The tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a popular procedure that has helped many people resolve concerns over excess skin and fatty tissue. The most transformative tummy tuck results are often achieved by including muscle repair in the operation.*
Muscle Repair as Part of Your Tummy Tuck
Muscle repair is often performed during a tummy tuck procedure and is considered by many to be an integral part of the surgery. If the abdominal muscles are stretched out or torn, the newly tightened skin will not lay as nicely over them.
What Causes Muscles to Need Repair?
Abdominal muscles, like skin, can become stretched out or damaged as a result of weight gain.Sometimes, particularly after pregnancy, a person will suffer from diastasis recti. This is where the abdominal muscles actually separate. There are varying degrees of severity, but surgeons can correct this condition by performing tummy tuck muscle repair.*
When Muscles Don’t Require Repairs
Sometimes, a person’s muscles are intact and display a low level of laxity even after extreme weight loss. In such cases, there is usually no need to perform muscle repair during a tummy tuck. A plastic surgeon may also opt to skip the muscle repair if a woman is planning to have more children in the future.
As part of your tummy tuck, muscle repair can help your surgeon to give you a more sculpted physique.* When your muscles are intact, your stomach will appear flatter from every angle. Keep in mind that any tightening performed on your muscles can extend your recovery time.* If you’re not sure that muscle repair would benefit you, talk to a board certified plastic surgeon. The best tummy tuck procedure is one that is customized to your body, to meet your goals, regardless of whether muscle repair is included.
*This information is for education only, and is not meant as a guarantee of results. Your results may vary.
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Author: Dr. Francesco Campanile
Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Francesco Campanile is a cosmetic surgeon in Denver who is focused on body contouring and breast enhancement. Time and time again, the women and men who choose Dr. Campanile say that they’ve found “the whole package” – a doctor who cares deeply about the quality of their results and has the skill to achieve excellence.
