Home · Plastic surgery · Tummy tuck
Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) · Istanbul & Izmir, Turkey
Tummy tuck in Istanbul and Izmir, Turkey, with abdominal muscle repair
A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) removes loose skin and repairs stretched or separated abdominal muscles after pregnancy, major weight loss or ageing skin — something liposuction and exercise alone cannot fix. JFS Clinic plans your tummy tuck in Istanbul or Izmir, Turkey; your package includes two nights in hospital and five in the hotel, with a package price from £3,240.
Patient service award three years running · Licensed for health tourism
Key facts
Tummy tuck in Turkey at a glance
Your price and your dates
Tummy tuck Turkey cost and available dates
Your tummy tuck package is listed from £3,240 and includes the hospital stay, the hotel nights and every transfer. Send two photos and your coordinator comes back with your personal plan and the dates your surgeon has free. Most patients are in Istanbul or Izmir within about a week, on the dates they choose.
Am I a candidate?
Who is a good candidate for a tummy tuck?
Diet and exercise can reduce fat, but they cannot tighten loose skin or close abdominal muscles that have separated — a condition called diastasis recti. A tummy tuck is the only treatment that corrects both.
Diastasis recti surgery, why exercise cannot close the gap
Pregnancy and major weight loss stretch the connective tissue that holds the two long abdominal muscles together down the midline. Once that tissue has stretched past a certain point, sit-ups and planks cannot pull it back — the gap stays, and so does the soft "pooch" that sits in front of it, independent of how little body fat you carry. Loose skin behaves the same way: once elastin fibres have been overstretched, they do not spring back on their own. Surgery is the only way to shorten both the muscle layer and the skin layer at the same time.
Signs a tummy tuck may suit you
- Loose, stretched or crepey skin on the lower or full abdomen, often after pregnancy or losing a significant amount of weight.
- A visible bulge or "pooch" that stays even when you are not carrying extra weight — a sign of separated abdominal muscles.
- Your weight has been stable for several months and you are not planning a future pregnancy, since both can affect the result.
- You are a non-smoker, or able to stop smoking well before and after surgery — smoking slows healing and raises complication risk.
- You are in good general health, with no condition that would make a general anaesthetic unsafe.
| Mini tummy tuck | Full tummy tuck | |
|---|---|---|
| Loose skin location | Lower abdomen only, below the navel | Full abdomen, hip to hip |
| Muscle separation | Usually none, or limited to below the navel | Full length, above and below the navel |
| Belly button | Not repositioned | Repositioned |
| Scar length | Short, low, hip to hip | Hip to hip |
| Typical candidate | Small lower bulge, little loose skin above the navel | Separated muscles, loose skin hip to hip |
What to discuss at your tummy tuck consultation
- How much your abdominal muscles have separated, and whether the repair needs to run above and below your belly button.
- Whether a mini, full, extended or fleur-de-lis technique fits your skin and your goals (see the comparison below).
- Whether liposuction on the waist or flanks should be added in the same operation.
- Where your final scar will sit, so it stays low enough for your usual underwear and swimwear.
- Your full medical history, including any previous abdominal surgery.
This is general guidance, not a diagnosis. Your surgeon makes the final decision after seeing your photos and health history.
Not every tummy tuck is the same
Types of tummy tuck, mini, full, extended and fleur-de-lis
"Tummy tuck" covers several different operations. Your surgeon picks the technique based on how much skin needs removing and how far your muscles have separated — not the other way around.
- 1Low incision along the bikini line
- 2Loose skin removed
- 3Belly button repositioned
- 4Skin gently tightened
How a tummy tuck is done
| Technique | Best for | Incision | Muscle repair |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini tummy tuck | A small lower-tummy bulge, little to no loose skin above the belly button | Short, low, hip to hip | Usually none, or limited to below the navel |
| Full tummy tuckMost common | Most post-pregnancy or post-weight-loss patients with separated muscles | Hip to hip, plus a new navel position | Full length, above and below the navel |
| Extended tummy tuck | Excess skin that wraps around toward the flanks and back | Hip to hip, extending further around the sides | Full length |
| Fleur-de-lis tummy tuck | Significant skin excess both across and up-and-down the abdomen, common after major weight loss | Hip to hip, plus a vertical line up the midline | Full length |
| Tummy tuck with liposuction | Patients who also want the waist and flanks contoured in the same operation | Same as the chosen technique above | Same as the chosen technique above |
Scar length and position always depend on how much skin needs to be removed — your surgeon marks the exact line with you before surgery.
Mini vs full tummy tuck, how your surgeon decides
The choice is not about what you ask for, it is about what your skin and muscles show at the consultation. Your surgeon pinches the loose skin above and below the navel, checks how wide the muscle gap is along its length, and looks at whether excess skin wraps around toward your back. A smaller, lower bulge usually points to a mini technique; separation that runs the full length of the abdomen, with skin that is loose from hip to hip, points to a full or extended tummy tuck. Significant skin excess after large weight loss, where skin is loose both horizontally and vertically, is what the fleur-de-lis technique is designed for.
Liposuction is often added rather than chosen instead — it contours areas like the flanks and love handles that a tummy tuck alone does not reach, since liposuction removes fat while a tummy tuck removes skin and tightens muscle. Many patients end up with a combined operation once their surgeon has assessed both issues together.
The muscle gap itself is measured in centimetres along the midline, usually with the fingers, sometimes confirmed on an ultrasound if the separation is hard to judge through scar tissue from an earlier operation. A gap of two to three centimetres, limited to below the navel, is what typically keeps a mini technique on the table; a wider or longer gap that runs above and below the navel is what moves the plan toward a full repair. The same measurement also shapes how much time your surgeon books in theatre, since suturing a longer muscle gap takes longer than a short one.
Why patients choose us
I just felt like I really trusted the company. They've given us a good hotel and they've really looked after us.
How soon
How soon can you have a tummy tuck in Turkey?
Most JFS patients are in Istanbul or Izmir for their tummy tuck within about a week of their first message. There is no waiting list, and you choose the dates that suit you.
- 1
Send two photos
Message us on WhatsApp or use the form, with two photos of your abdomen, one from the front and one from the side, and a few lines about your health, medication and any previous operations.
- 2
Get your personal plan
Your coordinator shares them with Op. Dr. Onur Evren Yılmaz. You receive a suggested technique, your package price and the dates available, free of charge.
- 3
Choose your dates
You book your flights. We arrange the hospital, the hotel and every transfer, and send you a short list of what to pause and what to pack before you travel.
- 4
Fly to Istanbul or Izmir
Your 8 days in Turkey begin. Blood tests and a face-to-face consultation come first, before anything is confirmed.
What can delay your tummy tuck date
Being able to travel within a week does not mean you should if your body is not ready yet. A few things decide your safest date, and your surgeon checks each of them before the operation is confirmed. If your blood tests or the Day 2 consultation show that waiting would be safer, the date moves. Your safety comes before the booking.
| Factor | Why it matters | What usually happens |
|---|---|---|
| Smoking or nicotine | Nicotine narrows blood vessels and slows healing along the incision | You are asked to stop for several weeks before and after surgery |
| A recent pregnancy or breastfeeding | Your abdomen keeps changing for months after birth | Most surgeons prefer to wait several months after breastfeeding ends |
| Weight still changing | Losing a lot more weight later can loosen the skin again | Surgery is planned once your weight has been stable for a while |
| Blood thinners and some supplements | They can increase bleeding during and after surgery | Your surgeon tells you what to pause and when. Never stop prescribed medication without your own doctor's advice |
| Plans for another pregnancy | Pregnancy can stretch the repaired muscles apart again | Many people wait until their family is complete |
If you live in the UK, the NHS rarely funds a tummy tuck, because it is usually considered a cosmetic operation, so most people compare private clinics at home and abroad. Wherever you go, ask three things before you book: how soon you can be seen, what happens if a test result delays your surgery, and who looks after you once you are home.
Your 8 days in Turkey
How long to stay in Turkey for a tummy tuck
Your coordinator is with you from the moment you land. Transfers between the airport, hotel and clinic are included.
- Day
1Arrival
We meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Evening call with your coordinator to confirm your plan and answer any last questions before tomorrow's tests.
TransferHotel - Day
2Consultation & tests
Blood tests, then you mark the plan with your surgeon — technique, muscle repair and scar line. This is also when you confirm whether liposuction is being added.
TestsConsultation - Day
3Surgery
Your tummy tuck takes place under general anaesthesia, typically around three hours. You stay in hospital overnight under nursing care.
SurgeryHospital - Day
4Hospital, second night
A second night under observation is standard after abdominal muscle repair. Dressings and drains, if used, are checked and pain relief is adjusted as needed.
HospitalCheck-up - Day
5Back to the hotel
You wear your compression garment and take your first short, bent-forward walks with help. Your coordinator shows you how to manage the garment and any drains.
RestWalking - Day
6Recovery
Most people feel steadier each day and can manage short walks around the hotel on their own. Your coordinator checks in and arranges anything you need.
Rest - Day
7Check-up
Dressing and healing check at the clinic, drains removed if they are still in, before you are cleared to travel.
Check-up - Day
8Fly home
Final instructions, your aftercare kit and advice for the flight — aisle seat, regular short walks, garment on. Your coordinator stays in touch on WhatsApp.
TransferAftercare
Tummy tuck recovery in Istanbul or Izmir, hospital and hotel
Your coordinator books your hotel in the city where you have surgery — Istanbul or Izmir — and confirms the transfers in your written plan. If you have surgery in Izmir, the hotel and the clinic are a short transfer apart; your coordinator stays close by through the quieter days before your Day 7 check-up and flight home.
Patient videos
Tummy tuck Turkey reviews in patients' own words
Package & price
Tummy tuck Turkey package and what it includes
- 2 nights in hospital after surgery
- 5 nights in the hotel during recovery
- All transfers — airport, hotel, clinic
- Personal coordinator who speaks your language
- Check-ups and aftercare (aftercare items listed in your quote)
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Abdominoplasty with Op. Dr. Onur Evren Yılmaz | Included |
| 2 nights in hospital after surgery | Included |
| 5 nights in a hotel during recovery | Included |
| All transfers — airport, hotel, clinic | Included |
| Personal coordinator throughout your stay | Included |
| Check-ups during your 8 days in Turkey | Included |
| Compression garment | Confirmed in your quote |
| Post-op medication | Confirmed in your quote |
What changes the price: adding liposuction or a BBL in the same operation, and how far the muscle repair and incision need to extend (mini vs. extended or fleur-de-lis). A mini tummy tuck with limited muscle work can sometimes cost less than the standard package; an extended or fleur-de-lis repair, or a combined operation with liposuction, typically costs more because of the extra surgical time and the second hospital night it involves. Your final price is confirmed after your surgeon reviews your photos and your consultation notes from Day 2.
The operation
How a tummy tuck is done, step by step
From the moment you go to sleep to the moment your dressing goes on, here is what actually happens during a full tummy tuck.
Your tummy tuck starts under general anaesthesia, so you are fully asleep for the whole operation. Before you go under, your surgeon marks your abdomen while you are still standing — tracing the exact incision line low across the bikini line, where the muscle repair needs to run, and where your belly button will sit once the tightened skin is back in place. These marks are a direct continuation of the plan you agreed on Day 2.
The operation itself begins with the incision, cut along the line marked a day earlier. For a full tummy tuck this runs hip to hip, low enough to stay hidden under most underwear and swimwear. Your surgeon lifts the skin and fat layer away from the muscle beneath it, working upward toward the ribs to reach the full length of the repair that follows.
Inside the repair
Tummy tuck muscle repair in four steps
- 1Separated abdominal musclesThe gap along the midline, measured and marked before repair.
- 2Muscles stitched togetherDeep sutures bring the muscle sheath back to the midline.
- 3Excess skin and fat removedThe loose flap is pulled down and trimmed to the marked line.
- 4Incision closedLayered sutures close the wound, with a drain usually in place.
Tummy tuck muscle repair
Underneath, the two long abdominal muscles are usually separated along the midline — a gap your surgeon measures and closes by stitching the muscle sheath back together from the ribs to the pubic bone, rebuilding a flatter, firmer wall than diet or exercise alone can achieve. With the muscles repaired, the skin and fat flap is pulled down and the excess is trimmed away; how much comes off depends on how far it stretches, which is why the technique your surgeon chose at your consultation matters here.
A new opening is then cut for the belly button, which stays attached to its original blood supply throughout and is stitched into its new, slightly higher position so it sits naturally on the tightened abdomen. The incision is closed in layers — deeper sutures take the tension off the skin so the scar heals as thin as possible, then finer stitches close the surface — and a thin drain is usually placed to clear fluid for the first few days. Before you wake up, your compression garment is already in place, supporting the repair from the moment you open your eyes.
Throughout the operation an anaesthetist watches your heart rate, oxygen levels and blood pressure, adjusting your anaesthesia as the surgery moves between stages — muscle repair, skin removal and closure each take a different amount of time depending on how much work your body needs. A full tummy tuck with a complete muscle repair typically takes around three hours in total; a mini technique with little or no muscle work can be shorter, while a combined operation with liposuction or a fleur-de-lis repair takes longer simply because there is more surgical ground to cover.
Once the dressing and garment are on, you are moved to a recovery area where nursing staff watch you wake from the anaesthetic before you go to your hospital room for the first of your two nights under observation. A drain, when one is used, sits under the dressing to clear fluid from the wound bed; it is checked at each nursing round and usually comes out within the first week, once drainage has slowed enough for your surgeon to be confident the area will heal cleanly without it.
Recovery, day by day
Tummy tuck recovery time, week by week
Move the slider to any point after surgery. You'll see how most people feel, what they can do and what to avoid.
Recovery from a tummy tuck happens in three broad phases. The first week is about protecting the muscle repair — you move carefully, sleep bent at the knees and let the compression garment do its job. Weeks two to six are about swelling going down and posture returning to normal, which is usually when people feel ready for a desk job again. From six weeks onward, the focus shifts from healing to the abdomen settling into its final, flatter shape.
The garment is not just comfort — it holds the repaired muscle layer still while the deep sutures take hold, which is why it stays on day and night for the first stretch and only moves to part-time wear once your surgeon is confident the repair has settled. If a drain was placed during surgery, your coordinator shows you how to empty and record it at the hotel; most people have it removed at the day-7 check-up, a little earlier if drainage has already slowed on its own.
Typical timeline for a full tummy tuck. Your surgeon may give you a different plan, especially if liposuction is combined.
| Activity | Week 1 | Week 2 | Weeks 3–4 | Week 6 | Months 3–6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Short, slow walks with help, bent forward at the waist | Walking further each day on your own | Longer walks, standing fully upright by week 3 | Normal walking pace, no restriction | No restriction |
| Desk work | Not yet — the focus is on rest and short walks | Most people are back at a desk | Full days comfortable | No restriction | No restriction |
| Driving | Avoid — reaction times are affected by pain relief | Confirmed by your surgeon at your check-up | Set by your surgeon after your check-up | Cleared by your surgeon as you heal | No restriction |
| Flying | Day 7–8, after your check-up, wearing your garment | Confirmed by your surgeon at your check-up | Set by your surgeon after your check-up | Cleared by your surgeon as you heal | No restriction |
| Gym | Not yet | Avoid — no swimming or sit-ups yet | Still avoid — no running or heavy lifting | Gradual return, starting light | Normal exercise, as cleared by your surgeon |
| Garment | Worn at all times | Worn at all times | Worn at all times | Coming off, or worn only part-time | As advised by your surgeon |
Typical timeline for a full tummy tuck, built from the recovery guidance above. Cells marked "Confirmed by your surgeon at your check-up" vary too much by individual healing to generalise — ask at your consultation.
In her own words
I'm on day three of my surgery and I feel really good. I didn't think that I would feel this good after this short amount of time.
What to expect
Tummy tuck results and scar healing
Most of the early swelling is gone within about six weeks, though your abdomen keeps softening and flattening for several months as deeper swelling resolves. Many patients notice their waistline change early, while the very final, settled shape — especially close to the scar and the new navel position — takes closer to a year to show fully.
The scar itself follows its own timeline. It usually starts pink, slightly raised and firm to the touch, softening over the following weeks. Keeping it out of direct sun for the first year and following your surgeon's advice on scar care helps it fade to the thin, pale line most patients end up with — though exactly how a scar matures still depends on your individual skin.
Results vary from patient to patient. Your surgeon will tell you what is realistic for your body at the consultation.
Your tummy tuck surgeon
Op. Dr. Onur Evren Yılmaz
Plastic surgeon · Izmir
Which surgeon operates, and in which city, is written in your quote.
Dr. Yılmaz specialises in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, with a particular focus on body and breast procedures — tummy tucks, liposuction and combined body-contouring operations make up a regular part of his caseload.
- Meets you in person before surgery to plan your muscle repair and scar line
- Medicine: Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir · Plastic surgery residency: Ufuk University, Ankara (2012)
- Member, Turkish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
More about Dr. Yılmaz →He thinks everything through and talks it all over with you.
Questions
Tummy tuck in Turkey, frequently asked questions
How much does a tummy tuck cost in Turkey?
At JFS Clinic, an all-inclusive tummy tuck package is £3,240 (€3,750 / $4,350), covering surgery, two nights in hospital, five nights in the hotel and all transfers. Combining it with liposuction or a BBL changes the price; your surgeon confirms the final figure after reviewing your photos.
See all package prices →How soon can I have a tummy tuck in Turkey?
Most JFS patients have their surgery within about a week of their first message. You send two photos, receive a personal plan with the dates available, then choose when to travel. Your surgeon confirms the date only after your blood tests and the face-to-face consultation in Istanbul or Izmir, and moves it if waiting would be safer.
From first message to surgery →Can I get a tummy tuck on the NHS?
Rarely. The NHS usually treats a tummy tuck as a cosmetic operation and funds it only in exceptional circumstances, decided by your local health board. Most people in the UK therefore compare private clinics, at home and abroad, by surgeon, hospital, aftercare and total cost.
Is it safe to get a tummy tuck in Turkey?
Safety comes from the surgeon and hospital, not the country. Op. Dr. Onur Evren Yılmaz is a specialist plastic surgeon operating in a hospital licensed for international patients, and JFS Clinic is licensed for health tourism. Blood tests and a pre-operative assessment on Day 2 confirm you are fit for a general anaesthetic before anything is scheduled. Ask about your surgeon's qualifications, the hospital's licence and the aftercare plan before you book.
Where is the best country to get a tummy tuck?
No country can honestly claim to be the best for every patient, so compare clinics on standard points: the surgeon's specialist training and experience with abdominoplasty, a hospital licensed for international patients, a written price stating what it includes, and follow-up once you are home. At JFS Clinic you see your surgeon's name before booking and meet them before surgery. Op. Dr. Onur Evren Yılmaz, a plastic surgeon who completed his specialist training in 2012, operates, and your coordinator passes questions and photos from home to him on WhatsApp.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how painful is a tummy tuck?
You are asleep for the operation itself. Afterwards, most patients describe the first few days as sore and tight, similar to intense abdominal muscle soreness, easing step by step as the swelling goes down. Standing fully upright feels the most uncomfortable early on, which is why you walk slightly bent forward for the first week or so. Pain relief is provided, and how it feels varies from person to person.
What's the difference between a mini and a full tummy tuck?
A mini tummy tuck treats loose skin below the belly button with a shorter incision and usually no muscle repair above it. A full tummy tuck repairs the abdominal muscles along their full length, repositions the belly button and removes skin from hip to hip. Your surgeon confirms which applies to you at your consultation.
Can a tummy tuck be combined with liposuction or a BBL?
Often, yes. Combining a tummy tuck with liposuction, sometimes called a lipo-abdominoplasty, contours the waist and flanks in the same operation. Combining it with a BBL is also possible for some patients. Your surgeon decides based on your health and how long the combined surgery would safely take.
How long are the scars and do they fade?
A full tummy tuck leaves a scar running hip to hip, low enough to sit under most underwear and swimwear, plus a small scar around the repositioned belly button. A mini technique leaves a shorter version of the same low scar; an extended or fleur-de-lis repair adds length around the sides or a vertical line up the midline. It starts pink and slightly raised, then gradually flattens and fades over the following months to a year.
When can I fly home after a tummy tuck?
After your surgeon's final check-up, usually on day 7 or 8 of your trip. Wear your compression garment, walk in the aisle during the flight and avoid lifting your luggage.
How soon will I see my final result?
Initial swelling takes several weeks to settle, and most people see their result taking shape by around three months. The abdomen continues to soften and flatten for up to a year as deeper swelling resolves. Results vary from patient to patient. Your surgeon will tell you what is realistic for your body at the consultation.
Often considered together
Treatments often combined with a tummy tuck
Liposuction
Contours the waist and flanks when skin is already firm and does not need removing.
Explore →
BBL with liposuction
Combine liposuction with a Brazilian butt lift when you also want added volume and shape.
Explore →
Mommy makeover
Pairs a tummy tuck with breast surgery in one recovery, a common choice after pregnancy.
Explore →
Breast implant
Often planned alongside body contouring to restore volume lost during weight changes.
Explore →Free tummy tuck consultation — Istanbul & Izmir
Tell us a little about yourself. Your patient consultant shares it with the surgeon and comes back with your plan, package price and available dates, free of charge. Most patients are in Istanbul or Izmir within about a week.
+90 555 420 45 05- 1 About your treatment
- 2 A bit more about you
- 3 How to reach you
- 4 Your free quote