Tummy Tuck with Diastasis Repair in Zagreb
We remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen and repair separated muscles. We perform classic and mini tummy tucks, taking diastasis and post-pregnancy scars into account
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) tightens the front of the abdominal wall surgically, removing extra stretched skin and fat. It is not for weight loss and doesn't take the place of diet and exercise. The target is a flat abdomen: the overhanging skin-and-fat apron removed, separated rectus muscles repaired and a new navel created if needed.
People choose it when childbirth, a C-section or major weight loss leaves excess skin and diastasis, a separation of the rectus abdominis muscles. Diet and exercise won't fix it: stretched skin does not shrink, and separated muscles don't come together without surgery. Plan pregnancy 12 months or more later; surgery isn't done during 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 procedure starts with a horizontal incision above the pubic area; the amount of excess tissue decides its length. The scar line is designed to be covered by underwear and swimwear. The surgeon brings separated rectus muscles together, removes excess skin and fat, repositions the navel and places drains over 2–4 hours under general anaesthesia.
A good fit for marked excess skin, rectus diastasis and a C-section scar.
Mini tummy tuck with diastasis repair
The mini tummy tuck targets a narrower issue — correcting only the lower abdomen through a shorter incision, without moving the navel. It is used when excess skin is small and the main concern is diastasis or overhang above a C-section scar; recovery is then shorter. After assessing the abdominal muscles and skin at an in-person consultation, the surgeon chooses the technique.
Less trauma and a shorter recovery when the excess skin is minor.
How the surgery goes: from consultation to result
Surgeon consultation
The surgeon takes note of your wishes, examines you, evaluates fat deposits and rules out any contraindications. At City Medical Centre we also order hormone screening, which helps predict 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
2 weeks before, medicines affecting blood clotting are stopped. A week before — no alcohol or smoking, for faster healing. 8 hours before — the last meal.
Surgery day
You see the surgeon, who marks the skin, and compression garments are fitted. Under general anaesthesia the surgery lasts 2–4 hours.
Waking up and monitoring
After the operation, 1–3 days in hospital under medical supervision.
Recovery
A compression binder is worn for 1.5–2 months. Most swelling goes in 30 days, and office work is possible after 2–3 weeks. Final result — at 3 months.
Surgeon consultation
The surgeon takes note of your wishes, examines you, evaluates fat deposits and rules out any contraindications. At City Medical Centre we also order hormone screening, which helps predict 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
2 weeks before, medicines affecting blood clotting are stopped. A week before — no alcohol or smoking, for faster healing. 8 hours before — the last meal.
Surgery day
You see the surgeon, who marks the skin, and compression garments are fitted. Under general anaesthesia the surgery lasts 2–4 hours.
Waking up and monitoring
After the operation, 1–3 days in hospital under medical supervision.
Recovery
A compression binder is worn for 1.5–2 months. Most swelling goes in 30 days, and office work is possible after 2–3 weeks. Final result — at 3 months.
Post-op check-ups
At the clinic's expense until year-end: a post-surgery consultation with your surgeon to review your results and get more information
Who the surgery suits and who it doesn't
Please check with a clinic doctor if you live with chronic conditions!
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
Silhouette restoration 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, inflammatory skin conditions in the area to be treated, menstruation, use of anticoagulants
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 surgery the patient stays in hospital for 1–3 days under medical supervision. Drains are usually removed after two days and stitches after 7 days. A compression binder is worn for 1.5–2 months — it supports the abdominal wall and shapes a smooth contour. Most swelling goes within 30 days; office work resumes after 2–3 weeks. Sports, sauna and heavy lifting are off-limits for 2–3 months; at first, sleeping on your back with knees bent is advised. By 12 months the scar is fully mature: it fades and is barely noticeable.
Our specialists
Experienced plastic surgeons and doctors who value patients' health and beauty
Dr. Goncharova
Dermatovenereologist, trichologist, surgeon
11+ years of experience
Dr. Goncharova
Dermatovenereologist, trichologist, surgeon
11+ years of experience
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
Hormonal approach — before surgery an endocrinologist rules out hormonal causes of obesity, so the long-term result is more reliable
Combined procedures
Combine a tummy tuck with liposuction of the flanks and waist or with diastasis repair in a single operation — one anaesthesia and one recovery
Support until the result
Contact with the surgeon throughout recovery and a contract-fixed price without any 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 liposuction or diastasis repair be combined with a tummy tuck?
Yes, combining is allowed and extremely common. Liposuction of the waist and flanks is added to a tummy tuck, as is rectus diastasis repair after childbirth. With this combination, recovery is shorter, and the surgeon will tell you in person at a consultation how extensive the procedure will be.
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, there will be a scar: it's the unavoidable price of removing excess skin. For a classic tummy tuck the incision runs hip to hip across the lower abdomen, hidden below the underwear or swimsuit line, and for a mini tummy tuck it is much shorter. Over time the scar fades and grows thin.
Will the surgery remove stretch marks and sagging skin?
Exactly this is what the surgery does: sagging skin and the fat apron are removed completely, and stretch marks below the navel disappear with them. The surgeon brings the upper abdominal skin downward, so the tummy is smooth without an extra lift.
Is the surgery painful?
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.
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 only without contraindications. There is no upper limit at all: at our clinic each case is considered individually, after an examination and health assessment.
How does a mini tummy tuck differ from a classic one?
The difference comes down to the scope of surgery. A mini tummy tuck is done for a small excess of skin below the navel: the incision is shorter, the navel is not moved and recovery is faster. A classic one removes the skin-and-fat apron across the whole abdomen, involves moving the navel and allows diastasis repair along the full length of the muscles.
How long does recovery take?
There are three stages in recovery: you can return to office work after 2–3 weeks, swelling and tightness pass by 1.5–2 months, and at 6–12 months the final result and scar are assessed as the tissues fully adapt.
Will the result last with weight gain and after pregnancy?
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.
Do you need special preparation for surgery?
Yes, you must prepare. Stop smoking, alcohol and medicines affecting blood clotting 7–10 days before a tummy tuck. A pre-surgery check-up is required — blood tests, ECG, leg vein ultrasound, GP and anaesthetist consultations. Complete it ahead of time, not the day before.
When will the result be visible?
For everyone the answer is the same. The first changes appear 2 weeks after surgery as the main swelling subsides, followed by two checkpoints: the 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, it is needed: a classic tummy tuck requires 1–2 days in hospital under medical supervision, while one day is usually enough after a mini tummy tuck. You recover further at home, and the surgeon monitors progress 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, repair isn't for everyone: it is done only if the rectus abdominis muscles are truly separated. Diastasis is seen by the surgeon during the examination and, where there is doubt, confirmed with ultrasound. The muscles are brought together in the same surgery, without a separate procedure.
Can you plan a pregnancy after a tummy tuck?
Pregnancy is not forbidden after a tummy tuck, but the right order is childbirth first, then surgery. Otherwise skin and muscles stretch again, and part of the result is lost. The one piece of advice surgeons give: if a child is planned, wait at least a year after the procedure.
Do you have to wear compression garments, and for how long?
Yes, it is required — the garment supports the tissues and reduces swelling, so recovery is worse without it. It is worn around the clock for the first 3–4 weeks and during the day for about another month. The exact period will be named by the operating surgeon.
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Tummy tuck in Zagreb: techniques, stages and recovery
Abdominoplasty is often combined with other procedures. Liposuction of the flanks and waist can be added to shape the silhouette, and after childbirth rectus diastasis repair is included. One anaesthesia and one recovery period cover everything, and the surgeon decides the scope at an in-person consultation. This makes the operation a complete abdominal correction for patients from Zagreb.
In the classic operation the surgeon makes a horizontal incision above the pubic area, its length set by the amount of excess tissue. The separated rectus muscles are repaired, excess skin and fat are removed, the navel is repositioned and drains are placed. The mini version works only on the lower abdomen through a shorter incision. Patients from Zagreb are under general anaesthesia throughout.
How much is a tummy tuck in Zagreb? The answer comes at a free consultation: the surgeon examines the abdominal muscles and skin, chooses a classic or mini technique and decides whether diastasis repair or liposuction should be added. Only then is the price calculated and written into the contract. Send a request or message us in any messenger to get started.
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