure called the Bella Body Lift, if you’d like to target excess fat and loose skin more comprehensively.
Learn Whether a Tummy Tuck Fits Your Needs
Diastasis recti can affect your abdomen in ways that exercise alone may not correct. During your consultation, Dr. Chiaramonte can review your concerns, evaluate the degree of muscle separation, and recommend a treatment plan.
Bella Cosmetic Surgery welcomes patients from National Harbor, Alexandria, Clinton, and nearby areas. Call 301-567-6767 to schedule a consultation.
