What does Dr. Fiori do?

General surgery (emergency, robotic, advanced laparoscopic), reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery, and abdominal wall surgery (hernias, incisional hernias, diastasis).

What is the morpho-functional approach?

His distinctive way of treating the abdominal wall: form and function together, because they are the same structure seen from two sides.

Where does he practise?

In Milan, at Galleria del Corso 4.

What is the TESAR technique?

TESAR (Totally Endoscopic Sublay Anterior Repair) is the extraperitoneal endoscopic technique I described in 2019: an anterior access with the mesh placed behind the rectus muscle, for ventral hernias, incisional hernias and rectus diastasis.

What is his hospital role?

Head of the Abdominal Wall Surgery Unit, within the Division of Emergency Surgery – General and Robotic Surgery, at ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo — San Carlo Borromeo Hospital in Milan.

Which abdominal wall problems does he treat?

Umbilical, epigastric and inguinal hernias, incisional hernias and recurrences after previous surgery, and rectus diastasis. The assessment considers the form of the wall and its function together.

What is the difference between rectus diastasis and a hernia?

In diastasis the linea alba thins and the rectus muscles move apart, without a true opening in the fascia. In a hernia there is a defect through which abdominal contents protrude. The two can coexist and must be told apart by clinical examination and, when needed, by ultrasound.

Dr. Federico Fiori — General Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Abdominal Wall Surgery

Name: Dr. Federico Fiori — Abdominal Wall Surgeon, Milan
Creator: Dr. Federico Fiori

I'm Federico Fiori, a surgeon based in Milan. A specialist in General Surgery — emergency surgery, advanced laparoscopy and robotic surgery — with additional training in Plastic Surgery, I head the Abdominal Wall Surgery Unit at ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Carlo Borromeo Hospital. My practice focuses on hernias, incisional hernias and rectus diastasis; I described the TESAR technique, and I assess the abdominal wall through a morpho-functional approach: form and function together.

Evidence

TESAR technique
International peer-reviewed publications
Author of the book "Diastasi e dintorni"
Speaker at courses and congresses
Robotic surgery

My Surgery

My professional areas: three fields that meet in everyday practice.

GENERAL SURGERY — Emergency, trauma, advanced laparoscopy and robotic surgery.
Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery — Trunk, breast, morphology of the silhouette.
ABDOMINAL WALL SURGERY — Hernias, incisional hernias, rectus diastasis; dedicated research and the TESAR technique.

My way of operating

It is the daily meeting of General Surgery and Plastic Surgery that produces a single way of seeing: treating form and function together. That is what I call the morpho-functional approach.

How to explore further

Five doors: function, form, the diastasis pathway, the method and the technique. From here you reach the pathway that concerns you.

Function — chirurgiadellaparete.it: Hernias, incisional hernias, diastasis: diagnosis, techniques and surgical pathways of the abdominal wall. In Italian; the English edition is on its way.
The diastasis pathway — diastasisandbeyond.com: The pathway dedicated to rectus diastasis, for patients and health professionals.
Form — federico-fiori.it: Reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery: trunk, breast, morphology of the silhouette. In Italian.
The method — The Morpho-Functional Approach: What it means to treat the form and function of the abdominal wall together.
The technique — The TESAR Technique: Extraperitoneal endoscopic repair with retromuscular mesh: how it works and when it is indicated.

From the first consultation to the final check-up

Every person follows a defined pathway, with clear timing and clear responsibilities. Nothing is left to improvisation: knowing in advance what happens reduces anxiety and improves the outcome.

First contact — You write through the form or call the office. Emma Gadda takes your request, explains how the assessment works and schedules the appointment. At this stage it helps to have previous tests, operative reports and, where available, imaging studies already at hand.
Initial consultation — A complete clinical assessment of the abdominal wall: physical examination, medical history, and evaluation of form and function together. We discuss the problem as a whole — diastasis, hernia, incisional hernia, the aftermath of previous surgery — and I explain what is realistic to achieve.
Tests and assessment — When needed, an ultrasound or CT scan of the abdominal wall and the preoperative workup are ordered. We go through the results together. The aim is to choose the technique based on that person's actual anatomy, not on a one-size-fits-all protocol.
Planning the operation — The technique is defined — extraperitoneal endoscopic, TESAR, laparoscopic or open — with indications, limits and alternatives set out in writing. Informed consent, length of hospital stay, pain management and return to activity are explained beforehand, not afterwards.
Surgery and hospital stay — Surgery takes place in hospital, with a full team. The stay is short and monitored; instructions for the first few weeks are provided at discharge. At discharge you receive written instructions on wound care, medication, warning signs to watch for, and contact numbers for urgent matters.
Follow-up and recovery — Scheduled follow-up visits over the following weeks, with step-by-step guidance on movement, work and physical activity. Where indicated, physical therapy is added, so that the wall goes back to working — not just to being closed.
Final follow-up — A final assessment of the morphological and functional result, compared against the starting point. The pathway closes only once form and function have been verified — and a channel stays open for any questions that come later.

Emma Gadda — Patient Pathway Coordinator

Emma Gadda has worked alongside Dr. Fiori for years, supporting patients throughout their entire course of care. She is a constant point of reference before and after the consultation and, drawing on her experience, provides organizational support and continuity in the relationship between patient and practice.

Frequently asked questions

What does Dr. Fiori do?: General surgery (emergency, robotic, advanced laparoscopic), reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery, and abdominal wall surgery (hernias, incisional hernias, diastasis).
What is the morpho-functional approach?: His distinctive way of treating the abdominal wall: form and function together, because they are the same structure seen from two sides.
Where does he practise?: In Milan, at Galleria del Corso 4.
What is the TESAR technique?: TESAR (Totally Endoscopic Sublay Anterior Repair) is the extraperitoneal endoscopic technique I described in 2019: an anterior access with the mesh placed behind the rectus muscle, for ventral hernias, incisional hernias and rectus diastasis.
What is his hospital role?: Head of the Abdominal Wall Surgery Unit, within the Division of Emergency Surgery – General and Robotic Surgery, at ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo — San Carlo Borromeo Hospital in Milan.
Which abdominal wall problems does he treat?: Umbilical, epigastric and inguinal hernias, incisional hernias and recurrences after previous surgery, and rectus diastasis. The assessment considers the form of the wall and its function together.
What is the difference between rectus diastasis and a hernia?: In diastasis the linea alba thins and the rectus muscles move apart, without a true opening in the fascia. In a hernia there is a defect through which abdominal contents protrude. The two can coexist and must be told apart by clinical examination and, when needed, by ultrasound.

Last updated: 2026-08-20 · Content by Dr. Federico Fiori