Tummy tuckSpain5 min read
Did María Patiño have a tummy tuck? Yes, she announced it herself
María Patiño, the Spanish journalist and television presenter known from “Sálvame” and “Socialité”, did not wait for rumours: she told her own audience that she had had an abdominoplasty. Below is what she said, where it was reported, and what a tummy tuck involves for anyone considering one today.
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The main points in 30 seconds
- In June 2021 the Spanish daily SPORT reported that María Patiño had had an abdominoplasty, which she had announced months earlier on her programme.
- She said she could not wait to show it off on the beach, and later shared a beach photo on Instagram.
- A classic tummy tuck is done under general anaesthesia and takes 2–4 hours, followed by 1–3 days in hospital.
- Office work resumes after 2–3 weeks, the compression binder stays on for 1.5–2 months, and sport returns after 2–3 months.
- At City Medical Centre the first consultation is free, and the price of a tummy tuck is set individually and fixed in the contract.
Key facts about the procedure
- Operation time2–4 hours
- Back to work2–3 weeks
- Stay in clinic1–3 days
- PriceAt consultation
'I can't wait to show it off at the beach', María Patiño said months ago on her show, revealing she had already had the operation.
What did María Patiño say about her tummy tuck?
In June 2021 the Spanish daily SPORT reported that Patiño had had an abdominoplasty and recalled how she had announced it several months earlier on her programme, when the operation was still recent: “I can't wait to show it off on the beach.” According to the same report, she later shared a beach photo on Instagram during her summer holiday.
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WhatsAppThat is all we rely on here. Patiño did not describe the technique, the length of the operation or other medical details in the words quoted, so this article does not guess at them. Where the text below explains methods and timelines, it describes abdominoplasty in general, not her treatment.
Why her openness matters
A tummy tuck is one of the operations people are most reluctant to talk about. It is often linked to pregnancy, weight changes and a body that no longer responds to training, and many patients feel they should have been able to fix it “on their own”.
More on this topic: Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), Mini Tummy Tuck, Lipoabdominoplasty, Abdominoplasty in Kampala, Tummy Tuck for Patients from Auckland.
When a well-known presenter simply tells viewers that she has had the operation and is looking forward to the beach, the subject becomes an ordinary medical decision rather than a secret.
It also helps to be clear about what the operation is not. Abdominoplasty is not a way to lose weight and does not replace diet and exercise. It deals with things that exercise cannot change: stretched skin that does not shrink back, and separated abdominal muscles (diastasis) that do not come together without surgery.
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How a tummy tuck is done today
A tummy tuck tightens the front abdominal wall. Excess skin and fat are removed, separated rectus muscles are repaired and, when needed, the navel is repositioned. There are two main variants:
- Classic abdominoplasty — a horizontal incision above the pubic area, planned so that underwear and swimwear hide the scar. The surgeon repairs the muscles, removes excess tissue, repositions the navel and places drains.
- Mini abdominoplasty with diastasis repair — only the lower abdomen is corrected, the incision is shorter and the navel is not moved.
Area corrected
- Classic tummy tuck
- Whole front abdominal wall
- Mini tummy tuck
- Lower abdomen only
Navel
- Classic tummy tuck
- Repositioned
- Mini tummy tuck
- Not moved
Suits
- Classic tummy tuck
- Marked excess skin, diastasis, C-section scar
- Mini tummy tuck
- Small excess of skin, diastasis or overhang above a C-section scar
Anaesthesia and duration
- Classic tummy tuck
- General, 2–4 hours
- Mini tummy tuck
- Decided by the surgeon
Recovery
- Classic tummy tuck
- Longer
- Mini tummy tuck
- Shorter
The technique is chosen by the surgeon at an in-person consultation after assessing the muscles and skin, not from a celebrity story. A tummy tuck can also be combined with liposuction of the flanks and waist in one operation.
Who is it for, and how to prepare
The operation is usually considered when excess skin or diastasis remain after childbirth, a C-section or major weight loss, or when a sagging lower abdomen or an “apron” of skin has formed. Pregnancy should be planned at least 12 months after surgery, and the operation is not done while breastfeeding.
Contraindications include age under 18, endocrine obesity, decompensated diabetes, blood clotting disorders, cancer, pregnancy and serious heart, kidney or liver disease. Before surgery patients have blood tests, a coagulation panel, infection tests, an ECG and a chest X-ray; at City Medical Centre a hormone screening is also ordered. Medicines that affect clotting are stopped two weeks before (only with the doctor), alcohol and smoking a week before, and the last meal is eight hours before the operation.
Recovery after a tummy tuck
Patiño's remark about waiting for the beach reflects something every patient learns: the result needs time. After the operation the patient stays in hospital for 1–3 days. Drains are usually removed after two days and stitches after seven. A compression binder is worn for 1.5–2 months.
Most swelling goes within 30 days, office work resumes after 2–3 weeks, and sport, sauna and heavy lifting are off-limits for 2–3 months. The result is assessed at three months, and the scar matures and fades over about a year.
How recovery after a tummy tuck usually goes
- Day of surgeryGeneral anaesthesia; the operation takes 2–4 hours for a classic tummy tuck.
- Days 1–3Hospital stay under medical supervision; drains are usually removed after two days.
- Day 7Stitches are removed.
- Weeks 2–3Return to office work; the compression binder stays on.
- Month 1Most of the swelling has gone.
- Months 2–3The binder comes off after 1.5–2 months; sport, sauna and heavy lifting return after 2–3 months; the result is assessed.
- 12 monthsThe scar is mature, faded and much less noticeable.
A tummy tuck at City Medical Centre
City Medical Centre performs classic and mini abdominoplasty for international patients. The first consultation is free and can start online; the price of a tummy tuck is set individually at the consultation and then fixed in the contract with no hidden extras. Follow-up check-ups are scheduled 7 days, 3 months and 6 months after surgery. More details are on the tummy tuck page.
To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with María Patiño or her treatment. Her story is simply a well-known example of someone who spoke openly about the operation.
Frequently asked questions
When did María Patiño have her tummy tuck?
She announced it on her programme in the first months of 2021, while the operation was still recent; SPORT reported in June 2021 that she had had an abdominoplasty. She did not give an exact date in the words quoted.
Which technique did María Patiño have?
She did not say publicly, so we do not speculate. Today surgeons choose between a classic and a mini tummy tuck depending on the amount of excess skin and on diastasis.
Is a tummy tuck a way to lose weight?
No. It removes stretched skin and fat and repairs separated muscles. Weight should be stable before surgery, and diet and exercise remain important afterwards.
How much does a tummy tuck cost at City Medical Centre?
The price is set individually at the free consultation after the surgeon has assessed the abdomen, and it is then fixed in the contract.
Will there be a scar?
Yes. A scar is the unavoidable price of removing excess skin. The incision is planned so that underwear and swimwear hide it, and the scar fades over about 12 months.
Sources
What the article says about the celebrity is based only on these public statements.
- SPORT, 11 June 2021
Medical background and further reading
General information about the procedure from health authorities and medical societies. It is not advice for any individual patient.
- PubMed / NCBI — A systematic review of outcomes of abdominoplasty (J Plast Surg Hand Surg, 2012)
- PubMed / NCBI — A Primer on Abdominoplasty Safety (Plast Surg, 2026)
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons — Tummy Tuck
- World Health Organization — Safe surgery
How we prepare and review medical content · Medical disclaimer
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