City Medical Centre · multi-specialty surgery clinicOpen 24/7
EN
Message us on Telegram

Tummy tuck

Tummy Tuck with Diastasis Repair in Welkom

Free consultation

Price at consultation

The price is fixed in the contract before surgery

Real case
Tummy tuck: a patient's abdomen before and after surgery before after
A flat tummy and a toned silhouette in one operation. Your individual surgical plan and the expected result are discussed at the consultation

Message our coordinator

Free online consultation · Reply within 15 minutes

Message us on Telegram

By messaging us, you agree to our Privacy Policy

Results

Tummy tuck results
of our patients

All cases are real patients. Faces and identifying details are hidden.

Tummy tuck: a female patient's abdomen before and after surgerybeforeafter
Tummy tuck: a male patient's abdomen before and after surgerybeforeafter
Tummy tuck: a female patient's abdomen before and after surgerybeforeafter
Tummy tuck: a male patient's abdomen before and after surgerybeforeafter
Tummy tuck: a female patient's abdomen before and after surgerybeforeafter
Tummy tuck: a female patient's abdomen before and after surgerybeforeafter
Tummy tuck: a female patient's abdomen before and after surgerybeforeafter
Tummy tuck: a female patient's abdomen before and after surgerybeforeafter
1 of 8

Comparison

Tummy tuck techniques

A tummy tuck is done as a full (classic) or mini operation, or combined with liposuction as lipoabdominoplasty. Compare the scope of surgery, the indications and the expected results to choose the right technique together with your surgeon.

Tummy tuck

Removal of excess skin, abdominal muscle tightening

Tummy tuck diagram: the abdomen before surgery with the incision line, and the result
Main goal
Removal of excess skin, diastasis repair
When it is done
Excess skin after childbirth or weight loss
Anaesthesia and stay
General anaesthesia, up to 3 days in hospital

Lipoabdominoplasty

Tummy tuck with added liposuction

Lipoabdominoplasty diagram: the abdomen with fat on the flanks before surgery, and the result
Main goal
Tummy tightening and waist contouring
When it is done
For fat deposits on the flanks and waist
Anaesthesia and stay
General anaesthesia, up to 3 days in hospital

The benefits and recovery times shown are averaged for each technique and given for guidance: the scope of correction and rehabilitation depend on your anatomy and individual features, and the surgeon confirms them at the consultation.

At the consultation the surgeon draws up a plan for your case and explains how your tummy tuck will go.

Free, before surgery and with no obligation.

Book a consultation

Tummy tuck from the inside

Book a consultation

About the clinic

A clinic where you can feel at ease

Modern equipment, comfortable rooms and care for every patient

A doctor and a patient in a clinic ward

Contact us the way that suits you

We will answer your questions and find a convenient time for a consultation

A tummy tuck is not for everyone

If your case can be solved without surgery, the doctor will tell you so at the consultation — and you will not spend money for nothing.

Suitable

A surgeon shows a patient on a model and a monitor how the abdominal contour changes after a tummy tuck
  • Rectus abdominis diastasis
  • Skin folds after weight loss
  • Loose abdominal skin
  • Stretched skin after pregnancy
  • A distorted abdominal contour

Not suitable

A surgeon discusses the indications and contraindications for a tummy tuck with a patient
  • Acute infections
  • Severe heart, kidney or liver conditions
  • Problems with blood clotting
  • Age below 18
  • Decompensated diabetes
  • Cancer
  • Skin inflammation in the surgical area
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Not sure the surgery is right for you?

Message us — the coordinator will ask for your photos in the messenger, and the surgeon will tell you whether a tummy tuck suits you. No surgery booking needed.

Find out if it suits me
A surgeon goes through a tummy tuck diagram with a patient at the consultation

Prices

You know the price
before surgery

The price is set at the consultation and fixed in the contract.

Other services

  • First consultationFree
  • Liposuction of the abdomen and flanksfrom $1,700
Book a consultation

Find out your tummy tuck plan and price

The surgeon assesses your abdominal skin and muscles, listens to your wishes and chooses the right correction technique.
The price is set at the consultation and fixed in the contract.

A nurse talks to a patient in a clinic ward

Message our coordinator

Free online consultation · Reply within 15 minutes

Message us on Telegram

By messaging us, you agree to our Privacy Policy

A patient's abdomen before a tummy tuck in the operating room

all inclusive

What the price includes

From preparation for surgery
to post-op check-ups.

  • All scheduled dressings
  • Scheduled post-op check-ups
  • A personal coordinator on call
  • Compression garments fitted on the day of surgery
  • A stay in a comfortable
    hospital ward with meals
  • Individual recommendations
    for recovery
  • Remote progress monitoring
    by photos
Book a consultation

How it works

Three days at the clinic —
from preparation to discharge

An agreed correction plan, inpatient observation and post-op check-ups.

A doctor shows a patient a tummy tuck diagram on a monitor1

Consultation
and the surgical plan

The surgeon assesses your abdominal skin and muscles and checks for diastasis, listens to your wishes and chooses the right correction technique.

Paying the deposit by card at the clinic reception2

Booking the date
of surgery

We reserve a surgery date for you: the deposit can be paid by card at the clinic or online by bank transfer. The terms are fixed in the contract for medical services

A blood sample tube for tests before a tummy tuck3

Check-up before
surgery

Before surgery you complete a full lab check-up: blood tests, an ECG, a chest X-ray and reports from the required specialists.

The surgical team during the operation4

Surgery

The surgeon performs the tummy tuck with the chosen technique, repairs diastasis if needed and shapes a firmer abdominal contour.

A hospital ward at the clinic5

Inpatient stay

After surgery the patient stays for 1–3 days in a comfortable hospital ward with meals, under medical supervision.

A surgeon and a patient in the ward during recovery6

Recovery

After surgery you get a recovery programme. Check-ups at 7 days, 3 and 6 months help track your recovery.

Book a free consultation — the surgeon will plan every step with you.

A doctor discusses the tummy tuck plan with a patient
Book a consultation
A doctor discusses the tummy tuck plan with a patient

How it really happens

Book a consultation

After a tummy tuck: recovery

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.

Post-op check-ups

After 7 days, at 3 months and at 6 months. 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

Advantages

What makes patients choose City Medical Centre

A surgeon discusses the tummy tuck plan with a patient at the consultation

Just find out — you lose nothing

At the consultation we discuss your wishes and assess your abdominal skin and muscles. The surgeon explains what changes are possible, chooses the correction technique and answers your questions.

A surgeon on a video call with a patient after surgery

We stay with you after surgery

The surgeon follows your recovery and the changing abdominal contour at check-ups after 7 days, 3 and 6 months. Check-ups, dressings and aftercare advice are already included in the price of surgery.

A surgeon shows a patient a model and tummy tuck diagrams

A beautiful contour that fits your figure

We choose the correction technique based on your skin, muscles and figure. Our aim is a harmonious abdominal contour that keeps the natural proportions of your body.

A patient writes down a convenient visit time in her planner

Your schedule is our priority

We respect your time: we work 24/7, with easy booking and a personal approach — we adapt to your pace.

A surgeon shows a patient the fixed price of surgery with no extra charges

Fixed prices

After the consultation the surgeon defines the extent of correction, and you get a clear price for the surgery — no surprises on the way to the result you want.

A surgeon visits a patient in the hospital ward after surgery

Round-the-clock care after surgery

Recovery starts in a comfortable hospital ward under round-the-clock nursing care. The stay and meals are already included in the price.

FAQ

We answer what
people ask before booking

Other services of our clinic

Classic or mini tummy tuck in Welkom

Timing matters with abdominoplasty. Because pregnancy stretches the repaired muscles again, surgeons advise having it once your family is complete and planning a pregnancy no earlier than a year afterwards. It is also done only at a stable weight: if yours is still changing, a dietitian or endocrinologist comes first. Women in Welkom thinking about the procedure after childbirth should keep this order in mind.

It all begins with a surgeon consultation: the doctor listens to your wishes, examines the abdomen and rules out contraindications, and a hormone screening is ordered to help predict the long-term result. Patients from Welkom then complete a check-up: blood tests including a coagulation panel, biochemistry and infections, ECG and chest X-ray, all available at the clinic with no waiting.

Combining procedures can make the plan more efficient: a tummy tuck with flank and waist liposuction or diastasis repair is done under one anaesthesia with one recovery period. The price for such a combination, as for a standalone operation, is set after a free consultation and fixed in the contract. People in Welkom can book that consultation through the form or any messenger.

Welkom, the Circle City, and why a tummy tuck is planned here with care

Welkom sits in the Free State province, about 140 kilometres northeast of Bloemfontein. It is known as Circle City and City Within A Garden, and its Sesotho name, Matjhabeng, means where nations meet. A town that grew around the gold fields and was proclaimed in 1948 has a practical, hardworking character. People here tend to plan their lives around shifts, school terms, farm seasons and family obligations. A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) fits that way of thinking only when it is planned like a project, with dates, helpers and a clear recovery programme.

Many residents ask us the same first question: can I arrange this without leaving my everyday life for long? The honest answer starts with the medical frame. The operation is done under general anaesthesia, the stay in hospital is up to 3 days, and a return to office work is usually possible after 2–3 weeks. Those figures are the backbone of every plan we build with patients from Welkom.

The consultation itself starts from your own home. City Medical Centre offers a free online consultation, and coordinators answer on Telegram and Telegram 24/7. You can send questions after a night shift or in the evening when the house is quiet, without arranging time off for a first conversation.

The city, its people and what patients here usually ask

According to the 2011 census, Welkom proper had a population of 64,130 people in an area of 167.55 square kilometres. Of those inhabitants, 60.7% described themselves as Black African, 26.9% as White, 11.1% as Coloured and 0.9% as Indian or Asian. This mix of backgrounds is reflected in how people talk about body image, privacy and family expectations, and we meet each patient where they are, with no single template for motivation.

The questions from Welkom tend to be concrete. Women after pregnancies ask whether loose skin and stretched abdominal tissue can be corrected in one operation. People who lost a lot of weight ask what to expect from the skin afterwards. Some ask whether a mini tummy tuck is enough, and the answer depends on the examination, since a mini version usually needs only one day in hospital while the classic operation means 1–3 days under medical supervision.

Others ask about scars, about how long they will feel tight, and about who will look after them once they are home. These are good questions, and the remote consultation is the place to put all of them, ideally written down beforehand so nothing is forgotten.

Climate in Welkom and how it shapes recovery

Welkom normally receives about 401 mm to 550 mm of rain per year, with most of it falling in mid-summer. January is the wettest month at about 70 mm, while July receives none. Average daily maximum temperatures run from 17 °C in June to 29 °C in January, and in July the nights drop to about 0 °C on average. A recovery period therefore looks very different depending on the month you choose.

In the warm months, heat is the main concern. Compression garments are required after the operation: they support the tissues and reduce swelling, and recovery is worse without them. For the first 3–4 weeks the garment stays on around the clock, then during the daytime for roughly a month more. In a hot January week this can be uncomfortable, so breathable clothing, shade, enough fluids and a cool room matter. Sun on the healing area should be avoided, and tanning beds are out for at least a month.

In the cold season, the opposite applies. Cold mornings and nights make it tempting to hurry about in the house, lift heavy blankets or carry wood or heaters. Loose, layered clothing over the compression garment keeps you warm without forcing you to bend or strain. Rainy summer afternoons, by contrast, are well suited to staying indoors and resting, which is exactly what the first weeks call for.

Choosing the season for the operation

There is no single correct month, only a month that suits your household. Winter, with maximum temperatures near 17 °C in June, is comfortable for wearing a compression garment all day and night during the first 3–4 weeks. Dry July weather also means fewer wet, slippery days when you have to go out for check-ups or shopping. The cold nights, though, call for warm bedding that does not need to be lifted or tucked in with sudden movements.

Summer, from a heat point of view, asks for more planning, but it also brings the long school holiday, when relatives are often at home and can help with children and cooking. If you choose summer, plan for rest indoors, shade and cool clothing, and keep away from direct sun and from the pool: pool, sauna, steam bath, tanning beds, alcohol and smoking are out for at least a month.

Whichever season you pick, work backwards from the milestones. Stop smoking, alcohol and medicines that affect blood clotting 7–10 days before. Complete the pre-surgery check-up in advance, because tests usually stay valid for 10–14 days. Then leave room for the first 2–3 weeks of reduced activity, and do not schedule a wedding, a funeral trip across the province or a big family event in that window.

Work, study and daily life in a mining and farming region

Welkom grew out of gold mining, and the surrounding region is part of the Maize Triangle, a major producer of maize, sunflowers, poultry and beef cattle. That means many local jobs are physical: shift work, driving, handling goods, farm and agricultural labour. After a tummy tuck, the rule for everyone is the same: for the first 2–3 weeks you avoid physical exertion, heavy lifting and sudden movements. Office work is realistic after 2–3 weeks, but a heavy manual role needs a longer, individual discussion with the surgeon.

If you work in an office, a school, a municipal service or administration, you can usually plan around the 2–3 weeks mentioned above. Tell your employer early, arrange for someone to cover urgent tasks and ask about a medical certificate. If you drive long distances for work, ask the surgeon when it is safe for you to sit for long periods and to use seat belts comfortably.

Students at the local technical colleges, the nursing college and the university satellite campus have a different calendar. Lectures and practicals can often be rescheduled around a quiet period, and the weeks after exams or at the start of a long break are a natural fit. Carrying a heavy bag of books is a form of lifting, so plan for a light load or a trolley until the surgeon says otherwise.

Sport, rugby culture and getting back to activity

Welkom has a strong sporting identity. The city has produced Springbok rugby players, cricketers, footballers and athletes, and school and club sport is part of weekly life. Motor sport is also part of the picture, with the Phakisa Freeway between Welkom and Odendaalsrus, an international-standard facility that hosted the MotoGP South African Grand Prix from 1999 to 2004. For a sporting community, the question about sport after surgery is often the most urgent one.

The answer is gradual. Physical exertion is avoided for the first 2–3 weeks. After that, sport is resumed step by step and only with the surgeon's approval, and compression garments are worn for another 4–8 weeks. Contact sport, such as weekend rugby, and any activity with sudden twisting or impact should not be restarted on your own timetable. Walking is a sensible way to begin once the surgeon agrees, long before anything demanding.

If you coach, referee or support a team, you can still be at the field in a calm role once you feel ready, but standing for long hours in the sun is better postponed. Discuss with the surgeon how swelling and tightness behave: by 1.5–2 months they usually pass, and at 6–12 months the tissues are fully adapted and the final result and scar are assessed.

Family events, food culture and the weeks at home

Family gatherings in Welkom often centre on food: braais on weekends, shared meals, celebrations and long Sunday lunches. A tummy tuck does not need a special diet in the figures we may quote, but it does ask you to be sensible. Alcohol is out for at least a month, so a braai with friends is a social occasion to attend without drinking, or to skip. Smoking is also excluded for at least a month.

Plan your kitchen before the operation. Prepare meals in advance, keep everyday items at waist height so you do not need to bend or reach, and ask relatives to carry shopping and heavy pots. During your stay in the comfortable hospital ward, meals are provided and you are under medical supervision, but at home the household has to take over cooking and lifting.

If you have small children, arrange who will pick them up and carry them during the first 2–3 weeks, since lifting is not allowed. If a family event falls in the early recovery period, it is better to attend briefly in comfortable clothing than to take an active part. Think of recovery as a family project: those closest to you need to know the rules as well as you do.

Who is a candidate, who is not, and how preparation works

You must be at least 18 and have no contraindications. There is no upper age limit; each case is considered individually after an examination and a health assessment. In general terms, a tummy tuck is aimed at loose skin and a stretched abdominal wall, for example after pregnancy or major weight change. It is not a weight-loss method. The World Health Organization treats overweight and obesity as a health matter in their own right, and a surgeon will want to discuss your general health and weight history first.

Preparation is a must. Stop smoking, drinking alcohol and taking medicines that affect blood clotting 7–10 days before the operation. The pre-surgery check-up covers blood tests, ECG, leg vein ultrasound and consultations with a GP and an anaesthetist. The usual list includes blood and urine tests, a coagulation panel, biochemistry, infection tests, ECG, a chest X-ray, ultrasound of the leg veins and a GP's report. The exact list comes from the surgeon at the consultation.

For someone in Welkom, the check-up can be organised with the help of a local GP and the public or private health services available in the city, which include hospitals, specialised clinics and primary care clinics. Do it in advance, not the day before, and remember that tests usually stay valid for 10–14 days, so time them to match your planned date.

How the remote consultation from Welkom works

The first step is free and happens online. You write to the coordinators on Telegram or Telegram, who work 24/7 with easy booking and a personal approach, and they adapt to your pace. You can send photographs, describe your history and list your questions. The surgeon then reviews your case and explains what is realistic, whether a classic or a mini tummy tuck is more suitable, and what examinations you need.

A useful set of questions for the surgeon: how will my scar sit, and how will it be assessed at 6–12 months? How long do I wear the compression garment, given the weather in my month of surgery? When can I go back to my job, given what it involves? Which medicines must I stop, and when? What do I do if swelling or tightness worries me between check-ups?

After the operation you receive a recovery programme. Check-ups at 7 days, 3 and 6 months help track your recovery, and the surgeon follows your recovery and the changing abdominal contour at these appointments. Check-ups, dressings and aftercare advice are already included in the cost of surgery. Until the end of the year you can also get a post-surgery consultation with your surgeon to review results and get more information, at the clinic's expense.

Questions to settle with your household before booking in Welkom

A tummy tuck in Welkom is easiest when the people around you understand the plan before the date is fixed. Sit down with your husband or wife, a parent or a close friend and go through the medical frame together: general anaesthesia, up to 3 days in hospital, and a return to office work after 2–3 weeks. Then ask who can be at home in the first days, who can cook, who can take children to school and who can carry shopping.

Practical details matter more than they seem. Decide where you will sleep, how you will get in and out of bed without sudden movements, and where the compression garment, dressings and medicines will be kept. In a city that is spread out and built around the car, think also about who will drive you to check-ups and errands while you avoid physical exertion.

Write your questions down and bring them to the online consultation. The coordinators answer on Telegram and Telegram around the clock, so a question that comes to you late in the evening can be sent at once and answered without waiting for a working day.

Realistic expectations and the question of weight

Patients from Welkom often ask whether this operation can replace diet and exercise. It cannot. A tummy tuck corrects loose skin and a stretched abdominal wall and reshapes the abdominal contour; it is not a way to lose weight. The World Health Organization describes overweight and obesity as a condition linked to many health problems, so a surgeon will usually look at your weight history and general health before agreeing to operate.

If your weight is still changing, or you plan another pregnancy, say so at the consultation. The surgeon will explain how this may affect the timing and the result, and may advise waiting. This is a normal part of an honest assessment, not a refusal.

Remember also that the result develops over time. The first changes appear 2 weeks after surgery, the interim result at 1.5–2 months, and the final contours and scar are assessed at 6–12 months. Judging the outcome in the first weeks, when swelling is still present, leads to unnecessary worry.

Rainy afternoons, dust and everyday hygiene during recovery

Welkom has most of its rain in mid-summer, and dry, cool weather in the winter months. Both patterns affect everyday care. In the wet season, floors and steps outside can be slippery, so wear stable footwear and avoid hurrying; a slip or a sudden twist is exactly the kind of movement the first weeks ask you to avoid.

In the dry season, keep the home tidy and the bedding clean, and follow the surgeon's advice on dressings and wound care. Dressings and aftercare advice are included at the check-ups, so you do not have to improvise. If something looks unusual between appointments, write to the coordinators and they will pass your message on to the surgeon.

Washing, dressing and moving around should all be done calmly. Keep frequently used items within easy reach, avoid bending sharply, and rest whenever you feel tired. Pool, sauna and steam bath stay off the list for at least a month, whatever the weather.

Recovery milestones, week by week, in Welkom terms

The first changes appear 2 weeks after surgery, as the main swelling subsides. Three milestones mark recovery: after 2–3 weeks you can do office work, by 1.5–2 months swelling and tightness pass, and at 6–12 months, with the tissues fully adapted, the final result and scar are assessed. The interim result comes at 1.5–2 months and the final contours at 6–12 months.

In practice, this means that a patient who has the operation in the cold, dry months will be at the interim stage in spring, while one who has it in summer will pass through the same stage in cooler weather. Neither is better; what matters is that you do not judge the result too early. Swelling can make the abdomen look different from day to day, and the surgeon explains this at the check-ups.

Keep a simple calendar. Mark the check-ups at 7 days, 3 months and 6 months, the end of the 2–3 weeks without exertion, the end of the month without sauna, pool, alcohol and smoking, and the end of the compression period. Seeing them on the wall of your kitchen helps the whole household keep to the plan.

Can I have the first consultation without leaving Welkom?

Yes. The first consultation is free and online. You contact the coordinators on Telegram or Telegram, who are available 24/7, send your questions and photographs, and the surgeon reviews your case remotely.

How long will I be in hospital after a tummy tuck?

A classic tummy tuck means 1–3 days under medical supervision in a comfortable ward with meals, and up to 3 days in hospital in total. For a mini tummy tuck, one day is usually enough. Recovery then continues at home, with the surgeon monitoring it at scheduled check-ups.

When can I go back to work?

Office work is possible after 2–3 weeks. If your job involves heavy lifting or physical exertion, as many jobs in mining and farming regions do, discuss it with the surgeon, because exertion, heavy lifting and sudden movements are avoided for the first 2–3 weeks.

Is the compression garment really necessary in the heat?

Yes, it is a requirement. Recovery is worse without it because it supports the tissues and reduces swelling. For 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. In hot weather, choose breathable clothing and stay in the shade.

When can I return to sport such as rugby, running or the gym?

Sport is resumed gradually and with the surgeon's approval only. For the first 2–3 weeks you avoid physical exertion, and compression garments are worn for another 4–8 weeks. Pool, sauna, steam bath and tanning beds are out for at least a month.

What tests do I need before the operation?

The list is the same for everyone: blood and urine tests, a coagulation panel, biochemistry, infection tests, ECG, a chest X-ray, ultrasound of the leg veins and a GP's report. The surgeon gives you the exact list at the consultation, and tests usually stay valid for 10–14 days.

How should I prepare in the weeks before?

Preparation is a must. Stop smoking, drinking alcohol and taking medicines that affect blood clotting 7–10 days before the operation. Complete the pre-surgery check-up in advance, not the day before, including consultations with a GP and an anaesthetist.

When will I see the result?

The first changes appear 2 weeks after surgery as the main swelling subsides. The interim result comes at 1.5–2 months and the final contours at 6–12 months, when the tissues are fully adapted and the scar is assessed.

Is there an age limit?

You must be at least 18, with no contraindications. There is no upper limit; each case is considered individually after an examination and a health assessment.

What follow-up do I get after the operation?

You receive a recovery programme, and check-ups at 7 days, 3 months and 6 months help track your recovery. Dressings and aftercare advice are included, and until the end of the year you can get a post-surgery consultation with your surgeon.

Can a tummy tuck replace weight loss?

No. It corrects loose skin and a stretched abdominal wall and reshapes the contour. Your surgeon will review your weight history and general health at the consultation.

Who can help me at home in Welkom after the operation?

Arrange a spouse, relative or friend before the date is set. You avoid physical exertion, heavy lifting and sudden movements for the first 2–3 weeks, so help with cooking, children and shopping is very useful.

Can I message the coordinators late in the evening?

Yes. Coordinators are available on Telegram and Telegram 24/7, so you can send questions at any hour and continue at your own pace.