Tummy Tuck

The tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to reshape and firm the abdominal area by removing excess skin and fat while tightening the abdominal muscles. This procedure is ideal for patients who have experienced weight fluctuations, pregnancy or ageing, which result in loose or sagging skin that cannot be improved through diet or exercise alone.

Pregnancy, significant weight loss and the natural ageing process can profoundly alter your body — often leaving behind loose skin, stubborn fat and weakened abdominal muscles that no amount of diet or exercise can resolve.

Dr. Paulo Michels offers a refined, highly customised approach to abdominoplasty in Abu Dhabi. The focus goes beyond aesthetic enhancement: the goal is to safely restore your pre-pregnancy body, rebuild your core strength and deliver natural, elegant results with minimal downtime.

Why choose a tummy tuck? (Beyond aesthetics)

While a tummy tuck is renowned for flattening the stomach and removing excess skin, its true value often lies in functional restoration. Many patients are mothers dealing with the anatomical aftermath of multiple pregnancies. A tummy tuck can provide life-changing functional benefits:

• Diastasis recti repair — separated abdominal muscles are meticulously sutured back to the midline, acting as an “internal biological corset”
• Chronic pain relief — by restoring core support, the lower back no longer has to overcompensate, which frequently resolves chronic back pain and poor posture
• Improved vitality — this procedure is not merely cosmetic; it is a return to biomechanical health and structural integrity

Are you an ideal candidate?

You may be an excellent candidate for a tummy tuck if you:

• Have excess, sagging skin around your abdomen following pregnancy or massive weight loss
• Experience functional issues like lower back pain due to abdominal muscle separation (diastasis recti)
• Are at a stable weight and seek a permanent refinement of your body contours

Because a tummy tuck is a body contouring procedure — not a weight-loss surgery — achieving and maintaining a stable weight close to your ideal goal before surgery ensures the most dramatic, long-lasting and safe aesthetic results.

Which advanced surgical technique is right for you?

Every body is unique, and so is the surgical approach. Dr. Paulo Michels selects the precise technique to match your anatomy, skin elasticity and aesthetic goals.

Surgical technique	Ideal profile and procedure details
Mini tummy tuck	Best for lean patients with stubborn skin confined below the belly button. It requires a small horizontal incision without repositioning the navel.
Full tummy tuck	The standard choice for post-pregnancy restoration. Involves a lower abdominal incision, full muscle repair, removal of excess skin, and the creation of a natural-looking belly button.
Tummy Tuck 360 and lipoabdominoplasty	Integrates 360° liposuction with a tummy tuck to sculpt the waistline three-dimensionally, eliminating back fat and creating anatomical muscle shadows.
MILA (Minimally Invasive Lipoabdominoplasty)	Ideal for patients needing muscle repair without skin excision. The diastasis recti is repaired via endoscopic video surgery through the exact same tiny access points used for liposuction, leaving no long surgical scars.
Fleur-de-Lis (extended)	Designed for massive weight loss patients. Adds a vertical incision to pull redundant skin from the sides to the centre, maximising contouring.

Which synergistic procedures create the ultimate contour?

To achieve a flawless, hourglass figure, a tummy tuck is frequently combined with advanced body-contouring techniques:

• Rib remodelling — a specialised technique to gently reshape the lower ribs, dramatically narrowing the waistline for a more defined silhouette that soft-tissue surgery alone cannot achieve
• Fat transfer (BBL) — purified fat from the liposuction phase can be strategically transferred to the buttocks and hips (Brazilian Butt Lift) to restore volume and enhance your natural curves for a comprehensive 360-degree transformation
• UGRAFT — advanced abdominal muscle reinforcement techniques
• Surgical glue — incisions are secured using state-of-the-art surgical glue, ensuring a discreet, seamless scar that fades beautifully over time

Drain or drainless tummy tuck?

A common concern among patients is the use of surgical drains. Both drainless and traditional techniques are utilised, tailoring the approach to your specific surgical plan.

The decision to use a drain depends entirely on the volume of liposuction performed during your surgery. If extensive liposuction is required to achieve your desired contour, a temporary drain is highly beneficial to clear excess fluid and accelerate the reduction of swelling. Conversely, in cases requiring less liposuction, Dr. Michels utilises progressive tension sutures — stitching the abdominal tissue directly to the underlying muscle to close the internal “dead space” where fluid would normally collect — allowing a completely drainless recovery.

How is pain managed? Ultrasound-guided nerve blocks

One of the most significant advancements of this practice — and a major differentiator from most other services — is the pain-management protocol.

Every tummy tuck performed by Dr. Michels includes ultrasound-guided nerve blocks. Instead of relying solely on heavy systemic painkillers, the specialised anaesthesiology team uses ultrasound technology to precisely locate and temporarily block the sensory nerves in the abdominal wall. The benefits:

• Drastic reduction in immediate post-operative pain
• Minimal reliance on narcotic painkillers, reducing nausea and grogginess
• Faster, more comfortable mobilisation, allowing you to walk sooner — which is crucial for a safe and rapid recovery

What does the recovery timeline look like?

A smooth, predictable recovery process is the priority:

• Days 1–3 — a short hospital stay for premium clinical monitoring. You will walk slightly bent over to relieve tension on the incision; pain is highly controlled via the nerve-block protocol
• Weeks 1–2 — rest at home; Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) massages begin to rapidly dissipate swelling, prevent fluid build-up and encourage smooth, even skin healing
• Weeks 3–6 — most patients comfortably return to office work; you must wear your compression garment 24/7 to promote proper skin adhesion and contouring
• Weeks 6–8 — you are generally cleared to return to the gym, moderate weightlifting and swimming, once the internal muscle repairs have fully healed and stabilised
• Months 6–12 — the discreet scar matures, flattening and fading into a fine, easily concealable line

Recovering in the UAE requires specific care: remain in air-conditioned environments to prevent sweating under the compression garment, keep the incision line completely out of the sun to prevent hyperpigmentation, and avoid pools and the sea until fully cleared by the medical team.

Where will the scar be, and will my belly button look natural?

The incision is strategically placed very low on the abdomen, typically sitting just above the pubic area and extending toward the hips — meticulously designed to be easily hidden beneath most standard underwear and swimwear. The final layer of the incision is often secured with state-of-the-art surgical glue, which creates a waterproof barrier, aligns the skin edges perfectly, reduces tension and promotes a seamless scar.

Creating a natural, innie belly button is a hallmark of high-end plastic surgery. Dr. Paulo Michels carefully reshapes and positions the umbilicus so it looks naturally integrated into your new, taut abdomen, without tell-tale signs of surgery.

Patients from Dubai

Many of the practice’s abdominoplasty patients travel from Dubai. The practical side is straightforward:

• The consultation — patients travelling from Dubai are seen at Elyzee Hospital in Abu Dhabi, where all consultations and surgery take place. You can book by WhatsApp or phone on +971 50 106 7981, or through the contact form. The visit is unhurried and private: your examination, the technique your anatomy actually needs and the honest trade-offs are all covered in the same appointment.
• Planning the surgery — where possible the surgical date, pre-operative tests and the anaesthesia review are arranged around a single additional trip, rather than several separate drives into Abu Dhabi.
• Follow-up — the first days are spent in Abu Dhabi under clinical monitoring, and the subsequent review appointments are scheduled together where possible to keep the number of journeys down. Tummy tuck surgery in Abu Dhabi and Dubai follows exactly the recovery timeline set out above — the emirate you live in changes the logistics, never the clinical plan.

World-class safety, privacy and exclusivity

At Elyzee Hospital, the decision to undergo surgery is understood as deeply personal. An uncompromising clinical standard prioritises your safety, privacy and comfort.

The clinic features VIP protocols, discreet consultation and recovery areas, and a highly trained medical support team. All procedures are performed under the highest safety standards in premium, fully accredited hospital facilities by board-certified specialists, ensuring an exclusive and serene environment from your first consultation to your final follow-up.

What does your investment include?

Complete financial transparency and a stress-free patient journey are core principles. When you book a procedure with Dr. Paulo Michels, your treatment plan is all-inclusive. Your comprehensive package includes:

• Senior surgical expertise and meticulous pre-operative planning
• Specialist board-certified anaesthesiologists, including ultrasound-guided nerve blocks
• All premium hospital facility and operating theatre costs
• Post-operative imported compression garments
• All necessary discharge medications
• Comprehensive follow-up appointments and ongoing clinical support