Is Your Post-Partum Belly Still Looking Pregnant? You Might Need A Diastasis Recti Surgery!

A lot has been said and written about the post-partum experience. Yet, there’s still not enough awareness about all the changes that a woman’s body goes through after delivering a child. If you are a new mother feeling alone and overwhelmed, I get you! Not having the right information at the right time can be frustrating. Today we are going to discuss one particular postpartum issue in detail: Diastasis Recti

What is Diastasis Recti?

While it’s common for your tummy to stretch while accommodating the growing baby’s weight during pregnancy, the problem arises when your tummy remains abnormally bulgy even long after childbirth. This can make it look like you are still carrying. 

When your uterus stretches during pregnancy, it leads to the separation of the rectus abdominis aka six-pack muscles which meet at the midline of your stomach. It leads to a visually recognisable bulge in your tummy which often affects a woman’s self-confidence aside from causing a few other associated symptoms. Depending on the extent of the abdominal muscle separation, you might need a diastasis recti surgery. 

Diastasis Recti: Symptoms and Treatment Options 

If you feel a separation wider than two finger lengths in the midline of your postpartum ab muscles, then you could have diastasis recti. This gap should disappear a few weeks after childbirth, as your core regains strength. If it doesn’t, it’s time to consult a doctor. 

While the visible bulge or ‘pooch’ in your belly is the most common symptom, there are other symptoms to identify diastasis recti. 

• Constipation
• Painful sex
• Wrong body posture while standing 
• Lower back pain
• Urinary incontinence 
• Pain in the lower back 
• Pelvic pain

For diastasis recti treatment, there are options like at-home exercise, physical therapy and postpartum girdles to support your ab muscles. But it’s important to note that these options only help manage the pain and bring your ab muscles together to some extent. For long-standing results, a diastasis recti surgery which can be performed as a stand-alone tummy tuck procedure or as part of a mommy makeover is recommended. A mommy makeover is an umbrella term for various surgeries aimed at aesthetically enhancing your breasts, body, butt and vagina. More on that later! 

When Is The Right Time for A Diastasis Recti Surgery?

Ideally, one should wait at least six months after childbirth allowing your body to heal and ab muscles to regain their core strength automatically before opting for surgery. 

Typically, I recommend waiting until at least three months after breastfeeding, as this makes it easier to consider other breast enhancement surgeries if you wish, along with a tummy tuck procedure for diastasis recti. 

When it comes to mommy makeovers in India, I advise my patients to complete their family before getting postpartum cosmetic surgeries. While a mommy makeover surgery does not prevent you from getting pregnant again,  pregnancy can reverse the effects of a mommy makeover surgery.  During a tummy tuck procedure, your separated ab muscles are stitched together after excess skin and fat removal in your abdomen. Pregnancy can lead to those muscles reseparating again. 

What Happens In A Diastasis Recti Surgery?

Once you have decided to get surgery for diastasis recti, it’s recommended to get a full tummy tuck procedure. It fixes your separated abdomen muscles and removes the excess skin and fat in your tummy giving it a firm, toned look. 

Since a hip-to-hip incision is made just above the pubic hairline for a tummy tuck, the surgical scars are well hidden. The excess fat is liquified and liposuctioned to give your tummy a flat look. Your stretched abdominal muscles are then sewn together and the skin is pulled over your tummy to help remove excess skin so you have flat, aesthetically attractive abs. 

Pros and Cons of Getting a Diastasis Recti Surgery

The decision to get cosmetic surgery is quite personal no matter which phase of your life you are in. Postpartum can be tough and it’s important to allow yourself to make decisions that feel right for you. That’s why I’m going to be completely transparent about the pros and cons of getting a tummy tuck or mommy makeover in India for diastasis recti. 

Pros

• Regain your self-confidence
• Experience pleasurable sex without any pain
• Shop for clothes without worrying about which dress will hide the bulge in your tummy
• Regain your body posture
• Perform daily activities involving stretching of ab muscles with ease

Cons

• Cosmetic surgeries are not covered by insurance providers
• You will need additional help and time off work for 2-4 weeks while you recover
• The surgery outcome can get reversed by future pregnancies
• Choosing an inexperienced surgeon can lead to side effects like inflammation and swelling post-surgery

You have nothing to worry about if you choose a board-certified surgeon with access to modern equipment like VASER. They provide minimally invasive, high-def lipo with precision results while removing excess skin and fat during the surgery. Be thorough with your research before finding the best plastic surgeon in Delhi NCR. 

All About Mommy Makeover in India

As cosmetic surgeries are becoming increasingly affordable and available to people in India, there’s been a steep increase in women opting for mommy makeovers to get their pre-pregnancy bodies back. 

A mommy makeover can include one or more of the following procedures depending on your expected outcome.

• Breast Augmentation
• Breast Lift
• Breast Reduction
• Tummy Tuck
• Brazilian Butt Lift
• Vaginoplasty 

When it comes to breast and butt surgery, you can enhance their size and shape by adding more volume. This is done either with the help of modern state-of-the-art silicone implants or autologous fat transfer. Autologous fat transfer involves grafting excess fat from one area of your body through liposuction and transferring it to your breast or butt to make it more aesthetically attractive. 

You can get your diastasis recti treated with a simple tummy tuck procedure or have a complete mommy makeover to get your youthful body and self-confidence back.