Classic and Mini Tummy Tuck in Lisbon
We remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen and repair separated muscles. We perform classic and mini tummy tucks, taking diastasis and post-pregnancy scars into account
Guarantee under an official contract
400+ successful surgeries
10 years of abdominal surgery experience
Free consultation
before surgery
What is a tummy tuck
and who is it for?
Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, is surgery that tightens the front abdominal wall by removing surplus stretched skin and fat. It won't make you lose weight and is no substitute for diet and exercise. Its goal is a flat contour of the abdomen — removing the overhanging skin-and-fat apron, repairing separated rectus muscles and creating a new navel where needed.
This surgery is chosen for excess skin and diastasis — separation of the rectus abdominis muscles — left after childbirth, a C-section or major weight loss. Diet and exercise can't correct it: stretched skin doesn't shrink and separated muscles don't rejoin without surgery. Pregnancy should be 12 months or more later, and there is no surgery while breastfeeding.
Guarantee under an official contract
10 years of abdominal surgery experience
Free consultation before surgery
Tummy tuck techniques at City Medical Centre
Classic tummy tuck
In a classic tummy tuck the surgeon makes a horizontal incision above the pubic area; the length depends on the amount of excess tissue. The scar line is planned for underwear and swimwear to hide it. Separated rectus muscles are repaired, excess skin and fat removed, the navel repositioned and drains placed, over 2–4 hours under general anaesthesia.
Suitable for marked excess skin, diastasis and a C-section scar.
Mini tummy tuck with diastasis repair
A mini tummy tuck addresses a narrower issue: only the lower abdomen is corrected, the incision is shorter and the navel is not moved. It is used for a small amount of excess skin when the main concern is diastasis or overhang above a C-section scar; recovery is then shorter. The surgeon chooses the technique at an in-person consultation after assessing the abdominal muscles and skin.
Less trauma and a shorter recovery when the excess skin is minor.
How the surgery goes: from consultation to result
Surgeon consultation
The surgeon listens to your wishes, examines you, assesses fat deposits and rules out contraindications. At City Medical Centre a hormone screening is also ordered — it helps predict the long-term result.
Pre-surgery check-up
You'll need blood tests (complete count, coagulation panel, biochemistry, HIV, hepatitis, syphilis), an ECG, a chest X-ray and a GP consultation if necessary.
All tests can be done at the clinic with no waiting.
Preparation
2 weeks before surgery, medicines that affect blood clotting are stopped. One week before, alcohol and smoking are ruled out to speed healing. Last meal — 8 hours before.
Surgery day
Meeting the surgeon, marking the skin, fitting compression garments. The surgery takes 2–4 hours, with general anaesthesia.
Waking up and monitoring
The patient is kept in hospital under medical supervision for 1–3 days after surgery.
Recovery
Compression binder for 1.5–2 months. Most swelling subsides within 30 days; office work resumes after 2–3 weeks. The final result is assessed at 3 months.
Surgeon consultation
The surgeon listens to your wishes, examines you, assesses fat deposits and rules out contraindications. At City Medical Centre a hormone screening is also ordered — it helps predict the long-term result.
Pre-surgery check-up
You'll need blood tests (complete count, coagulation panel, biochemistry, HIV, hepatitis, syphilis), an ECG, a chest X-ray and a GP consultation if necessary.
All tests can be done at the clinic with no waiting.
Preparation
2 weeks before surgery, medicines that affect blood clotting are stopped. One week before, alcohol and smoking are ruled out to speed healing. Last meal — 8 hours before.
Surgery day
Meeting the surgeon, marking the skin, fitting compression garments. The surgery takes 2–4 hours, with general anaesthesia.
Waking up and monitoring
The patient is kept in hospital under medical supervision for 1–3 days after surgery.
Recovery
Compression binder for 1.5–2 months. Most swelling subsides within 30 days; office work resumes after 2–3 weeks. The final result is assessed at 3 months.
Post-op check-ups
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
Who the surgery suits and who it doesn't
Please speak with a clinic physician if you have chronic conditions!
Indications
Excess abdominal skin and fat after childbirth or weight loss
Separation of the rectus muscles (diastasis)
A sagging lower abdomen or an apron of skin
Restoring the figure after childbirth or rapid weight loss
Lower abdominal scars, including after a C-section
Contraindications
Age under 18
Endocrine obesity
Severe chronic and mental illness
Decompensated diabetes
Blood clotting disorders
Cancer
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Severe heart, kidney or liver disease
Temporary contraindications: acute infectious diseases, inflammatory skin conditions in the treated area, menstruation, anticoagulants
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Recovery after a tummy tuck
Immediately after surgery the patient stays in hospital for 1–3 days, supervised by doctors. Drains are usually removed after two days, stitches after 7 days. For 1.5–2 months you wear a compression binder that supports the abdominal wall and forms a smooth contour. Most of the swelling goes within 30 days; office work is possible after 2–3 weeks. No sports, sauna or heavy lifting for 2–3 months, and in the beginning it is best to sleep on your back with knees bent. At 12 months the scar is fully mature, faded and barely noticeable.
Our specialists
Experienced plastic surgeons and doctors who value patients' health and beauty
Dr. Goncharova
Dermatovenereologist, trichologist, surgeon
11+ years of experience
Dr. Goncharova
Dermatovenereologist, trichologist, surgeon
11+ years of experience
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
Hormonal approach: before surgery an endocrinologist rules out hormonal causes of obesity, making the long-term result more reliable
Combined procedures
Tummy tuck plus liposuction of the flanks and waist, or plus diastasis repair, in one operation — just one anaesthesia and one recovery period
Support until the result
You stay in contact with the surgeon throughout recovery, and the price in the contract is fixed with no hidden extra charges
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Tummy tuck: frequently asked questions
Can you combine a tummy tuck and liposuction or diastasis repair?
Yes, combining is allowed and is very common in practice. Liposuction of the flanks and waist is added to a tummy tuck, and after childbirth — repair of rectus diastasis. Recovery with such a combination is shorter, and the surgeon will tell you at an in-person consultation how extensive the procedure will be.
Is a tummy tuck a way to lose weight?
No, it will not help you lose weight. Its goal is different: to remove excess stretched skin and the fat apron and restore the abdominal muscle wall. Surgery is done at a stable weight; if your weight is still changing, first see a dietitian or endocrinologist.
Will there be a scar after surgery?
Yes, a scar is unavoidable — that is the price of removing excess skin. With a classic tummy tuck the incision crosses the lower abdomen from hip to hip and sits below the line of underwear or a swimsuit; with a mini tummy tuck it is much shorter. The scar fades and thins over time.
Will the surgery remove stretch marks and sagging skin?
Exactly this is what the surgery does: sagging skin and the fat apron are removed completely, and stretch marks below the navel disappear with them. The surgeon brings the upper abdominal skin downward, so the tummy is smooth without an extra lift.
Is the surgery painful?
No, the procedure itself doesn't hurt — a tummy tuck is performed under general anaesthesia, so you feel nothing. Tightness and soreness appear over the first days and are relieved with the painkillers your doctor prescribes; by the end of the first week the discomfort noticeably eases.
What should you avoid after a tummy tuck?
Restrictions after a tummy tuck don't differ from patient to patient. No physical exertion, heavy lifting or sudden movements for the first 2–3 weeks; no sauna, steam bath, pool, tanning beds, alcohol or smoking for at least a month. Sport is resumed gradually and only with the surgeon's approval. Compression garments are worn for another 4–8 weeks.
What age can a tummy tuck be done from, and is there any upper limit?
The minimum age is 18, and only if there are no contraindications. There is no upper limit at all: our clinic considers each case individually after an examination and health assessment.
How does a mini tummy tuck differ from a classic one?
It is a question of scope. With a small excess of skin below the navel, a mini tummy tuck is enough: the incision is shorter, the navel is not moved and recovery is quicker. The classic operation removes the skin-and-fat apron across the entire abdomen, moves the navel and allows diastasis repair along the full length of the muscles.
How long does recovery take?
Recovery comes in three milestones: 2–3 weeks until office work is possible, 1.5–2 months until swelling and tightness pass, and 6–12 months until the final result and scar are assessed, once the tissues fully adapt.
Will the result last with weight gain and after pregnancy?
No regrowth of removed skin: that part of the result is permanent. The abdomen can stretch again only with significant weight gain, so a stable weight matters. Pregnancy after a tummy tuck is possible, although it stretches the repaired muscles; that's why surgery is planned once your family is complete.
Do you need special preparation for surgery?
Yes, preparation is required. For 7–10 days before a tummy tuck, no smoking, alcohol or medicines that affect blood clotting. The pre-surgery check-up includes blood tests, an ECG, leg vein ultrasound and GP and anaesthetist consultations; finish it in advance rather than the day before.
When will the result be visible?
The answer is the same for everyone: first changes are visible 2 weeks after surgery, once the main swelling subsides. Then come two checkpoints: 1.5–2 months for an interim result and 3–6 months for the final contours.
Do you need to stay in hospital, and for how long?
Yes, you need to stay in hospital: 1–2 days under medical supervision for a classic tummy tuck, usually one day for a mini tummy tuck. Recovery goes on at home, with the surgeon checking on it at scheduled check-ups.
What tests are needed before surgery?
The pre-tummy-tuck list is the same for everyone: blood and urine tests, coagulation panel, biochemistry, infection tests, ECG, chest X-ray, leg vein ultrasound and a GP's report. Tests are usually valid for 10–14 days, and the surgeon gives the exact list at the consultation.
Is diastasis always repaired during a tummy tuck?
No, it is not needed by everyone: a repair is done only when the rectus abdominis muscles are really separated. The surgeon notices diastasis at the examination, with ultrasound used to confirm it in case of doubt. Separated muscles are brought together in the same surgery, no separate procedure required.
Can you plan a pregnancy after a tummy tuck?
You can get pregnant after a tummy tuck, but the order matters: childbirth should come first, then surgery. Otherwise, the skin and muscles stretch again and you lose part of the result. Surgeons have one piece of advice: if you plan a child, wait at least a year after the procedure.
Do you have to wear compression garments, and for how long?
Yes, it is mandatory: recovery is worse without the garment, which supports the tissues and reduces swelling. It is worn around the clock for the first 3–4 weeks, then for about another month during the day. The exact period is named by the operating surgeon.
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How a tummy tuck works for Lisbon residents
Who is a candidate? Adults aged 18 and over with no contraindications; there is no upper age limit, and each case is considered after an examination. Surgery is done at a stable weight and is not performed during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Contraindications also include decompensated diabetes, blood clotting disorders, cancer and serious heart, kidney or liver disease. Lisbon patients get a personal assessment.
The result comes in stages. First changes show about two weeks after surgery, an interim result is visible at 1.5–2 months and the final contours form at 3–6 months. The scar keeps maturing for up to a year before it fades. Check-ups take place at 7 days, 3 months and 6 months, and until the end of the year a post-surgery consultation for patients from Lisbon is at the clinic's expense.
Start with a free consultation for a tummy tuck in Lisbon. The surgeon assesses your abdomen, explains the difference between the classic and mini techniques for your case and gives the final price, which is then recorded in the contract. Apply before the end of the year and the consultation is at the clinic's expense. Write to us in any messenger or use the form on the page.
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Get a consultation
Apply before the end of the year and get a consultation at the clinic's expense!