Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) — a firm tummy without diastasis or an apron of skin
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) 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 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
The classic operation starts with a horizontal incision above the pubic area; its length depends on the amount of excess tissue. The scar line is planned so 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.
Suits marked excess skin, rectus diastasis and a C-section scar.
Mini tummy tuck with diastasis repair
A mini tummy tuck addresses a narrower issue: only the lower abdomen is corrected, the incision is shorter and the navel is not moved. It is used for a small amount of excess skin when the main concern is diastasis or overhang above a C-section scar; recovery is then shorter. The surgeon chooses the technique at an in-person consultation after assessing the abdominal muscles and skin.
Less trauma and a shorter recovery when excess skin is minor.
How the surgery goes: from consultation to result
Surgeon consultation
The surgeon listens to your wishes, examines you, assesses fat deposits and rules out contraindications. At City Medical Centre a hormone screening is also ordered — it helps predict the long-term result.
Pre-surgery check-up
Blood tests (complete count, coagulation panel, biochemistry, infections — HIV, hepatitis, syphilis), ECG, chest X-ray and, if needed, a GP consultation.
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
Meeting the surgeon, skin marking and fitting of compression garments. The surgery is under general anaesthesia and lasts 2–4 hours.
Waking up and monitoring
After surgery the patient stays in hospital under medical supervision for 1–3 days.
Recovery
Compression binder — 1.5–2 months. Most swelling goes within 30 days; office work resumes after 2–3 weeks. The final result is assessed at 3 months.
Surgeon consultation
The surgeon listens to your wishes, examines you, assesses fat deposits and rules out contraindications. At City Medical Centre a hormone screening is also ordered — it helps predict the long-term result.
Pre-surgery check-up
Blood tests (complete count, coagulation panel, biochemistry, infections — HIV, hepatitis, syphilis), ECG, chest X-ray and, if needed, a GP consultation.
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
Meeting the surgeon, skin marking and fitting of compression garments. The surgery is under general anaesthesia and lasts 2–4 hours.
Waking up and monitoring
After surgery the patient stays in hospital under medical supervision for 1–3 days.
Recovery
Compression binder — 1.5–2 months. Most swelling goes within 30 days; office work resumes after 2–3 weeks. The final result is assessed at 3 months.
Post-op check-ups
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
Who the surgery suits and who it doesn't
Please consult a clinic doctor if you have 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
Restoring the silhouette 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 treated area, menstruation, anticoagulant use
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 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
Hormonal approach: before surgery an endocrinologist rules out hormonal causes of obesity, making the long-term result more reliable
Combined procedures
A tummy tuck can be combined with liposuction of the flanks and waist or diastasis repair in one operation — one anaesthesia and one recovery period
Support until the result
The surgeon stays in touch throughout recovery, and the price is fixed in the contract with 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 a tummy tuck be combined with liposuction or diastasis repair?
Yes, combining is allowed and is very common in practice. Liposuction of the flanks and waist is added to a tummy tuck, and after childbirth — repair of rectus diastasis. Recovery with such a combination is shorter, and the surgeon will tell you at an in-person 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 — 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?
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.
Is the surgery painful?
No, the patient feels no pain during the procedure: a tummy tuck is done under general anaesthesia, so nothing is felt. 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.
What should you avoid after a tummy tuck?
The restrictions after a tummy tuck are the same for everyone. For the first 2–3 weeks, no physical exertion, heavy lifting or sudden movements. Sauna, steam bath, pool, tanning beds, alcohol and smoking are off-limits for at least a month. Sport resumes gradually and only with the surgeon's approval. Compression garments are worn for another 4–8 weeks.
From what age is a tummy tuck done, and is there an upper limit?
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?
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 the tissues have fully adapted.
Will the result last with weight gain and after pregnancy?
Removed skin does not grow back — that part of the result is permanent. The abdomen will stretch again only with significant weight gain, so keep your weight stable. Pregnancy after a tummy tuck is possible, but it stretches the repaired muscles, so surgery is planned once 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, 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 everyone needs a repair: it is done only when the rectus abdominis muscles are actually separated. The surgeon sees diastasis at the examination, and if in doubt it is confirmed by ultrasound. The separated muscles are brought together during the same surgery, with no separate procedure 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 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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