Still battling a post-pregnancy belly? Learn what diastasis recti is, how to test it, what helps (and what makes it worse), and when a tummy tuck restores your core. NSR & LCP surgeons at Kalo.
How to Fix Diastasis Recti (Post-Pregnancy Ab Separation) — And When a Tummy Tuck Makes Sense
What is Diastasis Recti?
During pregnancy the growing uterus stretches the linea alba (the central connective tissue), causing the two rectus muscles to drift apart. A gap >2–2.7 cm is considered diastasis recti. It’s common: up to 80% in late pregnancy and ~50% still see it after delivery.
Typical signs
- Persistently bulging or soft lower belly even when limbs get slim again
- Core weakness, low-back ache, posture changes
- Hernia or belly-button bulge, bloating, constipation, stress leakage when coughing/laughing (urinary incontinence)
Quick home check
Lie on your back, knees bent. Place fingers on/above the navel and gently lift your head. If you feel a trench and the gap is ≳2 finger widths, you may have Diastasis Recti.
What a Tummy Tuck Does?
A tummy tuck tightens your belly from the inside out:
- Rejoins the core muscles (fixes the gap from diastasis recti).
- Tightens the inner tissue so your core feels supported.
- Removes extra skin.
- Creates a neater belly button.
End result: a flatter, smoother tummy in one procedure.
Recovery at a glance
- Day 0–2: hospital monitoring, compression garment on
- Week 1–2: stitches out; walking encouraged, no heavy lifting
- Week 3–4: light desk work; swelling continues to settle
- 6–8 weeks: resume most workouts (surgeon-guided)
- 3–6 months: scar fades, contour sharpens
(Why Customers Chose Kalo for Tummy Tuck?)
Tummy Tuck Price in Malaysia:
- Mini tummy tuck from RM18,800
- Full tummy tuck from RM29,800
(Exact quote after surgeon assessment; individual anatomy and complexity vary)
FAQ
- Can exercise “close” severe DR?
Targeted rehab helps function, but large, long-standing gaps and loose skin usually need surgical repair.
- Will I lose my C-section scar?
Often yes — it’s incorporated into the new, lower, thinner tummy-tuck scar.
- Can I do this if I plan more pregnancies?
Best done 6 months after your last planned child, or 3 months after stopped breastfeeding.