Tummy Tuck for Patients from Mukalla

No, it doesn't help with weight loss — its goal is different: removing excess stretched skin and the fat apron and restoring the abdominal muscle wall. Surgery is done at a stable weight; if your weight is still changing, see a dietitian or endocrinologist first.

Yes, expect a scar — the unavoidable price of removing excess skin. The classic tummy tuck incision runs across the lower abdomen from hip to hip, sitting below the underwear or swimsuit line; the mini tummy tuck incision is much shorter. Gradually the scar fades and becomes thin.

The surgery is designed precisely to remove sagging skin and the fat apron — they are taken away completely, and the stretch marks below the navel go too. The surgeon draws the upper abdominal skin downward, so the tummy becomes smooth without an additional lift.

No, during the procedure there's no pain: a tummy tuck is under general anaesthesia and nothing is felt. Tightness and soreness show up in the first days and are relieved by painkillers prescribed by the doctor; by the end of the first week, discomfort eases noticeably.

The restrictions after a tummy tuck are the same for everyone. For the first 2–3 weeks, no physical exertion, heavy lifting or sudden movements. Sauna, steam bath, pool, tanning beds, alcohol and smoking are off-limits for at least a month. Sport resumes gradually and only with the surgeon's approval. Compression garments are worn for another 4–8 weeks.

Minimum age — 18, and only with no contraindications. There is no upper limit; each case at our clinic is considered individually after an examination and assessment of health.

It all comes down to the scope of surgery. A mini tummy tuck treats a small excess of skin below the navel, with a shorter incision, no navel repositioning and faster recovery. A classic tummy tuck removes the skin-and-fat apron over the entire abdomen, involves moving the navel and allows diastasis repair along the full length of the muscles.

Recovery follows three milestones — office work after 2–3 weeks, the end of swelling and tightness by 1.5–2 months, and assessment of the final result and scar at 6–12 months, when tissues have fully adapted.

That part of the result is permanent: removed skin does not grow back. Significant weight gain is the only thing that will stretch the abdomen again, so keep your weight stable. Pregnancy is possible after a tummy tuck, but it stretches the repaired muscles, so surgery is planned after your family is complete.

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

The answer is the same for everyone: the first changes are visible 2 weeks after surgery, when the main swelling subsides. Then there are two checkpoints: 1.5–2 months — an interim result, 6–12 months — the final contours.

Yes, a hospital stay is necessary. After a classic tummy tuck you spend 1–3 days under medical supervision; after a mini tummy tuck one day is usually sufficient. Then recovery continues at home, and the surgeon monitors it at scheduled check-ups.

The list of tests before a tummy tuck doesn't differ: blood and urine tests, coagulation panel, biochemistry, infection tests, ECG, chest X-ray, leg vein ultrasound and a GP's report. You get the exact list from the surgeon at the consultation; tests usually remain valid for 10–14 days.

No, repair is needed only when the rectus abdominis muscles are actually separated, not for everyone. The surgeon identifies diastasis at the examination; if in doubt, it is confirmed by ultrasound. Separated muscles are brought together during the same surgery, without a separate procedure.

After a tummy tuck, pregnancy is not forbidden, but keep the order: childbirth first, then surgery. Otherwise skin and muscles stretch again, losing part of the result. Surgeons give one piece of advice: if you are planning 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 you wear it around the clock, and then during the day for about another month. The operating surgeon names the exact period.