
The time taken to recover from diastasis recti surgery varies with patients. Any underlying medical conditions or development of complications during/after surgery may affect the recovery period.
Swelling on the abdomen usually takes up to 6 weeks to recover.
The development of a blood clot in your leg (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) might occur after surgery. As a preventive measure, your doctor may advise you to wear leg stockings for 3-4 weeks after surgery.
You can resume office after 1-2 weeks of surgery.
Activities that put pressure on the abdomen, such as lifting weights, should be avoided for about 2-4 weeks.
What is diastasis recti?
Diastasis recti is a condition where the partial or complete separation of the abdominal muscles (rectus abdominis) occurs, which causes a bulge in your abdomen. The rectus abdominis muscle contains two parallel bands of muscle meeting in the middle of your abdomen. Sometimes, it gets stretched by conditions that raise the abdominal pressure (for example obesity, pregnancy, lifting heavy weights, etc.) As a result, the distance between the two parallel bands increases. This creates a bulge that distorts the shape of your abdomen. It is sometimes referred to as the “pooch.” The condition makes the abdomen look loose and saggy.
What puts you at risk for diastasis recti?
Diastasis recti is a common occurrence among pregnant women. It affects about 75 out of every 100 pregnant women. You are at risk of getting it if:
- You have delivered more than one child (especially at short intervals).
- You are older than 35 years when pregnant.
- You are carrying or had a heavy baby.
- You are having or had twins, triplets, or more.
Not only women, but newborn babies and men can also get the condition. In newborns, it can be present by birth. However, it usually disappears on its own. Men can get the condition if they perform aggressive workouts and lift heavy weights without taking proper care and precautions.
How is diastasis recti surgery performed?
Proper exercises and physical therapy can help you manage diastasis recti. If you have a severe form of the condition, your doctor may recommend surgery. The surgery that is usually done for correcting diastasis recti is known as abdominoplasty (popularly known as tummy tuck surgery).
Abdominoplasty can be done as an outpatient or as an inpatient procedure. In the outpatient procedure, you will be usually discharged on the same day. In the inpatient procedure, your hospital stay can last for up to 2 days.
You will be given general anesthesia that will make you sleep throughout the surgery. The surgeon will make a horizontal incision between the belly button (umbilicus) and the pubic area. The skin and the underlying tissues will be elevated to look for the separated rectus abdominal muscle. Once found, the parallel bands of the muscle will be stitched back together with sutures. A mesh may be put over the muscle to secure it more tightly. The abdominal skin will be pulled back down to the pubic area and incisions will be sutured.
If you also desire to remove excess fat, your surgeon can excise it during abdominoplasty surgery for diastasis recti. Umbilical hernia due to severe diastasis recti can also be resolved during surgery.
What are the possible risks of abdominoplasty?
Possible risks of abdominoplasty performed for diastasis recti include:
- Wound dehiscence (reopening of a surgical incision either internally or externally)
- Seroma (pocket of clear serous fluid formed under the surgical wound)
- Wound infection
- Scarring
- Skin loss (major or minor)
- Loss of umbilicus
Smokers or patients with uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension, obesity, or asthma have significantly higher complication rates than patients without these disorders.

QUESTION
An average adult has about ________ square feet of skin. See AnswerHealth Solutions From Our Sponsors
Gabriel A. Abdominoplasty. Medscape. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1271693-overview#a10
Top Recovery Time for Diastasis Recti Surgery Related Articles
Can a Tummy Tuck Cause Stomach Issues?
Stomach cramps are the most common side effect after the tummy tuck procedure. Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is a cosmetic procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen or tummy. Scarring, pain, swelling and other issues may occur after a tummy tuck.Digestive Disorders: Foods That Help or Hurt Tummy Cramps
What you eat can affect your cramps -- for better or for worse. Here are the best and worst foods and drinks for when you’re in pain.Entereg (alvimopan)
Entereg (alvimopan) is an opioid receptor antagonist that works by preventing narcotic side effects without reducing the pain-relieving effects of the drug used to speed recovery of stomach and intestinal functions after a gastrointestinal surgery and to prevent side effects caused by narcotic medications. Common side effects of Entereg include stomach pain or upset, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, or back pain.Exercise & Pregnancy
Pregnancy exercises and workouts for moms-to-be include Kegel exercises and prenatal yoga. A prenatal workout is an important part of healthy living. Try these safe exercises for pregnancy.Pregnancy: Multiple Births, Twins, Triplets, and More
Multiple births occur when a woman bears twins, triplets, or even more babies during pregnancy. More multiples are born today thanks to assisted reproductive technology (ART), including in vitro fertilization using fertility drugs. Women carrying multiples often give birth via C-section.Pregnancy Myths and Facts Quiz
Being pregnant is a delicate time for both mother and baby. Take this pregnancy myths and facts quiz to separate the myths and facts about being pregnant, and learn the truth behind healthy pregnancies!Pregnancy: Prenatal Care and Tests
Prenatal care is important for the health of both mother and baby. Common prenatal tests include ultrasound, amniocentesis, screening for group B strep and chronic villus sampling. Prenatal care also helps detect health conditions related to pregnancy, such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes.Are Sharp Pains in Your Stomach Normal During Pregnancy?
Many women experience sharp pains in their stomach during pregnancy. Learn the signs of normal stomach pains in pregnancy, what causes them, what you can do to treat them, and when you should see a doctor for sharp stomach pains during pregnancy.Tummy Trouble Quiz
Tummy Troubles? Get a better idea of what's causing the nausea, vomiting, bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, pain, and other gastrointestinal discomforts and problems. Take the Tummy Troubles Quiz!Tummy Tuck ( Abdominoplasty)
This surgical procedure involves the removal of excess fat and skin from the abdomen. A tummy tuck also involves tightening the muscles of the abdominal wall. Complications and side effects of the procedure include pain, swelling, numbness, bruising, and tiredness. Potential side effects include infection, bleeding, blood clots, insufficient healing, and scarring.