Many patients seek to undergo a tummy tuck for the aesthetic benefits of a flatter, more toned tummy by removing excess skin and fat. However, there are many medical benefits of a tummy tuck, including abdominal muscle repair.

In this article, we will discuss this procedure in depth so that you can determine if it is right for you and your tummy.

Why Muscles Need Repaired

Diastasis recti is a medical condition characterised by the separation of the ‘six pack’ muscles down the midline of the abdomen. It is most common among those who have recently been pregnant as a result of the strain on the recti muscles.

These weakened, separated muscles are associated with a whole host of health conditions such as back pain and poor posture.

A tummy tuck with muscle repair can be used to treat diastasis recti by addressing the muscle separation. In turn, this can help to alleviate associated medical conditions and improve patient’s quality of life.

Does a Tummy Tuck Include Muscle Repair?

A tummy tuck can include muscle repair where needed. Some patients may undergo this procedure to remove excess skin only, providing a flatter contoured abdomen.

For patients with muscle separation, an abdominoplasty can be tailored to include muscle repair, boosting the strength of the core whilst also delivering the aesthetic benefits of a more toned tummy.

How Muscle Repair Impacts a Tummy Tuck Procedure

A tummy tuck with muscle repair requires the surgeon to suture the connective tissue (fascia) of the rectus muscles together, pulling them close together. This procedure is only performed under general anaesthesia and results in a more significant recovery time compared to a mini tummy tuck.

Tummy Tuck with Muscle Repair Recovery

Muscle repair requires a more invasive approach to a tummy tuck, meaning additional downtime as both the skin and muscle need time to recover and ‘set’ in their new, corrected position. Typically, patients can return to light activities 2 weeks after surgery and can resume full physical activity after 6 weeks.

By contrast, recovery from a tummy tuck without muscle repair is more superficial as only the incision sites in the skin need to heal. As such, downtime is usually less significant. In general, most patients are able to return to most daily activities 1 week after surgery and can resume more strenuous exercise after 4 weeks.

However, it’s important to remember that other factors, such as the amount of loose skin and fat needing to be removed, impact recovery time from a tummy tuck and should be factored in accordingly.

Tummy Tuck with Muscle Repair Cost

A full abdominoplasty with the addition of muscle repair tends to cost more than when no muscle tightening is required.

A tummy tuck with muscle repair requires general anaesthetic due to the invasiveness of the procedure. At the CREO Clinic, the cost of this starts from £12,900. Patients who do not require muscle tightening may prefer to use sedation for their tummy tuck. The price for this method at the CREO Clinic starts from £10,900.

Who Should Get Muscle Repair with Tummy Tuck?

Your surgeon will carry out a full assessment of your needs to determine your suitability for muscle repair with your tummy tuck.

In general, this type of tummy tuck is ideal for both men and women seeking to sculpt and flatten their abdomen while tightening and repairing separated abdominal muscles. In doing so, patients can enjoy both the aesthetic and functional benefits of their newly taut tummy.

Mini Tummy Tuck and Muscle Repair

Patients wishing to correct muscle separation tend to undergo the full variation of a tummy tuck.

A traditional mini abdominoplasty doesn’t usually involve the repair of muscle separation. However, a modification where the umbilicus is fully reattached can allow for muscle repair, though this means skin of only the lower abdomen (and not the upper part) can be tightened.

Therefore, patients with significant skin laxity in the upper abdomen will require a full tummy tuck.

Schedule a Consultation with CREO Clinic Today

Dr Omar Tillo has fine-tuned his skills as a body contouring surgeon to craft tailored tummy tuck solutions to his patients’ equally unique needs. Whether you require muscle repair or otherwise, Dr Tillo will design a bespoke treatment right for you and your tummy.