Full abdominoplasty
A horizontal incision low on the abdomen, the skin lifted to the ribs, the abdominal muscles tightened in the midline, and the excess skin removed. The navel is repositioned. Suits loose skin above and below the navel.
Body contouring
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) in Istanbul
A tummy tuck removes the excess skin and fat that diet and exercise cannot shift, and tightens the abdominal wall behind it. It is body contouring, not a weight-loss operation.
- Surgery time
- 2–4 h
- Hospital stay
- 1–2 nights
- Back to desk work
- 2–3 weeks
Who is a good candidate
The operation works best on someone whose weight has been stable for at least six months, who is in good general health, and whose concern is shape rather than kilograms.
- Loose skin or separated abdominal muscles after pregnancy
- Sagging skin after significant weight loss, when the weight has stopped moving
- A stubborn lower-abdomen pouch that has not changed with training
- Stretch marks or a caesarean scar that sits within skin that will be removed anyway
A tummy tuck is not a treatment for obesity, and it is not a substitute for weight loss. If you plan to become pregnant, or expect to lose a large amount of weight, it is usually better to wait — the result is meant to last.
What can be done, and how it is chosen
The technique is chosen at the consultation, from the skin, the muscle layer and the scar pattern — never from a photograph alone.
Mini abdominoplasty
A shorter incision and a shorter recovery, for skin laxity confined to the lower abdomen. The navel is normally left in place; muscle tightening is limited.
Extended abdominoplasty
The same as a full tummy tuck carried around the flanks, for skin that also hangs at the sides. Often combined with liposuction of the waist.
Muscle repair (plication)
When the rectus muscles have separated — common after pregnancy — they are sutured back towards the midline. This is what changes the profile of the abdomen, not just its skin.
From consultation to recovery
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Consultation and planning
Photographs, a medical history, and an honest conversation about scars, downtime and what the operation can and cannot do. Blood tests and, where relevant, an ultrasound or a cardiology opinion are arranged before a date is set.
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Preparation
Smoking stops at least three to four weeks before surgery, blood thinners and some supplements are paused about ten days before, and you fast for six to eight hours. Arrange someone to collect you and help at home for the first week.
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The operation
Under general anaesthesia, usually two to four hours. A drain is often left in place for a few days. Most patients stay one or two nights in hospital, with compression garments fitted before discharge.
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The first two weeks
Walking from the first day, short distances, back straight. The garment is worn day and night. Swelling peaks around day three to five and then settles; the first shower and drain removal are scheduled at the clinic.
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Weeks three to six
Desk work is usually possible after two to three weeks. Gym, swimming and heavy lifting wait until about week six, when the surgeon confirms the tissue has healed.
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The scar, over a year
The scar is red and firm for the first months and then fades and flattens — a process that continues for twelve to eighteen months. It sits low, inside the line of underwear.
What can go wrong
Every operation carries risk, and you should hear them before you decide, not after.
- Seroma — a collection of fluid under the skin; the most common issue, usually drained in clinic
- Infection or delayed wound healing, more likely in smokers
- Wide or raised scarring, which can be revised later but not erased
- Numbness around the scar and the navel, usually improving over months
- Asymmetry or a contour that needs a small revision (roughly one in ten patients)
- Bleeding, bruising and, rarely, thrombosis — prevented with early walking and compression
Tell us about smoking, diabetes, blood thinners and any previous abdominal surgery at the consultation. Each of them changes the plan, and hiding one is the fastest way to a complicated recovery.
Questions patients ask
Does it hurt?
The first two or three days are uncomfortable rather than painful — a tight, bruised feeling across the abdomen. It is managed with ordinary pain relief, and most patients are walking and eating normally before discharge.
Will the scar be visible?
There is a scar, and it is permanent. It is placed low, along the line of underwear, and fades over twelve to eighteen months. How it heals depends on your skin, on not smoking, and on following the wound-care instructions.
Can I have children afterwards?
Usually yes, but the abdomen will stretch again during pregnancy and some of the result may be lost. For that reason many surgeons advise finishing your family first.
Can it be combined with liposuction?
Often, yes — liposuction of the flanks or waist is commonly added to shape the transition. Whether it is safe for you depends on the area involved and on the length of the operation, and that is a surgical decision.
How much weight will I lose?
Some, but that is not the point. The operation changes the shape of the abdomen. If your goal is weight loss, a bariatric assessment is the right starting point, not a tummy tuck.
What does it cost?
The price depends on the technique, the hospital, the length of stay and whether a muscle repair is needed, so it is quoted after the assessment rather than before. The quote includes surgery, anaesthesia, hospital stay, garments and follow-up visits.
Send your photographs for a first opinion
A surgeon reviews them and a coordinator comes back with a plan, a date and a written quote — no obligation, and no pressure to book.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Suitability, technique and risks are decided in a consultation with a surgeon.
