In this video, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Finny George dives into Diastasis Recti, a condition that affects many women, particularly during and after pregnancy. As the uterus expands, the growing belly applies pressure on the abdominal muscles, causing the separation of the two vertical muscles that run along the front of the abdomen. This often leaves women with a less toned, weakened core. While this condition is common and can sometimes be managed with targeted exercises, for many women, the separation doesn’t fully resolve on its own. Even after childbirth or weight loss, the muscles may remain separated, causing lingering issues such as a protruding belly, poor posture, and even persistent low back pain. In these cases, surgery offers an effective solution. Dr. George explains the different surgical options to repair Diastasis Recti, from muscle repair using sutures to restoring the abdominal wall’s integrity. He also highlights the benefits of combining muscle repair with a tummy tuck, a highly popular option for women who want to address both muscle separation and excess skin.
Transcript:
One of the things you may hear plastic surgeons talk about is rectus diastasis, and this is a term used to describe a situation where the connective tissue between the rectus abdominis muscles (or your “six-pack” muscles) weakens and causes the muscles to separate. Now, this separation generally happens in two main situations: one is significant or rapid weight gain, and the other is pregnancy. In both these situations, the pressure from within the body causes the muscles to spread and forces them further apart. Now, even after the weight has been lost or the baby has been born, the problem can persist, where there is a persistent weakening of the core and sometimes even low back pain. Thankfully, this can be corrected with surgery. It can be done either as a standalone procedure, where there are sutures that are placed to bring the muscles back to their original position, or it can be done in conjunction with a tummy tuck, which is very common.
