5.0(14)
Op. Dr. Murat Yaman
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 11+years exp.
- 5,000+surgeries
- 6Treatments
Turkish · English
From€2,890
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Body Contouring
Post bariatric plastic surgery
What post bariatric plastic surgery is, which operations remove loose skin after major weight loss (tummy tuck, body lift, thigh lift, arm lift, breast lift), when to wait after weight stabilises, how procedures are staged, approximate costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, recovery, risks and how to check a clinic.
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Verified surgeons for Post Bariatric Plastic Surgery
4 doctors Compare doctors, ratings and prices — ask any of them for a free quote.
Prof. Dr. Ayhan Numanoğlu
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 56+years exp.
English · Turkish
FromPrice on request
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Dr. Erdem Tezel
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 37+years exp.
English · Turkish
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Prof. Dr. Özhan Çelebiler
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 44+years exp.
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Post bariatric plastic surgery in Turkey: what it is and why it is needed
Post bariatric plastic surgery, also called body contouring after weight loss, is the group of operations that remove loose, hanging skin and remaining fat after major weight loss, most often after a gastric sleeve, gastric bypass or very large weight loss by diet. When someone loses 30 kg or more, skin that has been stretched for years often cannot shrink back. It hangs from the abdomen, thighs, upper arms, back and breasts, and can cause rashes, infections, discomfort when exercising and a body shape that does not match the weight lost. The operations remove this skin and reshape the underlying tissue; they are not weight-loss surgery and do not remove large amounts of fat.
This guide explains which operations are involved, in what order they are usually done, when to start, what they cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany, recovery, risks and how to choose a clinic. The wider range of operations is listed in our plastic surgery treatments in Turkey.
Which operations make up post bariatric plastic surgery?
Few people need all of them. Common procedures include:
- Abdominoplasty or panniculectomy: removes the hanging apron of abdominal skin and tightens the muscles (a panniculectomy removes only the hanging skin).
- Lower body lift: a circumferential operation that lifts the abdomen, flanks, buttocks and outer thighs in one procedure.
- Thigh lift: removes loose skin from the inner or outer thigh; see our guide to thigh lift.
- Brachioplasty (arm lift): removes loose skin from the upper arms, leaving a scar along the inner arm.
- Breast lift, with or without implants: restores breast shape and position after volume loss.
- Upper body or back lift and neck or face lift: treat loose skin on the back, bra line and face in selected patients.
When is the right time to have surgery after weight loss?
Surgeons generally advise waiting until the weight has been stable for at least three to six months, and commonly twelve to eighteen months after bariatric surgery, when most of the weight loss is complete. Operating too early risks further weight loss changing the result and operating on tissues that are still shrinking. Nutrition matters too: protein, iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D and other deficiencies are common after bariatric surgery and slow healing, so blood tests should be normal first. Smoking, nicotine replacement and uncontrolled diabetes increase wound problems and should be stopped or controlled. Your bariatric team and the plastic surgeon should agree on the timing.
In what order are the operations done?
Because each operation takes hours and creates scars that need to heal, the work is usually staged, rather than done all at once. There is no single sequence; surgeons choose one by your priorities, health and which area causes the most problems. A common plan starts with the trunk, since the abdomen and back affect the rest of the body, then moves to thighs, then arms and breasts.
| Stage | Typical operation | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tummy tuck or lower body lift | Largest effect on comfort and hygiene; long operation; main scar around the trunk |
| 2 | Thigh lift and, if needed, buttock lift | Scars in the groin or inner thigh; wound-healing care needed |
| 3 | Arm lift and breast lift | Often combined in one session; shorter recovery |
A safe plan usually spaces operations by three to six months and limits the length of each, as long operations raise the risk of blood clots and complications. Combining several areas in one trip can be possible, but a surgeon should explain what is safe for your size and health.
Does post bariatric plastic surgery work, and what are its limits?
It works for its purpose: removing excess skin permanently, improving comfort and hygiene, and giving clothes a better fit. Studies in bariatric patients report improvements in body image and quality of life, but they also show higher complication rates than in people who did not have major weight loss, notably wound healing problems, seroma and infection. Scars are long, because removing a lot of skin needs a long incision, and they can widen. The operations do not tighten every part of the body, do not stop weight regain, and results are lost partly if weight rises again. A trustworthy clinic will explain scars, staging and risks plainly, and will not promise a single operation that fixes everything.
Post bariatric plastic surgery cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges for a single main operation such as a tummy tuck or a lower body lift and are not hospital quotes. A multi-stage plan costs the sum of its parts.
| Country | Approximate cost per operation |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €3,000 – €9,000 |
| United Kingdom | €6,500 – €18,000 |
| United States | €9,000 – €30,000 |
| Germany | €6,000 – €16,000 |
The price depends on the operation (a body lift costs more than an arm lift), the amount of skin and fat to be removed, the hospital stay, the number of surgeons and whether several areas are combined. A package typically includes pre-operative tests, surgeon and anaesthetist, hospital stay, drains, compression garments, medication and transfers; confirm each item. Public health systems may fund some operations in medical cases such as skin infections, but criteria are strict and waiting lists long.
Who is a good candidate, and who should wait?
Good candidates have had a stable weight for several months, a body mass index within the range the surgeon accepts, normal blood tests for nutrition, and loose skin that causes problems or distress. You should wait or be assessed carefully if your weight is still falling or rising, you smoke, you have untreated anaemia or vitamin deficiency, uncontrolled diabetes, a clotting disorder, serious heart or lung disease, or you have a history of poor wound healing. People who have had a bariatric operation may also have changes to how medicines are absorbed, which the anaesthetist needs to know about.
How are the operations done, step by step?
Surgery is done under general anaesthesia and, for a major operation, takes about three to six hours. The surgeon marks the skin while you stand, makes incisions along the planned scar line, lifts the tissue, removes the excess skin, tightens deeper layers where needed and closes in layers. Drains are often placed to remove fluid. Compression garments are applied in theatre. A tummy tuck or body lift needs one to three nights in hospital; arm and thigh lifts usually one or two. Liposuction may be added to refine the contour, but not in every area.
How long do you stay in Turkey, and what is recovery like?
For a single major operation, plan on seven to ten days in Turkey, so drains can be removed and the wounds checked before you fly. Recovery is longer than for ordinary cosmetic surgery because more skin is removed.
- Weeks 1–2: soreness, swelling, drains; short walks daily; garment day and night.
- Weeks 3–6: return to desk work around week 2 to 4; no lifting, straining or stretching the scars.
- Weeks 6–12: gradual return to exercise as advised.
- Months 6–12: swelling settles, scars flatten and fade, and the final result becomes clear.
Plan help at home for the first weeks and remember that the next operation in the plan usually waits three to six months.
Post bariatric plastic surgery before and after: what do the results look like?
Photographs of good outcomes show a smoother trunk, thighs and arms without hanging skin, and scars placed where clothing covers them. They do not show the swelling in the first months, the length of the scars or the need for staged operations, and they often show only the best outcome from patients who were highly motivated to keep their weight stable. Ask for photos of patients with a similar starting weight, a similar amount of skin and a follow-up of at least a year.
Risks and complications of post bariatric plastic surgery
Risks include wound-healing problems and wound separation, infection, seroma, bleeding, blood clots in the legs or lungs, changed sensation, asymmetry, widened scars and the need for revision. People who have had major weight loss, especially with nutritional deficiency, have higher complication rates, and longer operations add to the risk. Professional bodies such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons advise a qualified surgeon, a full medical assessment and an accredited facility. The NHS lists clot and anaesthetic risks on its patient pages. Ask who will treat complications after you return home and how follow-up is arranged.
How to choose a surgeon and hospital, and red flags
Choose a specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery with experience in body contouring after weight loss, working in a licensed hospital with an anaesthetist and intensive-care back-up. Red flags are a plan to do many large operations in a single week, a quote with no breakdown, no check of your blood tests or your weight history, a promise of perfect skin and pressure to pay a deposit. Read how our process works and request a written plan through the free quote page.
Questions to ask the clinic:
- Which operations do I need, in what order, and with what gap?
- Which blood tests and weight checks are needed before surgery?
- How long will each operation take, and what is the risk of combining areas?
- Where will the scars be, and how long are they?
- Who looks after me if there is a problem after I return home?
Hospitals with Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
It is a group of operations, such as tummy tuck, body lift, thigh lift, arm lift and breast lift, that remove loose skin and reshape the body after major weight loss, often after a gastric sleeve or bypass.
Surgeons usually wait until weight has been stable for at least three to six months, and often twelve to eighteen months after bariatric surgery. Blood tests for nutrition should also be normal.
As an approximate range, a single major operation costs about €3,000 to €9,000 in Turkey against roughly €6,500 to €18,000 in the UK. A multi-stage plan costs the sum of each operation.
Many plans start with the abdomen or a lower body lift because it affects comfort most, then continue with thighs, then arms and breasts. The surgeon chooses the order by your priorities and health.
Most people return to desk work after two to four weeks, avoid lifting and exercise for six weeks or more, and see scars and shape settle over six to twelve months. Major operations need more help at home.
You are asleep during surgery. Afterwards the area is sore and tight for one to two weeks, usually controlled with prescribed painkillers. Drains and garments can be uncomfortable but are temporary.
Yes. Removing a large amount of skin needs long incisions, such as a hip-to-hip tummy tuck scar or a scar along the inner arm. They fade over a year or more but never disappear.
Rarely. Long operations raise the risk of blood clots and wound problems, so surgeons usually stage the work three to six months apart, combining only areas that are safe for your size and health.
Sometimes, if skin causes recurrent infections or functional problems, but criteria are strict and waiting lists can be long. Cosmetic reasons are usually not funded.
For one major operation, plan seven to ten days, including one to three nights in hospital, so drains can be removed and the surgeon can check the wounds before you fly.
Patient stories