O TYM ODCINKU
In this episode, we sit down with Dr Gehan Karunaratne, whose specialist interest lies in plastic surgery, to talk about what actually happens when women decide on surgical repair for diastasis recti.
Gehan brings something rare to this conversation: a physio background alongside his surgical training, which means he sees the abdominal wall from both sides of the journey. We dig into the gap between what women think they should fix and what actually needs fixing, what’s considered “normal” and why this isn’t as straightforward as it seems and the ins and out of surgical repair including the procedure itself and recovery timeframes.
This episode is for anyone considering surgery, for women questioning what’s normal and for clinicians wondering when it’s worthwhile to refer.
Key takeaways
•A wide linea alba isn't automatically a problem, and a narrow one isn't automatically fixed. What matters is function, tissue quality and whether it's affecting your life.
•Prehab matters, but it matters more for some women than others. There's a point where conservation stops working, and surgeons may be able to fill that gap.
•Recovery is not linear, and it is extensive. This is not an overnight procedure.
•The body image piece is as important as the surgical piece, and asking the right questions before surgery can save everyone heartbreak afterward.
•Australia's approach to diastasis sits somewhere between being evidence-informed and being shaped by what Medicare will fund.
We hope you enjoy this outside the “box” chat!
Links and resources
•Dr Gehan Karunaratne: @drgehankarunaratne
