Tummy Tuck in Turin, Italy | Abdominoplasty

In short. A bulging abdomen, loose skin, stretch marks and excess fat can follow pregnancy or weight changes, and often do not respond to diet and exercise. A tummy tuck removes excess skin, reduces fat and repairs separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti). It is different from liposuction, which only removes fat. It gives the best results when you are at, or close to, your ideal weight.

What a tummy tuck does

Laxity and bulging of the abdomen are common after several pregnancies, twin pregnancies or pregnancies with a lot of weight gain, but they can also appear after a single pregnancy with modest weight gain. The separation of the abdominal muscles that forms during pregnancy (diastasis) is corrected during a tummy tuck by bringing the rectus muscles back together.

With a tummy tuck, separated abdominal muscles are repaired, excess skin is removed and local fat is reduced, for a flatter, smoother contour of the trunk.

Who it is for

excess skin on the abdomen;
excess localised fat on the front of the abdomen and the flanks;
a rounded or protruding abdominal contour;
diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles along the midline);
a body weight within about 10% of your ideal, or a BMI around 25.

When I do not recommend surgery

A tummy tuck is not a quick fix and should not be done when you are significantly overweight. I will not suggest it:

when your weight is still far from a weight you can comfortably maintain with a balanced diet and regular exercise: reaching it first gives better results and makes surgery safer;
when the problem is only localised fat with good skin: liposuction may be enough;
when you are planning a pregnancy;
when you smoke and cannot stop around the time of surgery, or health conditions are not under control.

Types of tummy tuck

Technique	What it does
Mini tummy tuck	Treats the limited area below the navel and above the pubic area; for excess skin and fat confined to this region.
Modified tummy tuck	Corrects limited excess skin and fat on the front of the abdomen, and the whole diastasis.
Full (classic) tummy tuck	Removes more significant excess skin and fat, repairs the diastasis and repositions the navel.
Lipoabdominoplasty	A tummy tuck combined with liposculpture, to reshape the surrounding areas (including the flanks) and better define the contour of the abdomen.

Before surgery

It is important to have reached, or nearly reached, your ideal weight: this gives the best aesthetic result and makes the operation safer. I use the body mass index (BMI) to help plan the operation and its preparation. At the consultation we discuss what you want, I examine you and we review the pre-operative blood tests and any further examinations.

The operation

The tummy tuck is usually performed under local anaesthesia with sedation; in some more complex cases, under general anaesthesia. In most cases you go home the next day; in selected cases a few hours after surgery. Drains, when used, stay in place for about seven days. You wear a moderately compressive garment to help the reshaped tissues settle.

The scar runs horizontally, low on the abdomen above the pubic area, in the same area as a caesarean section scar but usually longer: its length depends on the amount of skin to be removed and on the type of tummy tuck. A full tummy tuck also leaves a scar around the navel. We plan the position together before surgery, so that it is hidden by underwear or swimwear as far as possible. The stitches are absorbable and under the skin, so they do not need to be removed.

Recovery

When	What
First days	Some discomfort in the operated area, usually gone within a few days and controlled with the pain relief prescribed by the anaesthetist. Feeling tired is normal.
About 7 days	Drains, if used, are removed.
2 to 5 days	Back to work, when no muscle repair was needed.
10 to 14 days	Back to work after a full tummy tuck. I usually advise two weeks off work and physical activity; in selected cases 7 to 10 days may be possible.
10 to 12 days	Light exercise (walking, treadmill).
10 to 20 days	Light everyday activities, without lifting weights.
About 30 days	Lifting weights (including children and shopping bags), abdominal exercises and more vigorous exercise, once the repair of the abdominal muscles has healed.
6 to 12 weeks	Swelling has largely settled by six weeks; the final shape is reached at about 12 weeks.

I see you several times at the clinic in the first two weeks after surgery, and then periodically until the end of the first year.

If you live abroad: plan to stay in or near Turin for at least the first two weeks of check-ups, and until I confirm you are ready to travel. See also International patients.

Risks and limits

A tummy tuck is a major surgical operation and has risks, which we discuss together at the consultation: among them haematoma and fluid collection (seroma), delayed wound healing, infection, changes in skin sensation, a scar more visible than expected and, rarely, blood clots. Smoking and excess weight increase these risks. A tummy tuck does not replace weight loss, and future weight changes or pregnancies can change the result.

What patients say

“I am truly proud of my new body; I did not think I could achieve this. I must admit that my experience with Dr Maggi and all his staff was much more than I expected. From my first consultation to the last check-up, I was struck by how closely I was followed at every stage of the process.”
— Lucia, Turin

Real patient reviews, translated faithfully from Italian; cuts are marked […]. The original Italian reviews are on the testimonials page and on GuidaEstetica.

How much does a tummy tuck cost?

The cost depends on the type of tummy tuck, on whether liposculpture is combined, on the anaesthesia and on the hospital stay. Because every case is different, I define it after the consultation, in a personalised written quote that also shows the first available date for surgery.

Frequently asked questions

Does a tummy tuck remove excess fat?

A tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck removes excess skin and fat and, most often, repairs the bulging or separation of the abdominal muscles (rectus diastasis).

Can liposuction be combined with a tummy tuck?

Yes. Known as lipoabdominoplasty, liposculpture is often combined with a tummy tuck to sculpt and remove excess fat.

Should I have a full or a mini tummy tuck?

A mini tummy tuck is suitable for a small amount of excess skin and fat above the pubic area and just below the navel. More widespread excess skin and fat and rectus diastasis more often need a full tummy tuck. The consultation will answer this for your case.

Will the scar show?

The scar runs horizontally, low on the abdomen above the pubic area, usually longer than a caesarean section scar; a full tummy tuck also leaves a scar around the navel. Its position is planned together before surgery so that it is hidden by underwear or swimwear as far as possible.

When can I go back to work?

Most often 10 to 14 days after a full tummy tuck. When no muscle repair is needed, after about 2 to 5 days.

Tummy tuck in Turin, ItalyAbdominoplasty

Tummy tuck before and after photos