Some changes in the abdomen do not respond to diet or the gym: skin stretched by pregnancy or major weight loss, and abdominal muscles that have separated in the midline. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, addresses exactly those two things. It removes the excess skin and fat of the lower abdomen and, where needed, brings the separated muscles back together to give a flatter, firmer abdominal wall.
At Cyprus Hair Center in Nicosia, North Cyprus, abdominoplasty is performed by our surgical team in fully equipped operating rooms prepared to international standards of sterilisation and hygiene. The same team sees you at consultation, operates, and follows your recovery until you fly home.
Who a tummy tuck is for
A tummy tuck is a body-contouring operation, not a weight-loss one. It gives its best results to people who:
- are at, or close to, a weight they can maintain;
- have loose, overhanging skin on the lower abdomen that does not tighten with exercise;
- have a separation of the abdominal muscles (diastasis recti), often after pregnancy;
- have finished having children, since a later pregnancy can stretch the repair;
- do not smoke, or are willing to stop well before surgery, because smoking slows wound healing.
If your concern is stubborn fat with good skin tone rather than loose skin, liposuction on its own may be the better answer. We tell you which at assessment, and sometimes the two are combined.
Mini or full abdominoplasty
A mini tummy tuck treats only the area below the navel through a shorter incision, for a small amount of loose skin. A full abdominoplasty treats the whole abdomen, repositions the navel and repairs the muscles through a longer, low incision. Which one suits you depends on how much skin there is and where, and on whether the muscles have separated. We show you where the scar will sit before you decide.
How the procedure is performed
- Assessment and planning. We review your health history, examine the abdomen, and agree on the extent of the operation. Blood tests and an anaesthetic review are completed before the day.
- The operation. Under general anaesthesia, the surgeon makes a horizontal incision low on the abdomen, tightens the muscles with internal sutures where needed, removes the excess skin and fat, and closes the incision in layers. It takes about 2 to 4 hours.
- Recovery in the clinic. You stay 1 to 2 nights. A compression garment is fitted, and you are walking, bent slightly forward, from the first day.
- Follow-up. The surgeon sees you before you fly, usually after 7 to 10 days, and stays in contact through your recovery.
Recovery and results
The first week is the most uncomfortable, and pain relief is planned for it. Desk work is usually possible after 2 to 3 weeks; sport, heavy lifting and strenuous work wait around 6 weeks, which is also how long the compression garment is worn. Swelling settles over several months, and the scar fades from red to pale over 12 to 18 months. The result is long-lasting provided your weight stays stable.
Why have a tummy tuck in Cyprus
Nicosia is a compact city with short transfer times, and a recovery week is easy to spend quietly. Our VIP concept covers transfers and accommodation for patients arriving from abroad, and everything included is agreed before you commit. Many patients combine a tummy tuck with liposuction of the flanks, or plan it alongside breast augmentation as part of a wider body plan; we will tell you honestly whether combining procedures is sensible in your case.
Book a tummy tuck assessment
Send us a message or a few photographs and our surgical team will tell you whether a mini or full abdominoplasty suits you, what the scar will look like, and what recovery to plan for. No pressure and no sales script: an honest answer, usually within 24 hours.
