Huge Diastasis and Umbilical Hernia Corrected during Tummy Tuck in Raleigh, NC

This 32-year-old mother of two children has large pregnancies. Her obstetrician attempted to repair an umbilical hernia but was unsuccessful. After her last child- she went a full year with friends thinking she was still pregnant. She had had enough! She had a very large diastasis rectus or weakening of her abdominal wall and separation of her muscle. She also had an umbilical hernia. No amount of exercise would tighten her muscle. She underwent a full abdominoplasty with diastasis repair as well as hernia repair. Major improvement of her abdominal appearance and correction of her hernia was achieved in one operation. Umbilical hernias frequently co-exist with diastasis and can be fixed at the time of tummy tuck. Technically, diastases repair does not actually tighten or strengthen the rectus abdominal muscles. However, it does put them in better alignment and future core strengthening can be more efficient. Almost all tummy tucks on women, especially those who have been pregnant include a rectus plication to close the diastases. In some cases, this is much more involved and requires more suturing and even internal mesh support but rarely is a permanent mesh needed. Dr. Lyle sometimes uses absorbable mesh which helps strengthen the weak fascia. Many of Dr. Lyle's before and after tummy tuck photos show major improvement in diastasis recti.