Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) in Cologne

No, it will not help you lose weight; the goal is different. It removes excess stretched skin and the fat apron and restores the abdominal muscle wall. Surgery is done at a stable weight — if yours is still changing, first consult a dietitian or endocrinologist.

Yes, you will have a scar; it is the unavoidable price of taking away excess skin. The classic tummy tuck incision runs from hip to hip across the lower abdomen, under the underwear or swimsuit line, while a mini tummy tuck's is much shorter. With time the scar fades and becomes thin.

Removing sagging skin and the fat apron is exactly what this surgery does: they are removed completely, and stretch marks below the navel go with them. The surgeon pulls the upper abdominal skin down, so the tummy ends up smooth without an extra lift.

No, the patient feels no pain during the procedure — it is done under general anaesthesia, so nothing is felt. In the first days there may be tightness and soreness, which painkillers from the doctor relieve; by the end of the first week the discomfort eases noticeably.

Everyone has the same restrictions after a tummy tuck: for the first 2–3 weeks, no physical exertion, heavy lifting or sudden movements, and for at least a month, no sauna, steam bath, pool, tanning beds, alcohol or smoking. Sport comes back gradually and only with the surgeon's approval. Compression garments are worn for another 4–8 weeks.

From 18, and only without contraindications. As for an upper limit, there is none: our clinic considers every case individually after an examination and health assessment.

The difference comes down to the scope of surgery. A mini tummy tuck is done for a small excess of skin below the navel: the incision is shorter, the navel is not moved and recovery is faster. A classic one removes the skin-and-fat apron across the whole abdomen, involves moving the navel and allows diastasis repair along the full length of the muscles.

Recovery has three milestones: office work is possible after 2–3 weeks, swelling and tightness pass by 1.5–2 months, and the final result and scar are assessed at 6–12 months, once the tissues have fully adapted.

Removed skin will not grow back — this part of the result is permanent. Only a significant weight gain stretches the abdomen again; keep your weight stable. Pregnancy remains possible after a tummy tuck, but since it stretches the repaired muscles, surgery is planned once the family is complete.

Yes, preparation is required. 7–10 days before a tummy tuck, smoking, alcohol and medicines that affect blood clotting must stop. You also need a pre-surgery check-up with blood tests, ECG, leg vein ultrasound and GP and anaesthetist consultations — completed in advance, not the day before.

The answer is identical for all: first changes can be seen 2 weeks after surgery, when the main swelling subsides. There are then two checkpoints — interim result at 1.5–2 months and final contours at 3–6 months.

Yes — hospital stay is needed: 1–2 days under medical supervision after a classic tummy tuck, and one day is usually enough after a mini. Recovery continues at home, with the surgeon monitoring it at scheduled check-ups.

Everyone gets the same list before a tummy tuck: blood and urine tests, a coagulation panel, biochemistry, infection tests, an ECG, chest X-ray, leg vein ultrasound and a GP's report. At the consultation the surgeon gives the exact list; tests are usually valid for 10–14 days.

No, a repair is not always needed; it is performed only when the rectus abdominis muscles really are separated. The surgeon detects diastasis at the examination, and ultrasound confirms it if in doubt. Separated muscles are joined during the same surgery — no separate procedure.

Pregnancy after a tummy tuck isn't forbidden, but the order matters: childbirth first, then surgery. Otherwise the skin and muscles stretch again and part of the result is lost. Surgeons give one piece of advice: if you plan a child, wait at least a year after the procedure.

Yes, it is required — without the garment recovery is worse: it supports the tissues and reduces swelling. For the first 3–4 weeks it is worn around the clock, then for about another month during the day. The operating surgeon will name the exact period.