Tummy Tuck & Abdominoplasty in Istanbul: Types, Cost & Reviews

What is a tummy tuck ?

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is a cosmetic surgery that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and, in most cases, tightens weakened or separated abdominal muscles, giving a smoother and firmer abdominal profile^{2, 3}. It can also repair rectus diastasis (muscle separation) and tighten the fascia².

Common causes of loose skin or weakened tissue include pregnancy, large weight changes, abdominal surgery such as a C-section, aging and heredity^{2, 3}. A tummy tuck is not a substitute for weight loss or exercise^{1, 3}. It cannot correct stretch marks, although those on the removed skin may be reduced or removed³.

Who is a good candidate for a tummy tuck?

A tummy tuck is aimed at people who have excess skin, and sometimes excess fat or separated abdominal muscles, that diet and exercise do not remove^{1, 2}. The surgeon assesses each case during the consultation. The sources describe the following criteria.

• After pregnancy or major weight loss. Excess skin left by pregnancy or major weight loss is a typical reason for surgery^{1, 2}. Women who may become pregnant later are advised to postpone it³, and a surgeon may advise against it if you are considering a future pregnancy².
• Separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti). The operation can repair them^{2, 3}. The bulge they cause may contribute to low back pain².
• Healthy, stable weight. The NHS says the procedure is usually recommended for people with a healthy BMI and is not for someone who is overweight¹. Mayo Clinic advises a stable weight for at least 6 to 12 months before surgery, and says a surgeon may advise against it if you plan a large amount of weight loss or have a BMI of 30 or higher².
• Non-smoker and good general health. Smoking raises the risk of tissue damage². Heart disease, diabetes, the need for blood thinners, a high risk of blood clots, or significant scar tissue from earlier abdominal surgery may lead the surgeon to advise against the operation².

A tummy tuck is a contouring procedure, not a weight-loss method^{1, 3}. A consultation with a surgeon is needed to confirm whether it is right for you.

Your tummy tuck journey in Turkey

Turquie Santé coordinates the consultation request, quotes and travel logistics with partner clinics in Istanbul. The surgery and the follow-up care are provided by the clinic and its surgeon, who make the medical decisions.

Pre-operative consultation

The surgeon examines your abdominal muscles, skin and overall body shape, reviews your medical history, medicines and allergies², and discusses your goals. Two main techniques are described: a partial abdominoplasty (one lower-tummy incision, with the skin separated below the navel) and a full abdominoplasty (a hip-to-hip incision, a second incision around the navel, and realignment of the muscles)¹. Liposuction is often added to contour the abdomen².

The procedure: how it works

The operation takes between 2 and 5 hours¹ (often less than four hours²) and is usually done under general anesthesia in a hospital or surgical center^{1, 2}. During the operation, the surgeon:

• removes most of the skin and fat between the navel and the pubic hair²;
• tightens the fascia and, in a full abdominoplasty, realigns the muscles with stitches^{1, 2};
• repositions the navel through a small incision²;
• places the lower incision along the natural swimsuit line².

Recovery and post-operative care

The NHS indicates a hospital stay of a few nights¹. The package shown on this page includes 2 nights of hospitalization and 4 nights in a 4* hotel. You leave with dressings and a compression garment¹, and small drains may be placed for a few days². Walking starts as early as the first day, which lowers the risk of blood clots². Someone must drive you home and stay with you^{1, 2}, and follow-up visits with the surgeon are needed^{1, 2}.

Before booking, ask the clinic for its written follow-up protocol, the planned check-ups and how to reach the team after you return home.

Risks, limitations, and contraindications of a tummy tuck

Like any surgery, a tummy tuck has risks and limitations. Knowing them in advance helps you make an informed decision.

Procedure limitations

A tummy tuck is not a weight-loss method^{1, 3}. Results are usually long lasting if your weight stays stable, but losing a large amount of weight afterward can change them², and significant weight fluctuations can greatly diminish them³. It cannot correct stretch marks, except those on the removed skin³. A scar across the lower abdomen is unavoidable, with a second scar around the navel after a full abdominoplasty¹.

Possible risks

The NHS and Mayo Clinic list seroma, hematoma, poor wound healing or breakdown of the incision, thick scars, bulges under the skin, "dog ears", numbness or pain, infection, excessive bleeding, blood clots in a vein and breathing problems^{1, 2}. Smoking raises the risk of tissue damage².

Figures from the United States: in a database of nearly 25,000 abdominoplasties performed from 2008 to 2013, major complications occurred in 4% of patients, compared with 1.4% after other cosmetic procedures. Hematoma was the most common, followed by infection, venous thromboembolism and lung problems. The rate was 3.1% for abdominoplasty alone and rose to as much as 10.4% when it was combined with body contouring and liposuction. Male sex, age 55 or older and obesity were associated with higher risk. Less serious complications managed in the clinic were not counted⁴.

Main contraindications

Mayo Clinic says a surgeon may advise against a tummy tuck if you plan a large amount of weight loss, are considering a future pregnancy, have a serious long-term condition such as heart disease or diabetes, need blood-thinning medicines or have a high risk of blood clots, have a BMI of 30 or higher, smoke, or have had abdominal surgery that left significant scar tissue².

Discuss your medical profile with the surgeon. Before booking, check the surgeon's specialty, the accreditation of the facility and who handles a complication after you return home.

Results, scars, and long-term evolution

The result of a tummy tuck appears gradually as swelling goes down and the tissues heal.

Why choose Turquie Santé for your tummy tuck?

What Turquie Santé does

Turquie Santé is a coordination service. It forwards your request to partner clinics in Istanbul and across Turkey, helps you obtain written quotes and helps organize the practical side of your stay. It does not perform surgery and does not guarantee results. The medical decision rests with the surgeon.

Questions to ask any clinic before booking

• Is the surgeon a plastic surgery specialist, and how many abdominoplasties does the surgeon perform?
• Is the facility accredited?
• What does the quote include (surgeon, anesthesia, hospital nights, compression garment, check-ups, accommodation, transfers)?
• What is the written follow-up protocol, and who treats a complication after you return home?

Sources and references

1. NHS. Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). Last reviewed 29 September 2023. nhs.uk
2. Mayo Clinic Staff. Tummy tuck. Published 17 January 2025, medically reviewed 17 July 2024. mayoclinic.org
3. American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Tummy tuck (public overview pages, undated). plasticsurgery.org
4. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Tummy tuck complications: study looks at rates and risk factors (press release, 28 October 2015, on Winocour J et al., Plast Reconstr Surg, 2015). Consulted through the press release, not the full article. plasticsurgery.org
5. American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Preoperative Fasting. Practice guidelines for preoperative fasting and the use of pharmacologic agents to reduce the risk of pulmonary aspiration: an updated report. Anesthesiology. 2017;126(3):376-393.
6. World Health Organization. Smoking greatly increases risk of complications after surgery. 20 January 2020. who.int

Sources consulted in October 2026. They support the general information on this page and do not replace the advice of your surgeon.