After childbirth, it’s not uncommon for your abdominal muscles to lose some of their youthful tone, resulting in a noticeable abdominal bulge above or below the belly button. Plastic surgeons refer to this problem as diastasis recti; when there is midline separation of the abdominal muscles. Combined with a tummy tuck, our board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian corrects diastasis recti with muscle plication and removal of excess skin and fat from the abdomen.
Understanding Diastasis Recti after Childbirth
Many women are frustrated with their waistline after childbirth and repeated pregnancies. The entire torso is defined by the amount of loose skin, excess fat, and strength of the abdominal muscles in the midline. With pregnancy, these three issues can worsen and permanently change your body dynamics and contour. The six-pack muscles that line your anterior abdominal wall may separate and weaken. An abdominoplasty procedure, combined with rectus diastasis repair, can rebuild the tone of your abdominal muscles and shape the entire waistline. If you are interested in body contouring and tummy tuck surgery after pregnancy, schedule a consultation with our plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills or Santa Monica.
Tummy Tuck Correction of Rectus Diastasis
A tummy tuck is a cosmetic surgical procedure that essentially removes excess skin and fat that has developed below your belly button. It is a necessary procedure that works to complement diet and exercise toning of your abdominal wall. After childbirth, the muscles can become atrophied and weak, leading to a characteristic bulge in the upper and/or lower abdomen. During your tummy tuck, the entire abdominal wall and muscle fascia is surgically exposed, creating the ideal opportunity to correct rectus diastasis with a suture plication method that remains the gold standard for repair. You do not need mesh or abdominal wall support in most cases. Combining these two procedures can address the issue of waistline girth and bulging.
Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian can address the functional and cosmetic issues related to rectus diastasis and abdominal-excess-skin-and-fat that develops after childbirth. His surgical methods include solid abdominal wall plication using braided sutures.
Benefits of Diastasis Recti Surgery in Beverly Hills
There are many benefits of rectus diastasis repair and tummy tuck that arise from these procedures. Our goal is to improve your cosmetic waistline and improve functional muscle strength in the abdomen. Tightening the rectus abdominis muscles can correct the bulge that occurs on the anterior abdominal wall, correct disproportionate muscle strain between the anterior and posterior lumbar muscles, hone a slimmer waistline, and strengthen pelvic floor muscles. You should, at the end of surgery, achieve a tighter and slimmer waistline.
Am I a candidate for Rectus Abdominus muscle repair?
Healthy women who have undergone childbirth may be candidates for a tummy tuck or rectus abdominis correction if they are experiencing cosmetic and functional changes in their waistline. If you have realistic expectations and desire a slimmer waistline with correction of rectus muscle separation, you will find that combined tummy tuck with rectus repair may correct the cosmetic and functional issues related to muscle atrophy and separation. We encourage you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, a board-certified plastic surgeon practicing in both Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. Call our office today at (310) 998-5533 to schedule your consultation.
Choose Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian
Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian is an expert in abdominoplasty and rectus diastasis repair in Los Angeles. His professionalism, twenty years of clinical experience, ethical treatment of patients, and meticulous attention to detail make him a logical choice for your cosmetic plastic surgery. His expertise in body contouring, liposuction, and breast implant surgery have defined his surgical practice.