Tummy tuck in Edinburgh

Mr Omar Quaba performs tummy tucks at Quaba Plastic Surgery in Edinburgh using the no-drain abdominoplasty technique published by Mr Awf Quaba in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 2015, with a documented revision rate of 8.9% against an industry range of 11-34.4%. He has refined the technique with quilting sutures to further reduce seroma risk. Mini tummy tucks are day cases at Waterfront Private Hospital; full tummy tucks requiring an overnight stay take place at our partner facility in Edinburgh. All surgeons are on the GMC Specialist Register.

Anaesthetic
General anaesthesia
Length
2.5 to 3 hours
Hospital stay
Mini abdominoplasty — day case at Waterfront Private Hospital; full, extended, and fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty performed with an overnight stay at our partner facility in Edinburgh
Recovery time
2 to 3 weeks off work; 6 weeks before strenuous exercise; 6 months before exercise involving the abdominal muscles where muscle repair has been performed
Guide price
from £7,000
Your consultant
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A woman's tummy and waist in white underwear
  • Consultant plastic surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register
  • Surgery at Waterfront Private Hospital, regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland
  • Your consultation and your operation with the same consultant

Contents

Results from our patients

Surgical photographs, includes nudityTap to view the gallery

See all 24 tummy tuck results

Real patients, shared with their consent and not retouched. Results vary from person to person.

What patients say

★★★★★

From my consultation I had every confidence that my surgeon understood what I wanted. I had a tummy tuck and brachioplasty and honestly the results are amazing. Scaring is nowhere near as bad as I expected and my recovery was smooth. I the standard of care was exceptional from everyone involved. I am already considering the next step in my journey and will be seeking the advice of Omar once again.

Angela · May 2026 · Read on Trustpilot
★★★★★

Fantastic experience from start to finish ! Dr quaba and his team cared for throughout my journey. Had tummy tuck and breast reduction which I had been waiting for on nhs for years . Did lots of research, as a nurse myself and quaba was highly recommended by friends and colleagues who have worked with him . The operation went smoothly and the aftercare was first class ! I look and feel like a new woman . Has changed my life both physically and mentally for the better . Highly recommend

Nicola Mcleod · October 2025 · Read on Trustpilot
★★★★★

I had my six-month review with my surgeon and once again had a fantastic experience. Communication has been excellent throughout, and I have always felt listened to, reassured and very well cared for.

I am absolutely delighted with my results and very grateful for the professionalism, kindness and aftercare I have received. I would happily recommend the clinic.

Ceilidh · October 2026 · Read on Trustpilot

Quoted word for word from Trustpilot. Read all our reviews

Is it right for me?

The ideal candidate for tummy tuck surgery has excess abdominal skin, separated abdominal muscles, or both — most often after pregnancy or significant weight loss — and is at a stable weight.

  • Excess or overhanging skin of the abdomen that does not respond to diet and exercise.
  • Separated abdominal muscles (rectus diastasis) after pregnancy.
  • A weight that has been stable for several months before surgery.
  • A non-smoker, or willing to stop smoking for several weeks before and after surgery.
  • Realistic expectations of what the procedure can and cannot change.

A tummy tuck is not a weight-loss procedure, and patients who are still losing weight are usually advised to reach a stable weight before surgery. Patients planning further pregnancies are usually advised to complete their family first, because pregnancy stretches the repaired muscles and skin again.

Where the concern is localised fat with good skin tone and no muscle separation, liposuction alone may be more appropriate. Suitability is assessed at a face-to-face consultation with the consultant who would perform your surgery.

Unsure? Try the free AI consultation, or ask at your appointment.

What tummy tuck surgery involves

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and repairs weakened or separated abdominal muscles. The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia by Mr Omar Quaba, a consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register, and takes around 2.5 to 3 hours.

The procedure can:

  • Repair separated abdominal muscles (rectus diastasis), which can improve core strength and reduce some forms of back pain.
  • Remove excess skin that can lead to irritation, rashes, or hygiene issues.
  • Eliminate the apron of skin that often hangs over caesarean section scars or other surgical scars.
  • Address certain types of small hernia when combined with muscle repair.

Outcomes published in the British Journal of Plastic Surgery on abdominoplasty with muscle repair report improvements in posture and core stability, exercise tolerance, stress urinary incontinence in some women after childbirth, and back pain related to core muscle weakness.

The consultant who assesses you at your first appointment is the consultant who plans and performs your surgery. Mini abdominoplasty is performed as a day case at Waterfront Private Hospital; full, extended, and fleur-de-lis procedures are performed with an overnight stay at our partner facility in Edinburgh.

The no-drain tummy tuck technique

The no-drain abdominoplasty technique used at Quaba was published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 2015 and documented a revision rate of 8.9%, against an industry-published range of 11% to 34.4%. Mr Omar Quaba has refined the published technique by adding quilting sutures, which further reduce the rates of seroma and infection.

The technique has been presented and published in peer-reviewed forums:

  • Best presentation at the Scottish Meeting of Plastic Surgeons, 2013.
  • Published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2015 — the most widely cited journal in plastic surgery.
  • Featured presentation by Mr Awf Quaba at the annual meeting of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), 2018.

How a standard tummy tuck uses drains

Many surgeons in the UK use surgical drains during abdominoplasty. Drains remain in place for between one and five days after surgery, with the aim of reducing the risk of blood and fluid collecting under the skin. Drains can be uncomfortable, can limit mobility, and can prolong hospital stay. There is limited evidence for their routine use in the published literature.

What is different about the technique

The technique preserves the sub-Scarpa fat layer — a deep layer of fatty tissue that sits between the abdominal muscle and the overlying skin — rather than removing it as a standard abdominoplasty does. Preserving this layer reduces disruption to the lymphatic drainage of the abdomen and reduces the potential space where fluid would otherwise accumulate. This allows tummy tuck surgery to be performed without drains in the great majority of cases.

Mr Omar Quaba’s quilting sutures refinement

Mr Omar Quaba has modified the technique by adding quilting sutures — an additional layer of internal sutures placed between the deep tissue and the overlying skin during closure. Quilting sutures secure the two layers together and reduce any residual space for fluid to collect, producing a lower rate of seroma and wound infection than the published technique alone.

Why this matters for patients

The practical effect for the patient is no drains to manage at home, a lower documented rate of seroma and infection, and published evidence of a lower-than-average revision rate.

Mini and full abdominoplasty

Tummy tuck surgery is tailored to the individual case. The right approach depends on the amount and pattern of excess skin, the degree of muscle separation, and the area to be treated. The decision is made at consultation.

Standard (full) abdominoplasty

The standard procedure addresses the abdomen from the pubic area up to and around the belly button. Excess skin and fat between the pubic area and the belly button are removed, weakened or separated abdominal muscles are repaired, and the belly button is repositioned through a new opening in the relocated skin. The horizontal scar along the lower abdomen is positioned to sit below underwear or swimwear. The standard approach suits patients with significant skin laxity or muscle separation after pregnancy or substantial weight loss.

Mini tummy tuck

The mini tummy tuck addresses only the area below the belly button. A smaller amount of skin and fat is removed through a shorter horizontal scar, and the belly button is not repositioned. The mini procedure suits patients with limited excess skin and no significant muscle separation above the belly button. It is performed as a day case at Waterfront Private Hospital.

Extended abdominoplasty

The extended abdominoplasty addresses skin laxity that continues around the flanks and into the lower back, with a scar that extends further around the body. It is most often considered after substantial weight loss, where excess skin extends well beyond the front of the abdomen.

Fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty

The fleur-de-lis adds a vertical midline incision to the standard horizontal scar, allowing excess skin to be removed in both directions. It is considered when substantial vertical and horizontal excess skin — most often after major weight loss — cannot be adequately addressed by a standard or extended abdominoplasty. The trade-off is a more extensive scar.

What tummy tuck surgery can and can't do

A tummy tuck can make a real difference when loose skin or separated muscles are the problem. It is a big operation with a long scar, and we want you to weigh that up with the full picture in front of you.

It can

  • Remove loose, overhanging skin and some fat from the lower tummy.
  • Repair separated tummy muscles as part of a full tummy tuck, for a flatter, firmer front wall.
  • Remove the stretch marks that sit on the skin being taken away, usually those below the belly button.
  • Make clothes and swimwear sit more comfortably around your middle.

It can’t

  • Help you lose weight. It removes skin and some fat, not body weight, and works best when you are already at or near a weight you can keep.
  • Remove fat from your flanks or hips. That is done with liposuction, sometimes at the same operation.
  • Leave you without a scar. A full tummy tuck leaves a low scar from hip to hip and a scar around the belly button. It fades but never disappears.
  • Promise to ease back pain. Some people with separated muscles say their back feels better afterwards, but the evidence is limited and we would not operate for that reason alone.
  • Protect the result from pregnancy or weight gain. Both can stretch the skin and muscles again, so it is best to wait until you have finished having children.

Your consultant will tell you at your consultation which of these apply to you.

View before and after gallery

What is the cost of tummy tuck surgery?

Tummy tuck surgery at Quaba is priced according to the variant performed:

  • Mini abdominoplasty: from £7,000.
  • Standard (full) abdominoplasty: from £11,200.
  • Extended abdominoplasty and fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty: quoted at consultation.

The full price for your individual case can only be confirmed after a face-to-face consultation with the consultant who will perform your surgery.

Our consultation fee with a consultant plastic surgeon is £200. Where a further consultation would help you reach a decision, this is offered without additional charge.

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Questions before you book?

Ask anything about tummy tuck, its recovery, risks or cost, any time and in plain language. If you would like, our team can contact you afterwards.

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General information, not a substitute for a consultation.

Patients often ask

Quick answers

Will the same surgeon plan, perform and review my tummy tuck?

Yes. The consultant who assesses you at your first appointment is the consultant who plans your surgery, performs it, and reviews you afterwards. There are no handovers between consultants.

Who will perform my tummy tuck?

Your tummy tuck is planned and performed by Mr Omar Quaba, consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register. You meet Mr Omar Quaba at your first appointment, and the same consultant operates and sees you afterwards.

Can I see results from your surgeons?

Yes. Our tummy tuck before and after gallery shows patients treated at Quaba Plastic Surgery, shared with their consent. Results vary between people, and your consultant will show you what is realistic for you at your consultation.

What happens if I have concerns after my surgery?

Your Quaba consultant stays responsible for your care after surgery. A nurse sees you a week after your operation, more often if you need it, and your consultant reviews you at around six months, when the result has settled. If anything worries you before then, contact us and your consultant will reply directly and see you as soon as needed.

How much does a tummy tuck cost?

Tummy tuck surgery at Quaba starts from £7,000 for a mini abdominoplasty and from £11,200 for a standard (full) abdominoplasty. Extended and fleur-de-lis variants are quoted at consultation. Each price covers the surgeon’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee, the hospital and theatre fee, and all post-operative reviews until you are fully discharged.

All our guide prices are on our pricing page.

What specific concerns can a tummy tuck address?

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) removes excess skin and fat from the abdominal area and tightens weakened or separated abdominal muscles. It is most often considered after pregnancy or significant weight loss. A tummy tuck is not a weight-loss procedure; where additional fat reduction is required, liposuction may be combined with the abdominoplasty at the same operation.

How long does it take to recover from a tummy tuck?

Most patients take 2 to 3 weeks off work. You will walk bent over for the first week as the tissues feel tight, and posture gradually returns to normal by the end of the second week. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for six weeks. Where muscle repair has been performed, exercise involving the abdominal muscles should be avoided for six months.

Will a tummy tuck remove stretch marks?

Stretch marks within the area of skin that is removed — typically between the belly button and the pubic area — are removed with the skin. Stretch marks elsewhere on the abdomen are not addressed by the procedure. The pattern of stretch marks on your abdomen is assessed at consultation to give you a realistic idea of what will and will not be removed.

Is liposuction combined with abdominoplasty?

Liposuction is sometimes combined with abdominoplasty to refine areas of localised fat — for example, the flanks or the upper abdomen — that the tummy tuck alone does not address. Whether liposuction is appropriate for your case is decided at consultation.

Can I have liposuction alone instead of an abdominoplasty?

Liposuction addresses excess fat but does not remove excess skin and does not repair separated abdominal muscles. Where excess skin or significant muscle separation are present, liposuction alone will not produce the result a tummy tuck does. Where the concern is localised fat only, with good skin tone and no muscle separation, liposuction alone may be appropriate.

Is a mini tummy tuck right for me or do I need the full version?

The mini tummy tuck addresses excess skin below the belly button only, through a shorter scar, and the belly button is not repositioned. Where skin laxity or muscle separation extends above the belly button, a full abdominoplasty is needed to achieve a meaningful result. The right option is assessed at consultation with the consultant who would perform your surgery.

What if I get pregnant after a tummy tuck?

Pregnancy after a tummy tuck is possible but will stretch the skin and abdominal muscles again, which can compromise the result. Most patients are advised to complete their family before considering surgery. If pregnancy occurs after surgery, the result can sometimes be revised once recovery from pregnancy is complete.

How visible are tummy tuck scars?

The standard tummy tuck leaves a horizontal scar along the lower abdomen, positioned to sit below underwear or swimwear, and a small scar around the repositioned belly button. The fleur-de-lis variant adds a vertical scar up the midline of the abdomen. Scars take up to 18 months to settle and fade; in most patients they become pale and flat over time.

Are the results of a tummy tuck permanent?

Yes. The skin and fat that are removed do not return. The shape of the abdomen will continue to change naturally with age, and significant weight gain or pregnancy after surgery can affect the result.

When will I see the final result of my tummy tuck?

The shape of the abdomen is broadly visible by six weeks once the early swelling has eased. The final result settles over a longer period — fine swelling and scar maturation can take up to 18 months to fully resolve.

The surgeon who does this

You meet your consultant at your first appointment. The same consultant plans your surgery, carries it out and sees you afterwards.

Risks, and how often they happen

Every operation carries risk. Here they are in three groups. The figures come from UK national guidance and published studies, averaged across many patients, so your own risk may be higher or lower. Your consultant will go through what applies to you, and every risk is in your written consent.

  • Expected
  • Uncommon
  • Rare
  • For the long term

Expected Almost everyone, and they settle

  • Swelling and bruising across the tummy for several weeks, settling gradually over a few months.
  • Tightness and discomfort for the first week or two, eased by painkillers.
  • Numbness of the lower tummy below the belly button. It usually improves over 12 to 18 months but may not fully recover.
  • A long scar low across the tummy, shorter after a mini tummy tuck, red at first and fading over 12 to 18 months.

Uncommon Some patients, and some need further treatment

  • Fluid collecting under the skin (seroma). It may need draining with a needle in clinic, sometimes more than once.

    About 1 in 10

  • Part of the wound breaking down or healing slowly, most often in the middle of the scar. Smoking and a higher BMI make this much more likely. Small areas heal with dressings; larger ones can need further surgery.

    About 1 in 30higher in smokers

  • An infection needing antibiotics.

    About 1 in 30

  • Bleeding that needs a return to theatre (haematoma), usually in the first day.

    About 1 in 100

  • A small difference between the two sides. Most settle as the swelling goes; a persistent difference can occasionally need a revision.

Rare but serious

  • A blood clot in the leg or lung (DVT or PE). A tummy tuck carries the highest clot risk of the common cosmetic operations, so we assess your risk and take steps to prevent it.

    Under 1 in 100higher when combined with other surgery

  • Loss of part or all of the belly button, if its blood supply is disturbed. It heals as a scar and may need further surgery.

    About 1 in 500

  • A serious reaction to the anaesthetic.

    Very rare

For the long term

  • Scars take 12 to 18 months to settle. Some stretch or thicken, and a few need treatment later.
  • Pregnancy and weight change still matter. A stable weight keeps the result, and a later pregnancy can stretch the muscles and skin again.
  • A small touch-up is sometimes needed. Puckers at the ends of the scar usually settle, but occasionally need a minor procedure under local anaesthetic.
  • The belly button looks different. It is brought out through a new opening, so its shape changes a little, and the scar around it can show in some people.

More from BAAPS on tummy tuck. Thinking of a tummy tuck with breast surgery after pregnancy? See post-pregnancy surgery.

Where these figures come from

Aftercare and recovery after tummy tuck surgery

The recovery timeline below is based on Mr Omar Quaba’s no-drain technique with quilting sutures. Individual recovery varies, and the timeline at consultation will be set for your specific case.

First week

You will be discharged the morning after surgery with pain medication, typically including a strong painkiller such as dihydrocodeine. Gentle walking around the home from day one promotes circulation and reduces the risk of clots. You will walk bent forwards because the tissues feel tight; this gradually improves. A small amount of blood-staining on dressings is normal. You can shower but should avoid soaking the dressings. Keep the new belly button clean with soap, water, and a cotton bud. A nurse review at the end of the first week removes the outer dressings.

Second week

Posture continues to straighten. Swelling and bruising peak in the second week and begin to settle. Most patients feel comfortable doing light tasks at home. Driving is generally avoided until you can perform an emergency stop without discomfort — typically two to three weeks. Most patients return to desk-based work between weeks two and three.

Weeks three to four

You can resume light daily activities and walking for longer periods. Swelling continues to reduce. You may still feel tightness across the abdomen, particularly first thing in the morning. The horizontal scar starts to flatten.

Weeks five to six

Most patients return to normal daily activity by week six. Strenuous exercise — running, gym work, heavy lifting — can be reintroduced from six weeks. Exercise specifically involving the abdominal muscles (sit-ups, planks, abdominal weight training) should still be avoided where muscle repair has been performed.

Beyond six weeks

The shape of the abdomen continues to settle over the following months. Fine swelling resolves over several months and the scar continues to mature for up to 18 months. Where muscle repair has been performed, exercise involving the abdominal muscles should be avoided for six months in total to allow the repair to settle, after which it can be reintroduced gradually.

Important notes

Smoking significantly increases the risk of delayed wound healing and is strongly discouraged for several weeks before and after surgery. Weight should be stable in the months leading up to surgery — significant weight change after surgery can affect the result.

Follow-up and reviews

A nurse reviews you at one week, and more often if needed in the early healing period. Your consultant sees you again at around six months once the result has settled. Between then, your consultant is always available — if anything concerns you, they will respond directly and arrange to see you as soon as needed.

If you have had surgery with us or are considering it, more detailed advice is available on the tummy tuck aftercare page.

Explore tummy tuck aftercare
A nurse with a tablet talking to a patient at Waterfront Private Hospital

Written by

Mr Omar Quaba

Consultant plastic surgeon · GMC 4586300

Last updated May 2026