Tummy Tuck & Liposuction: 52-Year-Old Results, Istanbul

Patient Overview

• Patient: Trena

• Age: 52 years old

• Gender: Female

• From: Canada

• Procedures: Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) with Liposuction

• After photos taken at: 6 days post-surgery

• Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Tummy Tuck with Liposuction in Istanbul: Trena's Transformation

Trena is a 52-year-old patient from Canada who traveled to Istanbul, Turkey to undergo a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) combined with liposuction with Dr. Cem Berkay Sinaci. Like many Canadian patients who explore plastic surgery abroad, Trena chose Istanbul for the combination of highly experienced surgeons, internationally accredited facilities, and a total cost — including travel, accommodation, and aftercare — that remains significantly below what equivalent surgery would cost in Canada's private healthcare system.

These before and after photos were taken just 6 days after surgery, making this one of the earliest documentation points in the healing process. Even at day 6, while significant swelling is still present, the transformation in abdominal contour is clearly visible — the excess skin is gone, the waistline is defined, and the abdomen is flat in a way that no amount of diet, exercise, or non-surgical treatment could have achieved.

What Is a Tummy Tuck and Who Needs One?

A tummy tuck — medically called an abdominoplasty — is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen while tightening the underlying abdominal muscles. It is one of the most commonly performed body contouring procedures worldwide and consistently ranks among the highest-rated surgeries in terms of patient satisfaction.

Abdominoplasty is appropriate for patients who have excess, loose abdominal skin that cannot be improved with exercise or weight loss — typically following pregnancy, significant weight loss, or simply as a result of aging and loss of skin elasticity. Many patients find that no matter how much weight they lose or how consistently they train, the loose skin of the abdomen remains — because loose skin is a structural problem, not a weight problem. Surgery is the only effective solution for removing excess skin and tightening the abdominal wall. The mommy makeover — a popular combination procedure that includes a tummy tuck alongside breast surgery — reflects how central abdominoplasty has become to full body rejuvenation after pregnancy.

Combining a Tummy Tuck with Liposuction: Better Results, One Recovery

The combination of a tummy tuck with liposuction is now the standard of care for comprehensive abdominal contouring. While the tummy tuck addresses the excess skin and the separated or weakened abdominal muscles, liposuction targets the stubborn fat deposits that remain in the flanks, hips, waist, and lateral abdomen — areas that are not fully addressed by the skin excision alone.

Performing liposuction at the same time as the abdominoplasty allows Dr. CBS to sculpt the entire trunk in a single session, creating a 360-degree improvement in body contour. The flanks and waist are slimmed and defined, the transition between the abdomen and the hips is smoothed, and the overall result is a more proportionate and natural silhouette — rather than a flat front with unchanged sides. Combining the two procedures also means a single anaesthetic, a single recovery period, and a single period away from work and daily life — a significant practical advantage for patients traveling from Canada or other international destinations.

Abdominal Muscle Repair: The Hidden Core of a Tummy Tuck

One aspect of tummy tuck surgery that is often underappreciated — and not visible in before and after photos — is the repair of the abdominal muscles. During pregnancy or following significant weight changes, the two vertical bands of the rectus abdominis muscle can separate along the midline — a condition called diastasis recti. This separation creates a visible bulging of the abdomen, particularly when standing or straining, that cannot be corrected with core exercises alone.

During abdominoplasty, Dr. CBS repairs this muscle separation by suturing the rectus muscles back together along the midline — recreating the natural abdominal wall tension that provides core support, reduces the abdominal bulge, and narrows the waist. This internal tightening is one of the most functionally significant aspects of a tummy tuck, and its effect on the flatness and definition of the abdomen is often dramatic. Patients frequently report improvements in posture, back support, and core strength alongside the aesthetic transformation.

Tummy Tuck After 50: Why Age Is Not a Barrier

A common concern among patients in their fifties considering a tummy tuck is whether age makes the surgery riskier or less effective. The answer, for healthy patients without significant comorbidities, is that age alone is not a contraindication to abdominoplasty. What matters is the patient's overall health, BMI, and fitness for general anaesthesia — not the number on their birth certificate.

In fact, patients in their fifties often achieve particularly dramatic tummy tuck results because they typically present with more pronounced skin laxity and muscle separation than younger patients — meaning the degree of improvement that surgery can deliver is correspondingly greater. Trena's case is a clear example: at 52, the excess skin and abdominal wall laxity that had accumulated over the years was completely addressed in a single surgical session, producing a result that no amount of diet or exercise could have achieved. Patients traveling from Canada for tummy tuck surgery in their forties, fifties, or beyond will find that Dr. CBS assesses each patient individually, with safety and realistic outcomes at the centre of every surgical plan.

Results at 6 Days: Very Early but Already Visible

It is important to set realistic expectations for what before and after photos taken at 6 days post-surgery represent. At this stage, the abdomen is still significantly swollen — often appearing larger than the final result will be. Bruising is typically present, the surgical drains may not yet have been removed, and the compression garment is worn continuously. The scar, which runs horizontally low across the abdomen within the bikini line, is still fresh and has not yet begun its maturation process.

Despite all of this, the key result is already visible at day 6: the excess skin that hung over the waistline is gone, the abdominal contour is flat, and the waist — refined by the simultaneous liposuction — is noticeably more defined. The full result will emerge gradually over the following 3 to 6 months as all swelling resolves, the scar begins to flatten and fade, and the skin and tissue fully adapt to their new position. Most tummy tuck patients describe their 3-month result as significantly better than their 6-week result, and their 6-month result as better still.

Traveling from Canada to Istanbul for a Tummy Tuck

Canada has a growing community of medical tourists who travel to Turkey for body contouring procedures. The cost difference is substantial: a tummy tuck with liposuction in Turkey costs a fraction of the same procedure in Canadian private clinics, and patients receive comprehensive care — pre-operative consultation, surgery, hospital stay, and aftercare — as part of a coordinated package. For patients traveling from cities like Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal, Istanbul is accessible via direct or single-connection flights, and the recovery period can be comfortably managed with a stay of 7 to 10 days before flying home.

Dr. Cem Berkay Sinaci is a European and Turkish board-certified plastic surgeon, Fellow of the European Board of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (EBOPRAS), and member of ISAPS and ASPS. He manages a significant number of international patients from North America, the UK, and Europe each year, with full coordination of pre-operative assessments, surgical planning, in-clinic recovery, and post-operative follow-up via video consultation after the patient returns home. If you are considering a tummy tuck with liposuction in Istanbul and are traveling from Canada or elsewhere, contact Dr. CBS to arrange a consultation.