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Tummy tuck

Abdominoplasty in East London: a Flat Stomach

Free consultation

Price at consultation

The price is fixed in the contract before surgery

Real case
Tummy tuck: a patient's abdomen before and after surgery before after
A flat tummy and a toned silhouette in one operation. Your individual surgical plan and the expected result are discussed at the consultation

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Results

Tummy tuck results
of our patients

All cases are real patients. Faces and identifying details are hidden.

Tummy tuck: a female patient's abdomen before and after surgerybeforeafter
Tummy tuck: a male patient's abdomen before and after surgerybeforeafter
Tummy tuck: a female patient's abdomen before and after surgerybeforeafter
Tummy tuck: a male patient's abdomen before and after surgerybeforeafter
Tummy tuck: a female patient's abdomen before and after surgerybeforeafter
Tummy tuck: a female patient's abdomen before and after surgerybeforeafter
Tummy tuck: a female patient's abdomen before and after surgerybeforeafter
Tummy tuck: a female patient's abdomen before and after surgerybeforeafter
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Comparison

Tummy tuck techniques

A tummy tuck is done as a full (classic) or mini operation, or combined with liposuction as lipoabdominoplasty. Compare the scope of surgery, the indications and the expected results to choose the right technique together with your surgeon.

Tummy tuck

Removal of excess skin, abdominal muscle tightening

Tummy tuck diagram: the abdomen before surgery with the incision line, and the result
Main goal
Removal of excess skin, diastasis repair
When it is done
Excess skin after childbirth or weight loss
Anaesthesia and stay
General anaesthesia, up to 3 days in hospital

Lipoabdominoplasty

Tummy tuck with added liposuction

Lipoabdominoplasty diagram: the abdomen with fat on the flanks before surgery, and the result
Main goal
Tummy tightening and waist contouring
When it is done
For fat deposits on the flanks and waist
Anaesthesia and stay
General anaesthesia, up to 3 days in hospital

The benefits and recovery times shown are averaged for each technique and given for guidance: the scope of correction and rehabilitation depend on your anatomy and individual features, and the surgeon confirms them at the consultation.

At the consultation the surgeon draws up a plan for your case and explains how your tummy tuck will go.

Free, before surgery and with no obligation.

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Tummy tuck from the inside

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About the clinic

A clinic where you can feel at ease

Modern equipment, comfortable rooms and care for every patient

A doctor and a patient in a clinic ward

Contact us the way that suits you

We will answer your questions and find a convenient time for a consultation

A tummy tuck is not for everyone

If your case can be solved without surgery, the doctor will tell you so at the consultation — and you will not spend money for nothing.

Suitable

A surgeon shows a patient on a model and a monitor how the abdominal contour changes after a tummy tuck
  • Rectus abdominis diastasis
  • Skin folds after weight loss
  • Loose abdominal skin
  • Stretched skin after pregnancy
  • A distorted abdominal contour

Not suitable

A surgeon discusses the indications and contraindications for a tummy tuck with a patient
  • Acute infections
  • Serious heart, kidney or liver conditions
  • Disorders of blood clotting
  • Age below 18
  • Decompensated diabetes
  • Cancer
  • Skin inflammation in the surgical area
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Not sure the surgery is right for you?

Message us — the coordinator will ask for your photos in the messenger, and the surgeon will tell you whether a tummy tuck suits you. No surgery booking needed.

Find out if it suits me
A surgeon goes through a tummy tuck diagram with a patient at the consultation

Prices

You know the price
before surgery

The price is set at the consultation and fixed in the contract.

Other services

  • First consultationFree
  • Liposuction of the abdomen and flanksfrom $1,700
Book a consultation

Find out your tummy tuck plan and price

The surgeon assesses your abdominal skin and muscles, listens to your wishes and chooses the right correction technique.
The price is set at the consultation and fixed in the contract.

A nurse talks to a patient in a clinic ward

Message our coordinator

Free online consultation · Reply within 15 minutes

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A patient's abdomen before a tummy tuck in the operating room

all inclusive

What the price includes

From preparation for surgery
to post-op check-ups.

  • All scheduled dressings
  • Scheduled post-op check-ups
  • A personal coordinator on call
  • Compression garments fitted on the day of surgery
  • A stay in a comfortable
    hospital ward with meals
  • Individual recommendations
    for recovery
  • Remote progress monitoring
    by photos
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How it works

Three days at the clinic —
from preparation to discharge

An agreed correction plan, inpatient observation and post-op check-ups.

A doctor shows a patient a tummy tuck diagram on a monitor1

Consultation
and the surgical plan

The surgeon assesses your abdominal skin and muscles and checks for diastasis, listens to your wishes and chooses the right correction technique.

Paying the deposit by card at the clinic reception2

Booking the date
of surgery

We reserve a surgery date for you: the deposit can be paid by card at the clinic or online by bank transfer. The terms are fixed in the contract for medical services

A blood sample tube for tests before a tummy tuck3

Check-up before
surgery

Before surgery you complete a full lab check-up: blood tests, an ECG, a chest X-ray and reports from the required specialists.

The surgical team during the operation4

Surgery

The surgeon performs the tummy tuck with the chosen technique, repairs diastasis if needed and shapes a firmer abdominal contour.

A hospital ward at the clinic5

Inpatient stay

After surgery the patient stays for 1–3 days in a comfortable hospital ward with meals, under medical supervision.

A surgeon and a patient in the ward during recovery6

Recovery

After surgery you get a recovery programme. Check-ups at 7 days, 3 and 6 months help track your recovery.

Book a free consultation — the surgeon will plan every step with you.

A doctor discusses the tummy tuck plan with a patient
Book a consultation
A doctor discusses the tummy tuck plan with a patient

How it really happens

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Recovery after abdominoplasty

Following surgery, the patient stays 1–3 days in hospital under medical supervision. Drains usually come out after two days, and stitches after 7 days. For 1.5–2 months a compression binder supports the abdominal wall and shapes a smooth contour. Within 30 days most swelling goes, and office work is possible after 2–3 weeks. Sports, sauna and heavy lifting are not allowed for 2–3 months; in the early days, sleep on your back with your knees bent. By 12 months the scar is fully mature: faded and barely noticeable.

Post-op check-ups

After 7 days, at 3 months and at 6 months. Until the end of the year, get a post-surgery consultation with your surgeon to review results and get more information, at the clinic's expense

Advantages

Why patients choose City Medical Centre

A surgeon discusses the tummy tuck plan with a patient at the consultation

Just find out — you lose nothing

At the consultation we discuss your wishes and assess your abdominal skin and muscles. The surgeon explains what changes are possible, chooses the correction technique and answers your questions.

A surgeon on a video call with a patient after surgery

We stay with you after surgery

The surgeon follows your recovery and the changing abdominal contour at check-ups after 7 days, 3 and 6 months. Check-ups, dressings and aftercare advice are already included in the price of surgery.

A surgeon shows a patient a model and tummy tuck diagrams

A beautiful contour that fits your figure

We choose the correction technique based on your skin, muscles and figure. Our aim is a harmonious abdominal contour that keeps the natural proportions of your body.

A patient writes down a convenient visit time in her planner

Your schedule is our priority

We respect your time: we work 24/7, with easy booking and a personal approach — we adapt to your pace.

A surgeon shows a patient the fixed price of surgery with no extra charges

Fixed prices

After the consultation the surgeon defines the extent of correction, and you get a clear price for the surgery — no surprises on the way to the result you want.

A surgeon visits a patient in the hospital ward after surgery

Round-the-clock care after surgery

Recovery starts in a comfortable hospital ward under round-the-clock nursing care. The stay and meals are already included in the price.

FAQ

We answer what
people ask before booking

Other services of our clinic

Abdominoplasty in East London: a short guide

Pregnancy, a C-section or major weight loss can leave behind loose skin and diastasis, the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles. Diet and training cannot fix this: stretched skin does not shrink, and separated muscles do not come back together on their own. That is when women in East London consider abdominoplasty, which restores both the skin and the muscle wall in one operation.

Preparation is straightforward. Two weeks before surgery, medicines affecting blood clotting are stopped; a week before, alcohol and smoking are ruled out for faster healing; the last meal is eight hours before. On the day, you meet the surgeon, the skin is marked and compression garments are fitted. The operation takes 2–4 hours under general anaesthesia. This is the plan for everyone in East London.

The first step costs nothing: the consultation with the surgeon is free. You get an assessment of excess skin and muscle separation, a recommended technique, an explanation of recovery and your personal price. Patients from East London can then decide calmly, with the amount fixed in the contract. Fill in the short form on the page, and a coordinator will call back shortly.

East London and the decision to have a tummy tuck

East London (eMonti in Xhosa, Oos-Londen in Afrikaans) is a city in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality of the Eastern Cape, on the Indian Ocean coast of South Africa. It lies largely between the Buffalo River and the Nahoon River and has the country's only river port. As of 2011 the city had a population of over 267,000, with over 755,000 in the surrounding metropolitan area. It is the second-largest city in the Eastern Cape. English is the first spoken language and Xhosa the second.

People here lead active, outdoor lives. They run, cycle, swim and play rugby or cricket, and they spend a lot of time near the water. Many who ask about abdominoplasty have loose skin or a stretched abdominal wall after pregnancies or significant weight loss. Some have a soft abdominal contour that diet and exercise no longer change. A tummy tuck is a surgical operation done under general anaesthesia. It is not a way to lose weight, and a calm, informed conversation with a surgeon should come before any decision.

City Medical Centre works with patients from East London through a free online consultation. Coordinators are available 24/7 on Telegram and Telegram, so you can send your first questions late in the evening after work or early in the morning before the school run. We work around your pace, not the other way round.

Climate of East London and what it means for your recovery

East London has an oceanic climate, bordering on humid subtropical, with the warm, moderate temperatures typical of the South African coast. There is no true dry season. Winter is drier, spring and autumn are the wettest times of year, and there is a shorter, lesser dry period in December and January. For recovery this means you will rarely deal with extreme cold, but you will often deal with warmth and humidity, and both matter after abdominal surgery.

Humid heat makes a compression garment feel heavier and can irritate skin around dressings and healing incisions. Choose breathable, loose clothing to wear over the garment, keep the skin clean and dry as your surgeon instructs, and plan for fresh air and rest in a shaded, ventilated room. The garment is not optional. Recovery is worse without it because it supports the tissues and reduces swelling. For the first 3–4 weeks it stays on around the clock, then during the daytime for roughly a month more. Your operating surgeon will name the exact period.

Sun exposure also needs attention. Fresh scars should be protected from direct sun, and tanning beds are excluded for at least a month. On the coast, wide-brimmed hats, shade and loose long clothing are practical habits during the weeks when the abdomen is healing.

Berg winds, heat waves and choosing the season

The local climate has a particular feature. The hottest temperatures in East London are recorded in spring and autumn rather than in midsummer, because of violent berg winds. Warm air from the arid interior is heated further as it drops over the escarpment to sea level. The all-time record high is 44 °C, recorded on 13 March 2021. Temperatures above 38 °C have only been recorded early in the season, from August to December.

For planning, this suggests keeping an eye on the forecast rather than choosing a month by the calendar alone. In the first days at home you will want a cool, calm environment where you can walk slowly and rest, with no need to go out in hot, dry wind. A hot berg wind day is a poor day for errands in a compression garment. If your surgery date falls in a spell of such weather, arrange for family or friends to help with shopping and household tasks.

Many patients prefer the drier, milder winter months because the garment is more comfortable and pools and beaches are not tempting during the early restrictions. Others choose a quiet period at work or a school holiday for the same reason. There is no single right season. The right time is the one that lets you follow the rules after surgery without pressure from work, family events or heat. Discuss dates with the coordinator and the surgeon during the online consultation.

Work in East London and returning to the office

East London is the second-largest industrial centre in the province, and the motor industry is the dominant employer. A major Daimler plant stands next to the harbour and builds Mercedes-Benz and other vehicles for the local market and for export. Clothing, textiles, pharmaceuticals and food processing are also part of the local economy, and the East London Industrial Development Zone on the West Bank was established in 2004. Working lives here therefore range from offices and laboratories to production floors and logistics at the port.

The medical timeline is the same for everyone. You can return to office work after 2–3 weeks. For the first 2–3 weeks you avoid physical exertion, heavy lifting and sudden movements. If your job is at a desk, in administration, in a bank, in a school office or in a call centre, you may be ready in that window if your surgeon agrees. If you work on a production line, in a warehouse or in the harbour, with lifting, bending and long hours standing, you should discuss the return date with the surgeon in detail and ask about a gradual return.

Shift workers and people in plants with early starts should plan the first weeks with their employer in advance. A medical certificate can be arranged through your surgeon. Tell your manager the planned dates early, and agree on light duties if they are available. Do not try to shorten the rest period to catch up on work, because heavy lifting and sudden movements are exactly what the first weeks rule out.

Sport in East London: running, rugby, cricket and the ocean

Sport is part of the identity of East London. Soccer is popular, Chippa United have hosted some games in the city, and cricket has a long tradition at Buffalo Park. Rugby is followed closely, and Buffalo City Stadium hosted a game during the 1995 Rugby World Cup. The Buffalo Road Running Club organises the Old Mutual Buffalo marathon of 42,2 km in February or March each year, and the Washie ultra marathon, which finishes in the city. The Ironman 70.3 event, with its swim, cycle and run, started and finished at Orient Beach every January from 2012 to 2021.

With so many runners, cyclists, swimmers and club players, the most common question is when sport can resume. Sport is resumed gradually, with the surgeon's approval only, and compression garments are worn for another 4–8 weeks. Sauna, steam bath, pool, tanning beds, alcohol and smoking are out for at least a month. That includes swimming in the sea and the public pool, so do not plan a beach morning or a triathlon training block in the first month.

Treat the date of a race or tournament as a reason to plan carefully, not to hurry. If you want to be fit for the marathon season in February or March, discuss the timing with the surgeon beforehand and expect a gradual return to training rather than a quick one. Contact sports such as rugby need particular care, because sudden movements and impacts are what the early recovery avoids. Walking short distances is usually the first step, and the surgeon decides when each next stage is allowed.

Family life, food culture and social events

Social life in East London often centres on family gatherings, braais, church and community events, weddings, and weekends at the coast. Food is an important part of these occasions. This is relevant to a tummy tuck because the first weeks require calm routines, and because alcohol and smoking are excluded for at least a month. If a wedding or a large family celebration is on the calendar, choose the surgery date so that you are not expected to stand for hours, cook for many guests, lift children or carry heavy trays.

Tell your relatives in advance what you are allowed to do. For the first 2–3 weeks you avoid physical exertion, heavy lifting and sudden movements, which includes lifting small children, carrying laundry baskets and moving furniture. A mother of young children should arrange help at home for this period. Hosting a gathering during recovery is a poor idea. Light, regular meals and enough fluids are more helpful than rich, heavy dishes, and your surgeon or the hospital team will give dietary instructions.

A tummy tuck also often follows major life changes: pregnancy, weight loss or a long period of caring for others. Many women and men in the city come to this decision after years of putting their own plans last. Give yourself a quiet recovery and let the family organise itself around you for a short time. It is a temporary arrangement, and it is a good investment in the result you will assess at 6–12 months.

Who is a candidate and who is not

You must be at least 18, with no contraindications. No upper limit exists. At our clinic each case is considered individually, after an examination and health assessment. In general terms, abdominoplasty suits people with excess skin, a stretched abdominal wall or a lax abdominal contour that does not respond to diet and exercise. It is not a treatment for obesity. According to the World Health Organization, overweight and obesity are defined by abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health, and a doctor will assess where you stand in that picture before surgery.

Smoking, poorly controlled chronic illness, blood clotting problems and planned future pregnancies are among the subjects the surgeon will discuss. Whether surgery is advisable at all is decided only after the pre-surgery examination, not by an online conversation alone. The online consultation helps you understand the options, the classic tummy tuck and the mini tummy tuck, and what to prepare.

If you are still losing weight, tell the surgeon honestly. Many patients in East London, as elsewhere, prefer to stabilise their weight before surgery so that the result is assessed against a stable baseline. Your honest history, including earlier operations, medicines and allergies, is the most useful thing you can bring to the consultation.

Preparation, tests and hospital stay

Preparation is a must. Stop smoking, drinking alcohol and taking medicines that affect blood clotting 7–10 days before a tummy tuck. The pre-surgery check-up covers blood tests, ECG, leg vein ultrasound and consultations with a GP and anaesthetist. Get it done in advance, not the day before. The usual list includes blood and urine tests, a coagulation panel, biochemistry, infection tests, ECG, chest X-ray, ultrasound of the leg veins and a GP's report. The exact list comes from the surgeon at the consultation, and tests usually stay valid for 10–14 days.

A patient in East London can do many of these tests locally, with a GP or in a laboratory near home or work, and send the results to the coordinator. Plan the timing so that the results are still valid on the day of surgery, and do not collect them in a rush. Bring your documents and a list of the medicines you take.

The operation is done under general anaesthesia, and a stay in hospital is needed. A classic tummy tuck means 1–3 days under medical supervision, up to 3 days in hospital at most. For a mini tummy tuck, one day is usually enough. You stay in a comfortable hospital ward with meals, under medical supervision. At home recovery continues, and the surgeon monitors it at scheduled check-ups.

Questions to ask the surgeon before a tummy tuck in East London

A first conversation goes better when you arrive with a written list. Patients in East London often ask the same practical things: which version of the operation suits my abdomen, a classic tummy tuck or a mini tummy tuck, how long I will stay in hospital, and who will follow my recovery once I am back at home. The answers depend on your examination, so write down your own questions and bring them to the online consultation.

Good questions include: What does my abdominal wall need? Will the surgeon see the pre-surgery tests before confirming the plan? When exactly do I start and stop the compression garment? Which check-ups are planned? The plan includes check-ups at 7 days, 3 and 6 months, and a post-surgery consultation until the end of the year. Ask also what the surgeon expects from you in the first weeks and what signs should make you write to the coordinators straight away.

Because the consultation is held remotely, prepare clear photographs in good daylight, a list of earlier operations, allergies and medicines, and the dates of pregnancies or major weight changes. The more precise your history, the more useful the conversation. Coordinators answer on Telegram and Telegram around the clock, so you can send these materials whenever it suits your day.

Living along the coast: dust, wind, sea air and daily routine during recovery

East London stretches along the Indian Ocean between the Buffalo River and the Nahoon River, and the sea shapes daily life: coastal walks, family afternoons by the water, outdoor meals. During the first weeks after a tummy tuck, most of this has to wait. Pool and sauna are out for at least a month, and the same caution applies to the sea. Treat the first month as a quiet, home-based period.

Dry berg wind days can bring heat and dry air, and the coast also has humid days with no true dry season. On either kind of day, plan your surroundings rather than your willpower. Keep the bedroom ventilated, keep water within reach, wear soft loose clothing over the garment and avoid long periods outdoors. Keep dressings clean and dry as the surgeon instructs.

Set up the home before the operation: place everyday items at waist height so you do not stretch or lift, prepare simple meals in advance, and arrange for someone to help with errands. Short, slow walks indoors are part of a calm routine. Avoid sudden movements and heavy lifting during the first 2–3 weeks. Small preparations like these matter more than any single piece of equipment.

Students, young adults and busy households in East London

East London has secondary schools and tertiary institutions, including the University of Fort Hare and Walter Sisulu University, so many families and young adults plan their year around terms and exams. A tummy tuck is an adult decision, and you must be at least 18 with no contraindications. Some patients choose a quieter academic period so that they can rest without missing important deadlines.

For students and young professionals, the useful milestone is the return to office-type activity after 2–3 weeks. Long hours at a desk may be possible then if the surgeon agrees, but carrying a heavy bag, standing for hours or moving between campuses should be limited. By 1.5–2 months swelling and tightness pass, which is a more realistic point for resuming a full routine.

Households with children need a plan too. Ask a spouse, parent or friend to cover school runs, lifting and housework during the first weeks. Explain to children in simple words that you need to move carefully for a while. A short, honest plan before surgery avoids pressure during the recovery period and lets you follow the surgeon's rules calmly.

Check-ups, results and remote support from East London

After surgery you get a recovery programme. Check-ups at 7 days, 3 and 6 months help track your recovery, and the surgeon follows your recovery and the changing abdominal contour at those visits. Check-ups, dressings and aftercare advice are already included in the cost of the surgery. Until the end of the year, you can also get a post-surgery consultation with your surgeon to review results and get more information, at the clinic's expense.

The timeline of the result is the same for everyone. The first changes appear 2 weeks after surgery as the main swelling subsides. Then come two checkpoints: the interim result at 1.5–2 months and the final contours at 6–12 months. Three milestones mark recovery: after 2–3 weeks you can do office work, by 1.5–2 months swelling and tightness pass, and at 6–12 months, with the tissues fully adapted, the final result and scar are assessed.

Between check-ups you can write to the coordinators at any hour on Telegram or Telegram, and the team is available 24/7. Send photographs of dressings and the garment when you have a question, and keep a short diary of swelling, comfort and sleep. Even in a warm, humid city such as East London, this regular contact makes the recovery period calmer.

How does the online consultation work for a patient in East London?

It is free. You write to the coordinators on Telegram or Telegram, who work 24/7, send your questions, photographs and medical history, and arrange a conversation with the surgeon. The surgeon explains the options, preparation and recovery. You do not need to leave East London for this first step.

How long until I can go back to work?

The return to office work is possible after 2–3 weeks. For the first 2–3 weeks you avoid physical exertion, heavy lifting and sudden movements. If your work is physical, for example in a plant, warehouse or the harbour, the surgeon will tell you when a gradual return is allowed.

How long do I stay in hospital?

A classic tummy tuck means 1–3 days under medical supervision, with up to 3 days in hospital at most. For a mini tummy tuck, one day is usually enough. You stay in a comfortable ward with meals, and recovery then continues at home with scheduled check-ups.

Can I swim in the sea or go to the pool in East London?

Not early on. Sauna, steam bath, pool, tanning beds, alcohol and smoking are out for at least a month. Sport is resumed gradually, with the surgeon's approval only, and compression garments are worn for another 4–8 weeks.

Is the compression garment really necessary in warm, humid weather?

Yes. Recovery is worse without it because it supports the tissues and reduces swelling. For the first 3–4 weeks it stays on around the clock, then during the daytime for roughly a month more. Your operating surgeon will name the exact period. Breathable clothing over it and good skin care help in warm weather.

When will I see the result?

The first changes appear 2 weeks after surgery as the main swelling subsides. The interim result comes at 1.5–2 months and the final contours at 6–12 months, when the final result and scar are assessed.

What tests do I need, and how long do they stay valid?

The list includes blood and urine tests, a coagulation panel, biochemistry, infection tests, ECG, chest X-ray, ultrasound of the leg veins and a GP's report. The exact list comes from the surgeon at the consultation, and tests usually stay valid for 10–14 days.

Is there an age limit?

You must be at least 18, with no contraindications. No upper limit exists. Each case is considered individually, after an examination and health assessment.

Do I need to prepare before the operation?

Yes, preparation is a must. Stop smoking, drinking alcohol and taking medicines that affect blood clotting 7–10 days before the surgery. Complete the pre-surgery check-up in advance, not the day before.

What follow-up is included?

Check-ups at 7 days, 3 and 6 months, dressings and aftercare advice are already included in the cost of the surgery. You also receive a recovery programme and a post-surgery consultation with your surgeon until the end of the year.

What should I prepare for the first online consultation from East London?

Prepare clear photographs, a list of medicines, allergies and earlier operations, and the dates of pregnancies or weight changes. Write your questions down. Coordinators on Telegram and Telegram are available 24/7, so you can send everything at a convenient time before speaking with the surgeon.

Does a mini tummy tuck need a shorter hospital stay?

For a mini tummy tuck, one day is usually enough. A classic tummy tuck means 1–3 days under medical supervision, up to 3 days in hospital. The surgeon decides which version suits you after the examination and health assessment.

Is a tummy tuck a way to lose weight?

No. It is a surgical operation under general anaesthesia that deals with excess skin and a stretched abdominal wall. Overweight and obesity are defined by the World Health Organization as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health, and a doctor will assess your situation before surgery.