Most post-pregnancy diastasis recti patients have extra, sagging skin that is removed after a belly tuck. Closing a diastasis recti decreases belly circumference, which may result in more loose skin. However, this isn't a direct connection and there are other factors involved as well. Skin that hangs over the waistline or belly button has several different names including diastasis recti, rectus gap, posterior abdominal wall gap, and mid-abdominal wall defect. This condition occurs when there is separation between the anterior and posterior portions of the abdominal wall. The cause of diastasis recti is usually due to weak abdominal muscles following pregnancy or obesity. Although diastasis recti can be seen in people who aren't pregnant, it becomes more common after babies are born. With diastasis recti, the abdomen is divided into two parts: an upper part and a lower part. The upper part connects to the chest area while the lower part connects to the pelvis and legs. There may be some muscle separation between these areas. With time, the open space created by the separation can cause problems such as pain during exercise or while lying down, difficulty wearing certain clothes, and decreased muscle tone. In some cases, surgery may be needed to repair the damage caused by diastasis recti.