What to Expect From This Surgery
When you have diastasis recti, surgery is sometimes necessary.
The muscles can separate when someone is pregnant or for other reasons.
Diastasis recti surgery can be done on its own or as part of a “tummy tuck” procedure.
Tetiana Mandziuk / iStock / Getty Images
This article will go over what you oughta know about diastasis recti surgery.
Tetiana Mandziuk / iStock / Getty Images
What Is Diastasis Recti?
It can cause a bulge that runs down the middle of the stomach.
RAD can also happen in newborns and older people.
When Is Diastasis Recti Severe?
Having diastasis recti means you have a gap between your rectus muscles that is wider than 2 cm.
Who Needs Surgery for Diastasis Recti?
Sometimes, doingabdominal exercisesto strengthen the muscles can also improve diastasis recti somewhat.
Some issues that surgery may correct or improve include:
How Much Does Diastasis Recti Surgery Cost?
A rectus abdominal repair surgery could cost up to $19,000.
If you’re planning to become pregnant again, remember that pregnancy separates the muscles in your abdomen.
You should wait until you are done having kids to have surgery to fix RAD.
you oughta give your body time to recover from childbirth.
Potential Risks
There arepotential risksof diastasis recti surgery.
The risks largely depend on the kind of surgery you have.
During the procedure, the surgeonuses a camerato see inside your belly.
Other surgeries, like a tummy tuck, are done with more cuts or bigger cuts (incisions).
However, you should know that RAD surgery may not be covered by insurance because its considered anelective procedure.
That means that it can be scheduled ahead of time because it is not an emergency.
If you have RAD, it changes how your belly looks.
If you have it fixed, diastasis recti surgery can also be considered a cosmetic procedure.
Many people have surgery to help with back pain and incontinence.
Hernias are uncomfortable and can make it harder to go about your daily activities.
Surgery to fix RAD can also help people feel better physically.
There are alternatives to RAD surgery, including body contouring procedures likeliposuction.
However, exercises will not repair diastasis recti.
Your surgery will be scheduled at a place that does outpatient surgeries.
What to Wear
On the day of your surgery, wear loose, comfortable clothes.
You want to wear something that will be easy to change out of.
Medications
Your provider may ask you to stop taking some of your medications before your surgery.
This is because some medicationscan thin your bloodand make it easier for you to bleed.
There are many prescription medications that can thin your blood.
When you are preparing for your surgery, tell your surgeon about all the medications you take.
This includes OTC medicine, nutritional supplements, and herbal remedies.
First, you will need to have someone come with you who can drive you home after your surgery.
Do bring valuable items or a lot of cash with you.
Leave your favorite jewelry or watch at home.
Your provider will support you in eating a nutritious diet and getting regular exercise before your surgery.
However, you might want to avoid doing exercises that put pressure on your abdomen.
For example, doing crunches can make diastasis recti worse.
There are also some exercise programs meant to help people with diastasis recti.
You might be able to work with a physical therapist to strengthen your abdominal muscles before your surgery.
For example, they may have you wash your body with antibacterial soap to help prevent infections.
On the day of the procedure, you won’t have very long to talk to your surgeon.
Plan ahead to confirm that you will get to the place where you are having surgery on time.
When you arrive, you will change into a hospital gown.
You might be given a bag to put your clothes and personal items in.
The person who has come with you’re free to look after it for you.
A surgical assistant or nurse will check in to see how you are doing.
They will take yourvital signs(for example, your temperature and your blood pressure).
If you’re not feeling well or have had a fever, confirm you let them know.
You will be undergeneral anesthesiafor your surgery.
The medicinemakes you unconsciouslike being asleep, but much deeper.
You will also get medicine that makes it soyou can’t moveduring the surgery.
You won’t feel any pain or remember the surgery when you wake up.
The provider who is in charge of giving anesthesia (anesthesiologist) will come to talk to you.
Every patient has to read and sign it before they can have surgery.
Once the paperwork is done, the anesthesiologist will give you some medicine to help you relax.
Then, you’ll be ready to go to the operating room.
During the Surgery
when you obtain been given anesthesia, your surgery can start.
In a mini tummy tuck, the surgeon only tightens the skin below your belly button.
If you have ahernia, your surgeon will fix it.
Since the skin has been moved around, your surgeon will need to make you a new belly button.
You may have liposuction to remove abdominal fat if you’re having a tummy tuck.
Your surgeon will explain the steps of this procedure to you before your surgery.
They put tools and a camera inside the cuts to look around and make repairs.
Laparoscopic surgery is not as major as open surgery.
It’s also called “minimally invasive” because you do not need to have as many cuts.
However, you’ll still need plenty of time to heal after.
You will be shown how to keep the drains clean.
It’s very important that you follow the instructions carefully.
It provides support and can help the swelling go down.
You will check in with your provider next, within a day or two.
They may take the compression garment off to see how you are healing.
From there, you will have to take the garment off and on yourself for about a week.
You might need someone to help you if it’s uncomfortable.
If you do a lot of heavy lifting at your job, you may need to wait a month.
If you start lifting heavy objects too soon, it can affect your healing.
Healing
you might expect some pain in your abdominal muscles for a few weeks after RAD surgery.
It may hurt when you cough or laugh and your movements might be limited.
Your surgeon may have prescribed pain medication to help you through your recovery.
You will also have some swelling after your surgery.
Since diastasis recti surgery is on your muscles, they’ll probably be sore for a while.
Your abdomen may feel taut for a week or so, especially if the surgeon tightened your skin.
You might also have some trouble standing up straight, and it may hurt when you cough or laugh.
As you are healing, you need toavoid straining your muscles.
You also need to prevent thecutsin your belly from getting infected.
Your provider will give you instructions on how to do this and you gotta follow them carefully.
You won’t be able to get your abdomen wet.
That means no bath, shower, or swimming until your surgeon tells you its safe to do so.
Coping With Recovery
Your provider willgive you medicationto help with thepain.
That said, keep moving around.
Possible Future Surgeries
The results from diastasis recti surgery will last forever (permanent).
However, it’s possible that the surgery will not turn out how you wanted it to.
One of the most important things is keeping your weight stable.
If you gain a lot of weight or get pregnant, the fixes your surgeon made might not hold.
Having a lifestyle that includes nutritious eating and regular exercise will help the results of your surgery last.
Once you’re healed, you will have somescarson your abdomen.
The scars will fade with time, but there are steps you might take to help them heal.
For example, keep your skin protected from the sun.
If you get a sunburn on a scar, it might not fade as well.
Summary
Diastasis recti surgery fixes muscles in your abdomen that have come apart.
The separation can lead to other health problems like hernias.
You might also feel self-conscious about how your abdomen looks.
If you’re thinking about having RAD surgery, choose an experienced surgeon that you trust.
After your surgery, follow your providers instructions about taking care of your body while you are getting better.
They might be able to do another procedure to fix it.
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