Ab Separation During Pregnancy: Why it Happens and How to Fix It
Ab separation, also known as diastasis recti, can happen toward the end of a pregnancy, or sometimes when giving birth. Ab separation is a thinning and widening of your abdominal muscles that can develop as your stomach expands with your pregnancy. The right and left sides of the center abdominal muscle separate.
Ab separation happens to 50% of women who realize they have experienced this after they give birth. Twins or triplets can increase the risk of ab separation because the belly has to stretch further during pregnancy. Other factors that can contribute to ab separation are obesity, multiple pregnancies, and genetics.
What can you do About Ab Separation (Diastasis Recti)?
Ab separation can be resolved in a number of ways. Fortunately, in many cases, the condition will resolve on its own after a month or two. For those whose diastasis recti doesn’t correct itself naturally, there are ways to effectively fix it.
Time and Exercise
Once you recover and heal from your birth, there are targeted exercises that can help correct ab separation, and these exercises can be extremely effective. Physical therapy can also be highly effective when it comes to resolving diastasis recti.
Surgery
However, when the situation persists, a surgical correction is needed. For those who need surgical intervention to repair their abdominal muscles, an abdominoplasty (known better as a tummy tuck) tightens the abdominal muscles and reconnects the two sides of the abdominal muscles together again with strong, permanent sutures along the center of the abdomen.
In addition to correcting this functional concern, a tummy tuck contours and tightens the waistline and helps achieve a smoother, more contoured abdominal area.
What Happens During a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck is a cosmetic procedure in addition to being used to correct separated abs, and it includes contouring and smoothing the abdominal area. The tummy tuck surgery begins with an incision from hip bone to hip bone at the underwear line, which can be hidden by underwear or a bikini bottom. A second incision is made around the navel.
Using these incisions, excess skin and fat will be removed from the pubic bone to the navel. From there, the muscles are tightened and reconnected firmly with permanent sutures both above and below the belly button to achieve a flatter, firmer look.
Once this is complete, the upper skin is pulled downward tightly and secured, and the excess skin is trimmed away.
Why Choose Premier Plastic Surgery?
Dr. Heil and his team at Premier Plastic Surgery provide surgical excellence, outstanding patient care, and unparalleled results. Premier Plastic Surgery is a warm, welcoming, patient-centered environment. We make your successful outcome our highest priority. Contact us today for a consultation.