Abdominoplasty: redefine your abdomen and improve your wellbeing

What does a tummy tuck involve?

A tummy tuck involves a horizontal incision in the lower abdomen, just above the pubis. Through it the surgeon removes the fatty tissue and the spare skin and, where necessary, repairs the rectus abdominis muscles, which in many cases are separated — a condition known as diastasis recti.

The procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic, takes about two hours and usually requires at least one overnight stay. The results are obvious straight away, although the final result is seen at around six months, once healing is complete and the swelling has gone.

The commonest indications

A tummy tuck is indicated where there are aesthetic or functional problems related to excess skin or abdominal laxity; when the excess is skin, it very rarely responds to exercise or to non-invasive treatments. The commonest situations are:

• Abdominal laxity after major weight loss.
• The after-effects of pregnancy.
• Diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles.
• Localised fat that does not respond to diet.
• Stretch marks on the lower abdomen.
• Loss of skin tone through ageing or genetics.

Body contouring surgery is not, in general, designed for losing weight. Adding liposuction does reduce volume in the area, but these operations should generally be carried out on patients of normal weight or slightly above it. A tummy tuck acts on excess skin and muscle weakness, improving the contour and firmness of the abdomen.

Mini tummy tuck: a less invasive variant

When the excess skin and fat sits solely below the navel, a mini tummy tuck is an option. It involves a shorter incision and a quicker recovery, but it cannot treat diastasis or the upper abdomen.

It suits patients with less skin laxity, confined to the area below the navel. A medical assessment is essential in deciding whether that option is viable and safe.

Lipoabdominoplasty: a combination for fuller results

In many cases a tummy tuck is combined with liposuction to remove fat from the abdomen, the flanks, the lower back or above the pubis. That technique is called lipoabdominoplasty and it shapes the body contour more harmoniously.

Combining the two gives a fuller result, because as well as tightening the skin and repairing the muscles it removes the fat deposits that distort the proportion between waist and hip.

Physical and emotional benefits

The benefits of a tummy tuck go beyond appearance. Many patients find their posture and the muscular function of the abdomen improve, particularly those with severe diastasis, and digestive and urinary symptoms often improve as well.

The psychological effect of regaining confidence in your own appearance is also significant. For those who have been through pregnancy, drastic weight change or cancer treatment, a tummy tuck represents a kind of closure, physical and emotional alike.

Among the most notable benefits are:

• A better silhouette and body profile.
• Removal of localised stretch marks.
• Correction of abdominal diastasis.
• Greater self-esteem and emotional well-being.
• Clothes that are more comfortable to wear.
• Being able to exercise without abdominal discomfort.

Scars and how they settle

One common concern is the scar. In a full tummy tuck the incision is positioned deliberately so that it sits hidden under underwear or a swimming costume. Its length depends on how much skin has to be removed, but it usually runs from one side of the pelvis to the other.

With good healing and proper follow-up, the mark becomes progressively finer and lighter. Topical treatments, sun protection and regular check-ups all help the scar look its best.

With a mini tummy tuck the scar is shorter and also sits where it is easily covered.

The recovery process

Recovery after a tummy tuck requires strict instructions to be followed if it is to go without complications. In most cases the patient can resume a moderate social life at 10-15 days and go back to work in 2-3 weeks, provided the job does not involve physical effort.

The recommendations include:

• Wearing an abdominal compression garment for at least 4-6 weeks.
• Avoiding lifting for the first month, and abdominal effort for two months.
• Sleeping semi-upright for the first few days.
• Controlling pain with the medication prescribed.
• Attending every post-operative check-up.
• Keeping to a balanced diet, to help healing.

The timescales we work to

Every patient and every operation is different, and the final schedule is set by the surgeon at your review. These are the reference timings after a tummy tuck:

• Walking, from the day of surgery. Getting up and moving early is what prevents thrombosis, which is why it is insisted on from the very first moment.
• Sutures out, at two weeks.
• Driving, at two weeks.
• The gym, at one month, building up gradually.
• Abdominal effort, from two months onwards.

The usual medication is a painkiller, prophylactic antibiotics in some cases and, according to each patient’s risk factors, heparin to prevent thrombosis.

The swelling can last several weeks, and the final result is judged after six months. It is sometimes advisable to add lymphatic drainage and/or radiofrequency protocols to help the swelling go down, particularly where liposuction has been combined with the surgery. At our clinic we follow the whole of that process closely.

Who is the ideal candidate?

The medical assessment is fundamental. The ideal candidate is someone in good general health, not significantly overweight, not planning future pregnancies, and with lax skin or abdominal diastasis. It also matters that their expectations are realistic and that they understand the surgery improves shape but does not replace a healthy life.

Some of the criteria we assess before recommending surgery are:

• A body mass index (BMI) below 30.
• No illness that affects healing.
• Not breastfeeding and not recently pregnant.
• Not smoking, or undertaking to stop before and after surgery.
• Personal motivation and emotional stability.

Assessment and personal planning

At the Instituto de Cirugía Plástica del Mediterráneo every patient is assessed as a whole. At the first consultation we take a full clinical history, carry out a detailed physical examination and analyse the quality of the skin, the fat and the abdominal muscles.

From that assessment we decide which operation is most appropriate and explain the risks, the benefits, the recovery times and the care required. Our team offers close personal attention, built on trust and on a commitment to safety and to results.

The tummy tuck is a well-established technique for significantly improving the appearance of the abdomen, restoring firmness and bodily balance, and strengthening the patient’s physical and emotional well-being. Properly indicated and carried out in a professional setting with medical safeguards, its results can be highly satisfying and long-lasting.

At our clinic in Valencia we have a team of surgeons with extensive experience in body contouring. If you are considering this operation, we invite you to book an informative consultation where we will answer your questions and draw up a plan tailored to your needs and goals.

Detailed guides on tummy tucks

These guides go further into the decision beforehand and the recovery afterwards:

• When to have a tummy tuck — the right time, according to weight, pregnancies and health.
• Eating after a tummy tuck — what to eat during recovery.

Frequently asked questions about tummy tucks

Is a tummy tuck a way of losing weight?

No, and this is the commonest misunderstanding. A tummy tuck removes spare skin and repairs the abdominal wall; it is not a treatment for obesity and the weight lost with it is negligible.

Its natural indication is the abdomen left after pregnancy or after substantial weight loss: stretched skin that no longer contracts, and separated muscles. Neither diet nor exercise corrects that, just as surgery does not replace either of them.

The sensible course is to come to surgery at a stable weight and to have held it for some months. Operating in the middle of losing weight compromises the result.

What is diastasis recti, and is it corrected in the same operation?

It is the separation of the two rectus abdominis muscles, which happens when the wall stretches — typically in pregnancy — and does not close again. It shows as an abdomen that still bulges although there is no excess fat, and sometimes as a vertical ridge when you sit up.

Yes, it is corrected in the same operation: the muscles are sutured back into position. It is the part of the tummy tuck that changes the silhouette most, and it also explains why the recovery demands more care than a simple removal of skin would.

How much does a tummy tuck cost in Valencia?

The price is, as a guide, between 5,900 and 7,900 € (2026). The range depends on whether it is a full or a mini tummy tuck, on how extensive the repair of the abdominal wall is, and on whether liposuction is added — which is quite common, because it also deals with the fat around the waist.

The quote given after the first consultation is fixed and all-inclusive: operating theatre, anaesthetist, follow-up appointments, compression garment and VAT. Nothing appears on the bill afterwards.

What it does not include are the optional post-operative treatments — radiofrequency, massage or lymphatic drainage — which are recommended according to what each patient needs and are quoted separately.

What is the difference between a full and a mini tummy tuck?

The mini tummy tuck acts only below the navel: it removes a small band of skin and, where appropriate, repairs the diastasis in that area. The scar is shorter and the navel is not touched.

The full tummy tuck treats the whole abdomen: the skin is lifted up to the ribs, the abdominal wall is repaired along its full height, and the navel is repositioned, leaving its own scar around it.

The choice is not about price or about how aggressive it is: it depends on where the problem lies. If there is spare skin above the navel, or the diastasis reaches the upper abdomen, the mini does not resolve it and the result disappoints. And the other way round: having a full tummy tuck when a mini would do is going through more than is necessary.

How do I know whether I have diastasis and not just fat?

There is a simple check you can do yourself. Lie on your back with your knees bent and raise your head and shoulders as if starting a sit-up. If a bulge or a vertical gap appears in the midline, wide enough for your fingers, there is separation of the rectus muscles.

The practical difference is telling: fat can be pinched between your fingers and is reduced by diet and exercise; diastasis is not. An abdomen that still bulges in a slim person, and that gets worse at the end of the day or on exertion, points to diastasis.

The diagnosis is confirmed on examination and, in some cases, with an ultrasound. It matters because it changes the indication completely.

Is there a weight or BMI limit?

It is not a fixed barrier, but it is a decisive factor. The published series show that obesity significantly increases major complications after a tummy tuck: more seromas, more haematomas and more wound problems.

So the sensible course is to come to surgery at the lowest weight you reasonably can and, above all, stable for some months. Stable matters as much as low: operating in the middle of losing weight dooms the result, because the skin will be in excess again.

In cases of major weight loss after bariatric surgery, nutritional status is also assessed before the operation is recommended.

What are the risks of a tummy tuck?

By far the commonest is seroma, a collection of fluid under the skin: the literature gives a wide range, around 15-30% of cases depending on the technique and the series, and draining it in the clinic is often enough.

Next come haematoma, healing problems at the edge of the wound, infection, and changes in sensation in the skin of the abdomen, which are usually temporary. As with any major surgery there is also a risk of thrombosis, prevented by early mobilisation and by the measures you are advised to take.

Overall, the series put the complication rate for tummy tucks at around 4%, against 1.4% for cosmetic surgery as a whole. It is a major operation and should be approached as one.

Do I have to stop smoking before surgery?

Yes, and in this operation more than any other. Smoking compromises the blood supply to the skin exactly where a tummy tuck demands most of it: the flap that is moved downwards. A meta-analysis of elective plastic surgery estimated that smoking multiplies by more than five the likelihood of complications in this operation.

This is not lifestyle advice: it is the modifiable factor that weighs most on whether the wound heals well. You will be told how long beforehand to stop, and how long afterwards.

Can I have surgery if I want more children?

You can, but the sensible course is to wait. A later pregnancy stretches the skin and the abdominal wall that have just been repaired, and often undoes much of the result, particularly the suturing of the muscles.

It is not dangerous for a pregnancy and it does not prevent you conceiving. It is a question of getting the most out of the surgery: if you are planning to have children in the short or medium term, it almost always pays to postpone it.

What is the scar like, and where does it sit?

It is a horizontal scar in the lower abdomen, designed to sit hidden under underwear or a swimming costume. Its length depends on how much skin has to be removed: it is not the same after a mini tummy tuck as after a full one following major weight loss.

A small scar around the navel is usually added, because moving the skin means the navel has to be repositioned. Like any scar, it goes through a phase of redness and thickening before it lightens and flattens, and that process takes months. This is surgery that trades spare skin for a scar: anyone who does not accept that trade is not a good candidate.

What happens to the navel?

In a full tummy tuck the navel is neither removed nor moved: it stays attached to the abdominal wall from within. What moves is the skin around it, which is why a new opening has to be made for it and it has to be sutured into position.

The result is a circular scar around it, which over time hides itself in the fold. A well-made navel is in fact one of the details that distinguishes a careful tummy tuck from a mediocre one: it should end up small, slightly oval and a little recessed, not round and stretched.

In a mini tummy tuck it is not touched.

Will I have drains? For how long?

They are usually used. Drains are fine tubes that remove the fluid produced by the area that has been lifted, and they reduce the risk of seroma, the commonest complication of this surgery.

They come out when the amount collected falls below a threshold, usually within the first few days. Removing them does not hurt, although the sensation is unpleasant for a couple of seconds.

How long do I have to wear the compression garment?

The compression garment is not optional in this surgery: it supports the repaired abdominal wall, reduces swelling and helps the skin settle into its new position.

The usual schedule is one month of continuous wear. After a month it is assessed according to each patient’s progress, and it can normally be left off.

Does a tummy tuck hurt a lot?

Less than people fear, and above all it varies enormously from person to person: some find liposuction worse and others find a tummy tuck worse, so comparisons are of little use. What is constant is the kind of discomfort: not sharp pain but an intense feeling of tightness, particularly on sitting up, on coughing and on walking upright — the abdominal wall has been repaired and is under tension.

That is why you walk slightly stooped for the first few days, and straightening up gradually is part of the recovery, not a sign that anything is wrong.

In general it is well tolerated with the painkillers prescribed, and it improves clearly from the first week onwards.

How long does recovery take?

The first few days are dominated by the feeling of tightness, particularly on sitting up and on walking upright, because the abdominal wall has been repaired and is under tension. You walk from the start, slightly stooped, and that corrects itself gradually.

A return to office work usually comes earlier than to physical work or to a job involving lifting, which needs several weeks. Abdominal effort and impact sport are the last things to come back, and that wait directly protects the suturing of the muscles.

When can I exercise and do sit-ups?

Light activity — walking — is recommended from day one, because it prevents thrombosis and helps recovery. From there you build up slowly.

Specific abdominal work is the last thing to come back, by a long way. The muscles that have been sutured need time to consolidate, and straining them too early is the most direct way of compromising the repair of the diastasis — which is precisely the part that changes the silhouette most.

Lifting and impact sport follow the same logic. Your surgeon will set the timings according to how your case progresses.

When is the final result visible?

The change is obvious from the very first moment, but the real result takes months. The area stays swollen and firm for quite a while, and a bulge low down is common for weeks; it is not fat but swelling.

Sensation in the skin of the abdomen also takes time to return to normal, and a numb band above the scar usually remains, recovering little by little.

The scar follows its own calendar: it goes through a phase of redness and thickening before it lightens and flattens, and that process is counted in months, sometimes more than a year.

Can a tummy tuck and liposuction be done at the same time?

Yes, and it is a common combination — lipoabdominoplasty — because it deals at once with the spare skin and with the fat around the waist, which a tummy tuck alone does not reach.

It is worth knowing that combining procedures is not free in terms of risk: in the published series, lipoabdominoplasty is associated with more seroma than a standard tummy tuck. It is a decision taken by weighing what it adds in your particular case against what it adds in theatre time and in recovery.

And if there is a complication or I need a revision? Who covers it?

Every case is looked at individually, but the general principle is clear. If a medical complication arises, treating it normally involves only the cost of materials and theatre, so the cost is very small compared with a standard operation: the surgery is not charged for again.

As for minor refinement procedures, they are usually included, at minimal cost.

This is not a guarantee of outcome — medicine is an obligation of means, not of results — but an undertaking that, if something requires a second operation, we will make that as straightforward as we possibly can so that any problem can be dealt with.

Sources

The clinical statements on this page are based on the following sources, accessed on 1 August 2026:

• Seroma incidence after abdominoplasty, systematic review and meta-analysis: Decreasing Seroma Incidence Following Abdominoplasty.
• Overall complication rates and risk factors: Abdominoplasty: Risk Factors, Complication Rates, and Safety of Combined Procedures.
• The effect of smoking in elective plastic surgery, systematic review and meta-analysis: Current evidence on the role of smoking in plastic surgery elective procedures.
• Obesity as a risk factor in abdominoplasty: Obesity as a Risk Factor in Cosmetic Abdominoplasty.