Abdominal Wall Tightening in Onitsha

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.

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

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.

After a tummy tuck, the restrictions are identical for everyone. During the first 2–3 weeks there should be no physical exertion, heavy lifting or sudden movements. Sauna, steam bath, pool, tanning beds, alcohol and smoking are off-limits for a month or more. Sport resumes gradually and only with the surgeon's approval. You wear compression garments for another 4–8 weeks.

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.

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.

Recovery goes through three milestones. Office work — after 2–3 weeks. Swelling and tightness — gone by 1.5–2 months. The final result and scar — assessed at 6–12 months, when the tissues fully adapt.

Skin that has been removed doesn't regrow, which makes that part of the result permanent. The abdomen will only stretch again with significant weight gain, so maintain a stable weight. A pregnancy after a tummy tuck is possible, but it stretches the repaired muscles — surgery is therefore planned once 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 doesn't vary: first changes are seen 2 weeks after surgery, after the main swelling subsides. Next, two checkpoints — 1.5–2 months for the interim result, 3–6 months for the final contours.

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

The list before a tummy tuck 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. The surgeon gives the exact list at the consultation; tests are usually valid for 10–14 days.

No, not everyone requires a repair; it is carried out only when the rectus abdominis muscles are actually separated. Diastasis is visible to the surgeon at the examination and confirmed by ultrasound if in doubt. During the same surgery the separated muscles are brought together, with 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's a requirement: recovery is worse without the garment because it supports the tissues and reduces swelling. 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.