Clinical Lead
Meva Clinic Plastic Surgery Care Team
Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
Individual planning for excess abdominal skin after pregnancy or weight loss, with a specialist assessment and coordinated treatment stages in Istanbul.
Meva Clinic Plastic Surgery Care Team
Patient Care Information
Patient Care Information
"Our clinical approach prioritizes patient safety, individualized treatment planning, realistic expectations, and long-term follow-up throughout the international care journey."
About This Procedure
Why Choose Meva Clinic?
Individual planning for excess abdominal skin after pregnancy or weight loss, with a specialist assessment and coordinated treatment stages in Istanbul.
Loose lower-belly skin and a rounded abdomen that core training never flattens often point to stretched skin and separated abdominal muscles, known as diastasis recti. A tummy tuck in Istanbul addresses both: the surgeon tightens the muscle wall with internal stitches (plication) and removes the excess skin. It suits women after pregnancy and patients with an overhanging skin fold after major weight loss. During planning, the surgeon chooses between a full or smaller procedure and places the scar low, so underwear can usually cover it. Expect about 2 nights in the partner hospital and 7 in the hotel, wearing a compression garment. Desk work typically resumes after around 14 days. If your breasts are also a concern, read about the Mommy Makeover.
Patient Care Information
Meva Clinic Plastic Surgery Care Team
Aesthetic & Body Contouring Pathway Guidance
This content is maintained by Meva Clinic’s Clinical Care Team for patient guidance and clinical transparency. Final treatment suitability, operating physician assignment, surgical planning, and medical decisions are confirmed only after medical history review, in-person consultation, diagnostic tests, anesthesia evaluation, and doctor availability.
Is This Treatment for Me?
Excess skin and a lax abdominal wall after pregnancy or weight loss.
Separation of the rectus abdominis muscles (diastasis) that needs a specialist surgical assessment.
A stable body weight and a wish to reshape the abdominal area.
You understand that the extent of the procedure, the scars and the recovery are decided individually.
Comprehensive International Patient Care Plan
Private Airport Transfer
Partner Hospital Stay & Recovery
Dedicated Nursing Support
Post-Surgical Compression Garment
Structured Follow-up Care
The Clinical Procedure
Muscle plication and surgical excision of sagging skin.
Assessment and marking while standing
The surgeon confirms whether a full or smaller tummy tuck suits you, then marks the low incision line and the skin to be removed while you stand.
General anaesthesia
The operation is performed under general anaesthesia, given and monitored throughout by a specialist anaesthetist at the partner hospital.
Low incision and removal of excess skin
A horizontal incision is made low, roughly from hip to hip along the bikini line, and the loose lower-belly skin and fat are removed according to the surgical plan.
Muscle repair for diastasis
When the rectus muscles have separated, they are stitched back together along the midline (plication) to firm the abdominal wall, if your surgeon finds it clinically indicated.
Closure and navel positioning
The remaining skin is redraped and closed in layers with fine stitches. In a full tummy tuck the navel is brought out through a new opening; small drains may be placed.
Compression and first checks
You wake up in a compression garment and are monitored in the hospital, starting short walks slightly bent forward, with a dressing check before discharge.
Recovery & Transformation Journey
Phase 1: Days 1–2 (hospital)
Monitoring and pain control in the partner hospital. You walk short distances slightly bent forward from the first day and wear the compression garment; drains, if placed, are checked daily.
Phase 2: Days 3–9 (Istanbul hotel)
Rest with short daily walks. Wound care instructions, drain removal once output is low, and the post-op check that confirms you are fit to fly home.
Phase 3: Weeks 2–6 (at home)
Desk work typically resumes after around 14 days. The compression garment is usually worn for about 6 weeks, with no heavy lifting or abdominal exercises during this time.
Phase 4: Months 2–12 (result matures)
Exercise returns gradually once your surgeon agrees, often from about 6–8 weeks. Swelling settles over several months and the scar keeps fading for up to a year.
The Meva Advantage
Ultra-low scar technique hidden beneath the bikini line.
Medical Guidelines & Safety Protocols
Hospital-based procedures are coordinated through accredited partner hospitals, including JCI-accredited institutions where clinically appropriate. Below are the clinical guidelines, safety protocols, and medical reference documentation for this procedure.
Indicated / Suitable For
- Women with loose lower-abdominal skin and stretched muscles after one or more pregnancies
- Patients with diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles) who have completed their family
- Patients after major weight loss, including after bariatric surgery, whose weight has been stable for several months
- Adults close to their stable target weight who do not smoke, or who can stop all nicotine well before and after surgery
- Patients who accept a long, low scar in exchange for a firmer, flatter abdomen
Contraindications / Not Suitable
- Active smoking or nicotine use (including vapes and patches) that cannot be stopped, because it raises the risk of wound healing problems and skin necrosis
- Plans for a future pregnancy; abdominoplasty is usually postponed until family planning is complete
- Ongoing weight loss or a weight that is not yet stable, including patients still losing weight after bariatric surgery
- A BMI outside the range the surgeon considers safe, or uncontrolled diabetes, heart or lung disease
- Previous deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or a clotting disorder without specialist evaluation and a prevention plan
Pre-Operative Evaluation & Diagnostic Checks
Abdominal Wall Examination: Assessment of skin excess, stretch marks, previous scars, diastasis width and any hernia, to decide between a full and a mini tummy tuck.
Blood Tests: Complete blood count, coagulation, biochemistry, blood glucose and infectious screening, plus nutritional markers such as protein and iron after bariatric surgery.
Thrombosis Risk Assessment: Individual evaluation of clot risk to plan early walking, compression stockings and preventive medication where indicated.
Anaesthesia Assessment: ECG and further tests as needed to confirm fitness for general anaesthesia and the planned 2-night hospital stay.
Standing Marking & Photography: Marking of the low incision line and the skin to be removed while standing, with standardised photographs.
Potential Risks & Complications
In compliance with transparent clinical reporting, Meva Clinic ensures patients are fully informed of the physiological risks associated with surgical procedures through accredited partner-hospital safety protocols where clinically appropriate.
Fluid collecting under the abdominal skin is one of the most common issues; reduced by drains, compression and tissue-securing sutures, and treated by simple needle drainage during follow-up if it occurs.
Delayed healing or small separations along the scar, especially at its centre, are more likely in smokers and people with diabetes; managed with dressings and close monitoring.
Rare loss of poorly perfused tissue at the lower centre of the abdominal flap; the risk is lowered by stopping nicotine, avoiding excessive tension and careful planning of any combined liposuction.
A serious but uncommon risk after abdominal surgery; reduced by walking from the first day, compression, hydration and individual preventive medication.
Bleeding under the skin, usually within the first 24-48 hours while you are in hospital; monitored closely and occasionally requiring drainage.
The scar is red and firm at first and matures over up to 12 months; temporary numbness of the lower abdomen is common and usually improves over months.
Realistic Expectations & Outcomes
A tummy tuck removes loose lower-abdominal skin and, where indicated, repairs separated abdominal muscles, creating a firmer and flatter profile. It is not a weight-loss operation, and it does not remove all stretch marks, particularly those above the navel. The scar is permanent, although it is placed low so that underwear can usually cover it. You walk slightly bent forward at first, and swelling is most noticeable in the early weeks, while the compression garment is worn for about 6 weeks. Swelling, especially above the scar, settles over several months, and the scar keeps fading for up to a year. The final result is judged at around 12 months and is maintained most reliably with a stable weight.
Revision & Follow-Up Policy
Meva Clinic coordinates structured follow-up after abdominoplasty, with remote reviews at around 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, and earlier contact whenever a wound or seroma concern arises. Because scars and tissues take up to a year to mature, questions such as scar refinement or small corrections at the scar ends (so-called dog ears) are assessed only after full healing. Any secondary procedure is evaluated individually by the specialist surgeon on objective clinical grounds. For 12 months after your treatment you can also send photos to the medical team whenever you wish and receive their feedback, and your questions are answered remotely.
Authoritative Medical References & Studies
- [1]Camargo CP, Kasmirski JA, Valente MSVS, Secanho MS, Cintra W, Gemperli R. Therapeutical Strategies to Prevent Abdominoplasty Complications: A Systematic Review. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2025;49(5):1396-1407.View Source
- [2]Rao G, Daneshi K, Ceccaroni A, et al. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Evaluating the Surgical Outcomes of Progressive Tension Suturing Compared to Drains in Abdominoplasty Surgery. Aesthet Surg J. 2025;45(1):71-83.View Source
- [3]Esparham A, Safieddine M, Ahmadyar S, et al. The association of metabolic and bariatric surgery and postabdominoplasty complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2026;22(8):930-941.View Source
Medical Disclaimer: This page provides general educational information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Skin quality, muscle separation, weight history, smoking status and healing vary between patients. Whether a full or mini abdominoplasty is appropriate, whether muscle repair is needed and what outcome is realistic are determined only after an individual examination by a qualified specialist plastic surgeon.
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Procedure Details
Hospital Stay
2 Nights
Hotel Package
7 Nights
Return to Work
14 Days
Anaesthesia
General
Private Patient Confidentiality & International Medical Regulations
In strict compliance with international healthcare communication standards and our uncompromising dedication to private patient privacy, explicit before-and-after clinical photographic results for advanced plastic, breast, and body contouring procedures are not displayed publicly on our digital platform.
To preserve the private discretion our clients expect, we maintain a secure, encrypted clinical repository. Verified prospective patients may request private access to accredited clinical case portfolios under professional medical supervision.
All clinical photographic records are protected under international patient privacy standards.