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Why a muscle repair impacts tummy tuck recovery Though you can’t see it from the outside of the body, this involves suturing up and down the whole length of the abdomen. The surgery involves folding over the stretched tissue of the linea alba and suturing the two sides of the rectus abdominis muscle together. How the muscle is repairedĭiastasis recti can be corrected by a general surgeon, but plastic surgeons routinely do this as part of their tummy tuck procedure. Furthermore, if a woman has had a cesarean section, a repair will likely have already been completed at that time. Even when the linea alba is stretched out, it can sometimes return to its normal size on its own. Not all tummy tucks include a muscle repair because not all bellies that can benefit from a tummy tuck have a diastasis recti. Why the muscle sometimes doesn’t need a repair It can cause pain in the abdomen, hips, and back, as well as bowel and bladder issues, all of which can have a huge impact on quality of life. This condition is called diastasis recti.īesides being a cosmetic issue for some people, this condition can affect posture and trunk strength. When this happens the two sides of the muscle move further apart, resulting in an outward bulging of the belly that doesn’t go away, even when weight (baby or otherwise) is gone. The linea alba can become over stretched, usually during pregnancy but also due to extreme weight gain or a lifting injury. It has a left and right side separated down the middle by a band of tissue called the linea alba. It is called the rectus abdominis and it runs vertically from your sternum to your pubic bone. If you have seen the abs on even one superhero you will know the muscle we are talking about.
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But one of the biggest factors to impact recovery from a tummy tuck, also called an abdominoplasty, is whether or not a muscle repair is included.
#Post tummy tuck recovery skin
The aim of the tummy tuck is to slim and tighten the waist for a more shapely and youthful appearance, but the surgical route to get you there (and into some cute new clothes) can vary quite a bit.ĭepending on the amount of excess skin and fat to be removed, incisions can be shorter or more extensive, including the repositioning of the belly button. Some involve more extensive surgery than others, and for this reason, what to expect during recovery can vary from person to person. Craft always strive to strategically place these incisions to ensure they can be easily hidden below the bikini line.Not all tummy tucks are alike. While some patients worry that bikinis will reveal the scars left at their incision sites, Dr. Form fitting dresses, skinny jeans, skirts, and shorts can help you to show off your new, leaner body. Many patients find that several new possibilities are available to them as styles that would have previously been unflattering are well suited to their new physique. A shopping trip can be a great way to reward yourself and embrace your new body at the end of the recovery process, but you should also keep in mind that the last residual swelling may take several months to completely resolve, and patience will be key. You will likely need to go shopping or take your favorite clothes to a tailor as some patients find that they go down two or more pant sizes however, the results will vary from patient to patient. After four to six weeks, you can begin to have fun with your clothing selection, choosing apparel that compliments your new figure.