Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) in Thembisa
We repair separated muscles and remove extra skin and fat from the abdomen, performing classic and mini tummy tucks with diastasis and pregnancy scars in mind
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?
In a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) the surgeon tightens the front abdominal wall and removes stretched excess skin and fat. It does not replace diet and exercise and is not for weight loss. What it gives is a flat abdominal contour: no overhanging skin-and-fat apron, repaired separated rectus muscles and, if needed, a new navel.
It is chosen when excess skin and diastasis — separation of the rectus abdominis muscles — remain after childbirth, a C-section or major weight loss. Diet and exercise cannot fix this: stretched skin does not shrink, and separated muscles do not come back together without surgery. Pregnancy should be planned 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
A classic tummy tuck opens with a horizontal incision above the pubic area, sized to the amount of excess tissue. The scar line is planned to sit under underwear and swimwear. Separated rectus muscles are repaired, excess skin and fat removed, the navel repositioned and drains placed; the surgery takes 2–4 hours under general anaesthesia.
Suitable for marked excess skin, diastasis and a C-section scar.
Mini tummy tuck with diastasis repair
The mini version addresses a narrower issue: the lower abdomen alone is corrected, the incision is shorter, and the navel remains where it is. It fits a small excess of skin when the main problem is diastasis or an overhang above a C-section scar, and recovery is shorter. At an in-person consultation the surgeon assesses the abdominal muscles and skin and chooses the technique.
Shorter recovery and less trauma where excess skin is minor.
How the surgery goes: from consultation to result
Surgeon consultation
The surgeon listens to you, performs an examination, assesses fat deposits and rules out contraindications. At City Medical Centre there is also a hormone screening — useful for predicting 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
Stop blood-clotting medicines 2 weeks before; stop alcohol and smoking a week before for faster healing; eat the last meal 8 hours before.
Surgery day
On the day: meeting the surgeon, skin marking, fitting of compression garments. Then 2–4 hours of surgery under general anaesthesia.
Waking up and monitoring
Medical supervision in hospital continues for 1–3 days after the surgery.
Recovery
A compression binder for 1.5–2 months; most swelling disappears within 30 days; office work after 2–3 weeks; final result assessed at 3 months.
Surgeon consultation
The surgeon listens to you, performs an examination, assesses fat deposits and rules out contraindications. At City Medical Centre there is also a hormone screening — useful for predicting 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
Stop blood-clotting medicines 2 weeks before; stop alcohol and smoking a week before for faster healing; eat the last meal 8 hours before.
Surgery day
On the day: meeting the surgeon, skin marking, fitting of compression garments. Then 2–4 hours of surgery under general anaesthesia.
Waking up and monitoring
Medical supervision in hospital continues for 1–3 days after the surgery.
Recovery
A compression binder for 1.5–2 months; most swelling disappears within 30 days; office work after 2–3 weeks; final result assessed at 3 months.
Post-op check-ups
Until the end of the year, see your surgeon after surgery to review results and get more information, at the clinic's expense
Who the surgery suits and who it doesn't
Chronic conditions? Please seek a consultation with a clinic doctor!
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
Getting your silhouette back 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 infections, skin inflammation in the treated area, menstruation, anticoagulant therapy
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
Right after the operation, 1–3 days in hospital under medical supervision. Drains usually come out after two days and stitches after 7 days. The compression binder stays on for 1.5–2 months, supporting the abdominal wall and shaping a smooth contour. Most swelling passes within 30 days, and you can go back to office work after 2–3 weeks. Sport, sauna and heavy lifting are ruled out for 2–3 months; it's advised to sleep on your back with knees bent early on. After 12 months the scar is fully mature — faded and barely noticeable.
Our specialists
Our experienced plastic surgeons and doctors care about 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
Before surgery an endocrinologist rules out hormonal causes of obesity — this hormonal approach makes 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
Your surgeon remains available during the whole recovery, and the contract sets the price — 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 very common in practice. Flank and waist liposuction is added to a tummy tuck, and after childbirth rectus diastasis repair. Recovery with such a combination is shorter, and at an in-person consultation the surgeon will tell you how extensive the procedure will be.
Is a tummy tuck a way to lose weight?
No, it won't make you lose weight. It has a different aim — to take away excess stretched skin and the fat apron and rebuild the abdominal muscle wall. The operation is done at a stable weight; if your weight is still shifting, see a dietitian or endocrinologist first.
Will there be a scar after surgery?
Yes, there will be a scar — the unavoidable price of removing excess skin. In a classic tummy tuck the incision runs across the lower abdomen from hip to hip and sits below the underwear or swimsuit line; in a mini tummy tuck it is much shorter. Over time the scar fades and becomes thin.
Will the surgery remove stretch marks and sagging skin?
That is exactly the purpose of the surgery: sagging skin and the fat apron are removed entirely, along with stretch marks below the navel. The upper abdominal skin is pulled downward by the surgeon, leaving a smooth tummy with no extra lift needed.
Is the surgery painful?
No, there's no pain in the procedure: with general anaesthesia for a tummy tuck, nothing is felt. The first days bring tightness and soreness that painkillers prescribed by the doctor relieve, and the discomfort eases noticeably by the end of the first week.
What should you avoid after a tummy tuck?
Everyone has the same restrictions after a tummy tuck: for the first 2–3 weeks, no physical exertion, heavy lifting or sudden movements, and for at least a month, no sauna, steam bath, pool, tanning beds, alcohol or smoking. Sport comes back gradually and only with the surgeon's approval. Compression garments are worn for another 4–8 weeks.
At what age can a tummy tuck be done, and is there an upper limit?
From 18, and only without contraindications. As for an upper limit, there is none: our clinic considers every case individually after an examination and health assessment.
How does a mini tummy tuck differ from a classic one?
The difference lies in how extensive the surgery is. A mini tummy tuck is done when there is a small excess of skin below the navel: shorter incision, no moving of the navel, faster recovery. The classic one removes the skin-and-fat apron over the whole abdomen, includes moving the navel and allows repair of diastasis along the full length of the muscles.
How long does recovery take?
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.
Will the result last with weight gain and after pregnancy?
The removed skin does not grow back, so this part of the result lasts permanently. Your abdomen will stretch again only if you gain significant weight, so keep your weight stable. After a tummy tuck pregnancy is possible, yet it stretches the repaired muscles, and so surgery is planned when your family is complete.
Do you need special preparation for surgery?
Yes, preparation is required. 7–10 days before a tummy tuck, stop smoking, alcohol and medicines that affect blood clotting. A pre-surgery check-up is needed: blood tests, ECG, leg vein ultrasound, and GP and anaesthetist consultations. Complete it in advance, not the day before.
When will the result be visible?
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, 3–6 months — the final contours.
Do you need to stay in hospital, and for how long?
Yes — hospital stay is needed: 1–2 days under medical supervision after a classic tummy tuck, and one day is usually enough after a mini. Recovery continues at home, with the surgeon monitoring it at scheduled check-ups.
What tests are needed before surgery?
Before a tummy tuck, the list is identical for all: blood and urine tests, 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 diastasis always repaired during a tummy tuck?
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.
Can you plan a pregnancy after a tummy tuck?
Pregnancy after a tummy tuck is not prohibited, yet the sequence matters: childbirth first, surgery second. Otherwise skin and muscles stretch once more and part of the result is lost. Surgeons advise one thing: planning 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 it is worn around the clock, then for about another month during the day. The operating surgeon will name the exact period.
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What Thembisa residents ask about a tummy tuck
A tummy tuck, or 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 or exercise. For patients from Thembisa, the goal is a flat abdominal contour: removing the overhanging skin-and-fat apron, repairing separated rectus muscles and, where needed, creating a new navel.
Recovery has three milestones. Office work is possible after 2–3 weeks, swelling and tightness pass by 1.5–2 months, and the final result and scar are assessed at 6–12 months once tissues have adapted. Most swelling goes within 30 days. Sport, sauna and heavy lifting wait 2–3 months, and sleeping on your back with knees bent is advised at first. The same timeline applies to Thembisa patients.
Start with a free consultation for a tummy tuck in Thembisa. 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!