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Kamrun Jenabzadeh, MD

What is Diastasis Recti and How is it Treated?

April 15, 2020 | By Kamrun Jenabzadeh, MD, FACS

Diastasis recti, also called rectus abdominis diastasis (RAD), is a separation of abdominal muscles sometimes caused by pregnancy, obesity, prior abdominal surgery, or connective tissue disorder. It is defined as more than a 2-cm separation of the abdominal muscles, those that run vertically on each side of the abdomen and are separated by a band of connective tissue. When the intra-abdominal pressure is elevated, these muscles can thin due to stretching, and they can separate.

If you have diastasis recti, you might experience a noticeable abdominal bulge, back pain, poor posture, pelvic floor problems, and gastrointestinal disturbances, such as constipation and bloating. If your case is severe, you may notice abdominal pain with everyday movements such as walking, twisting, and lifting.

At Specialists in General Surgery, we can repair this condition with a minimally invasive procedure using the da VinciĀ® Surgical System and reinforcing the repair with a mesh. On average, our RAD repair patients stay in the hospital one night, experience minimal complications, and have great outcomes as they regain their abdominal wall functionality.

If you think you might have diastasis recti, please call us to make an appointment.