Tummy Tuck with Diastasis Repair in Philadelphia
Classic and mini tummy tucks: we remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen and repair separated muscles, considering diastasis and post-pregnancy scars
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?
A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is surgical tightening of the front abdominal wall that removes excess stretched skin and fat. It is not a weight-loss method and does not replace diet and exercise. The goal is a flat abdominal contour: removing the overhanging skin-and-fat apron, repairing separated rectus muscles and, if needed, creating a new navel.
It is chosen when, after childbirth, a C-section or major weight loss, there is excess skin and diastasis — rectus abdominis muscles that have separated. This is not fixable by diet and exercise: stretched skin does not shrink and separated muscles need surgery to come together. Pregnancy should come 12 months or more later, and surgery is not done 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
The classic operation begins with a horizontal incision above the pubic area, its length depending on the amount of excess tissue. The scar line is planned so that underwear and swimwear hide it. The surgeon repairs separated rectus muscles, removes excess skin and fat, repositions the navel and places drains; it takes 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 is for a narrower issue — only the lower abdomen is corrected, through a shorter incision, and the navel is not moved. It is used with a small amount of excess skin where the key concern is diastasis or overhang above a C-section scar; recovery is then shorter. The surgeon selects the technique at an in-person consultation after assessing the abdominal muscles and skin.
When excess skin is minor: less trauma and shorter recovery.
How the surgery goes: from consultation to result
Surgeon consultation
The surgeon listens to your wishes and examines you, assessing fat deposits and ruling out contraindications. City Medical Centre also prescribes a hormone screening that helps predict the long-term result.
Pre-surgery check-up
Blood tests for complete count, coagulation, biochemistry and infections (HIV, hepatitis, syphilis), an ECG, a chest X-ray and a GP consultation if needed.
All tests can be done at the clinic with no waiting.
Preparation
2 weeks before, stop medicines that affect blood clotting. A week before, give up alcohol and smoking to heal faster. 8 hours before, have your last meal.
Surgery day
You meet the surgeon, the skin is marked and compression garments are fitted. The surgery is done under general anaesthesia and lasts 2–4 hours.
Waking up and monitoring
After surgery the patient spends 1–3 days in hospital, with doctors supervising.
Recovery
1.5–2 months in a compression binder. Most of the swelling is gone within 30 days; you can return to office work after 2–3 weeks. The final result is assessed at 3 months.
Surgeon consultation
The surgeon listens to your wishes and examines you, assessing fat deposits and ruling out contraindications. City Medical Centre also prescribes a hormone screening that helps predict the long-term result.
Pre-surgery check-up
Blood tests for complete count, coagulation, biochemistry and infections (HIV, hepatitis, syphilis), an ECG, a chest X-ray and a GP consultation if needed.
All tests can be done at the clinic with no waiting.
Preparation
2 weeks before, stop medicines that affect blood clotting. A week before, give up alcohol and smoking to heal faster. 8 hours before, have your last meal.
Surgery day
You meet the surgeon, the skin is marked and compression garments are fitted. The surgery is done under general anaesthesia and lasts 2–4 hours.
Waking up and monitoring
After surgery the patient spends 1–3 days in hospital, with doctors supervising.
Recovery
1.5–2 months in a compression binder. Most of the swelling is gone within 30 days; you can return to office work after 2–3 weeks. The final result is assessed at 3 months.
Post-op check-ups
This year only, the clinic covers a post-surgery consultation with your surgeon to review results and get more information
Who the surgery suits and who it doesn't
Chronic illness? Please talk to a doctor at the clinic first!
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
Bringing back the silhouette after pregnancy 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: taking anticoagulants, acute infections, menstruation, inflammatory skin conditions in the treated area
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
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.
Our specialists
Experienced plastic surgeons and physicians devoted to patients' beauty and health
Dr. Goncharova
Dermatovenereologist, trichologist, surgeon
11+ years of experience
Dr. Goncharova
Dermatovenereologist, trichologist, surgeon
11+ years of experience
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
We take a hormonal approach — hormonal causes of obesity are ruled out by an endocrinologist before surgery, so the long-term result is more reliable
Combined procedures
Liposuction of the flanks and waist or diastasis repair can be added to a tummy tuck in one operation, with one anaesthesia and one recovery period
Support until the result
The surgeon remains in touch all through recovery, while the price is fixed in the contract without 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 a tummy tuck be combined with liposuction or diastasis repair?
Yes, combination is permitted and frequent in practice. A tummy tuck is combined with flank and waist liposuction and, after childbirth, with rectus diastasis repair. Recovery with such a combination is shorter; how extensive the procedure will be, the surgeon will tell you at an in-person consultation.
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?
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.
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?
The rules after a tummy tuck are the same for everyone. For the first 2–3 weeks you avoid physical exertion, heavy lifting and sudden movements. 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 there a minimum and a maximum age for a tummy tuck?
The minimum age is 18 and contraindications must be absent. There is no upper limit: every case at our clinic is considered 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 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.
Will the result last with weight gain and after pregnancy?
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.
Do you need special preparation for surgery?
Yes, 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.
When will the result be visible?
It's the same for all patients: the first changes show 2 weeks after surgery, when the main swelling goes down. After that there are two checkpoints — an interim result at 1.5–2 months and the final contours at 3–6 months.
Do you need to stay in hospital, and for how long?
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.
What tests are needed before surgery?
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.
Is diastasis always repaired during a tummy tuck?
No, not all patients need a repair. It is done only when there is actual separation of the rectus abdominis muscles. The surgeon sees diastasis at the examination, and if in doubt, it is confirmed by ultrasound. The separated muscles are brought together in the same surgery, so no separate procedure is needed.
Can you plan a pregnancy after a tummy tuck?
Pregnancy after a tummy tuck is not forbidden, but the order matters: childbirth first, then surgery. Otherwise 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.
Do you have to wear compression garments, and for how long?
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.
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Other services at our clinic
Classic or mini tummy tuck in Philadelphia
Diastasis is not always part of the picture. Repair is done only when the rectus abdominis muscles are actually separated: the surgeon sees it at the examination and, if in doubt, it is confirmed by ultrasound. When needed, the muscles are brought together during the tummy tuck itself, with no separate procedure. Patients from Philadelphia learn at the consultation whether their case requires it.
Is it painful? During the procedure you feel nothing, since a tummy tuck is done under general anaesthesia. Tightness and soreness appear in the first days and are relieved with painkillers prescribed by the doctor; by the end of the first week the discomfort eases noticeably. For people from Philadelphia, the first visible changes appear about two weeks after surgery, when the main swelling subsides.
Budget planning starts with a conversation, not a price list. At the free consultation the surgeon explains what your case requires and gives a figure that does not change later: it goes into the contract with no hidden charges. The clinic has 400+ successful surgeries and 10 years of abdominal surgery experience. Patients from Philadelphia simply leave a phone number to begin.
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