Background: Abdominoplasty and plication of the rectus fascia to correct rectus diastasis are commonly performed procedures. Despite numerous case reports of complications believed to be secondary to elevated intra-abdominal pressure, the effect of rectus plication on the abdominal compartment has not been extensively studied in our literature. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to study the effect of rectus plication during abdominoplasty on intra-abdominal pressure. Methods: We performed a prospective study consisting of 8 patients undergoing abdominoplasy (mean age 46 +/- 11 years)and a control group of 8 patients undergoing bilateral reduction mammoplasty (mean age 43 +/- 11 years). The intra-abdominal pressure was transduced using a foley catheter after induction of anesthesia, after rectus plication (in patients undergoing abdominoplasty), and after skin closure. Results: Our preliminary data indicate that patients undergoing abdominoplasty had a significant increase in intra-abdominal pressure between pre- and post-plication measurements (p<0.005); however, the control group did not have a change between pre- and post-operative intra-abdominal pressure measurements (p=0.2). Conclusion: Patients undergoing abdominoplasty experience an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. Although this increase is presumed to be transient, it may explain some of the complications our abdominoplasty patients experience.