Post-natal Surgery

As the uterus expands during pregnancy, the abdominal muscles also stretch to make room for the growing foetus. Stretch marks on your abdominal area are a natural sign that your skin is being overstretched, and this reflect what’s happening inside your body.

The two main muscles in the centre of your abdomen (rectus abdominis) can begin to separate as the pregnancy progresses, due to the ongoing strain caused by the expanding uterus. In some cases, these muscles may return to their original position after pregnancy and delivery, but in other cases, they may not fully come back together or are significantly weakened. Post-natal surgery helps repair this muscle separation, as well as addressing the extra loose skin which has not contracted back up.

Diastasis recti or rectus divarication surgery is a procedure designed to bring the separated abdominal muscles back together. It can be performed alone or combined with an abdominoplasty if excess fat and skin need to be removed. In more severe cases of diastasis, an umbilical hernia may be present, which will be corrected during the procedure.

After administering general anaesthesia, a horizontal incision is made between the navel and pubic area. The skin and tissue above the abdominal fascia are then carefully lifted up to the navel. An additional incision is made around the umbilicus to free the umbilical stalk. The dissection continues up toward the base of the rib cage.

To provide additional support to the separated muscles, the abdominal muscles are sutured back together using stitches at various depths. Once the muscles are repaired, the umbilicus is repositioned to the outer skin, and the abdominal skin is stretched back down to the pubic area. The incisions are then closed with sutures.