DON’T FORGET TO TREAT THE LOOSE SKIN ON THE SIDES
Extended Tummy Tuck In Dubai
“My tummy is loose, but honestly, the skin around my sides bothers me just as much.”
A standard tummy tuck deals with the front of the abdomen. For plenty of patients, that's all they need. For others, the looseness doesn't stop there — it carries on into the waist, hips and flanks. Stop the correction too early and you end up with a flat centre and heavy, folded sides. Tighter in the middle, unchanged everywhere else. Patients notice.
An extended tummy tuck carries the skin removal further toward the sides, so the front of the abdomen and the lateral torso are treated as one shape instead of two separate problems. In my practice i usually combine it with vaser lipo 360 when there's fat sitting around the abdomen, flanks and back as well.
What Is An Extended Tummy Tuck?
It's a longer version of a full tummy tuck. The lower incision runs further toward the hips than it would in a standard operation, which lets me remove more loose skin from the sides and avoid leaving a bulky fold — a “dog ear” — at either end of the scar.
It can also include muscle repair, belly-button reshaping, a mons pubis lift and liposuction of the torso. The real difference isn't the longer scar. It's the ability to correct a wider pattern of skin excess — loose skin above and below the belly button, a lower abdominal apron, a bulky or drooping mons pubis, and skin bunching or dog ears left at the sides after previous abdominal surgery.
Extended Vs Full Tummy Tuck — And The Scar Trade-Off
| Full Tummy Tuck | Extended Tummy Tuck | |
|---|---|---|
| Main Treatment Area | Front Of The Abdomen | Front Abdomen Plus More Of The Sides And Flanks |
| Scar Length | Low Horizontal Scar Across The Lower Abdomen | Longer Low Scar Extending Farther Toward The Hips |
| Best For | Central Abdominal Laxity | Central And Lateral Skin Excess |
| Waist & Flank Correction | Mainly Anterior Skin Removal; May Add Liposuction | Wider Skin Removal; Commonly Combined With Torso Liposuction |
| When It May Fall Short | When Side Or Back Looseness Is Significant | When Looseness Continues Fully Around The Lower Back And Buttocks |
The scar is longer than a standard tummy-tuck scar — i'm not going to pretend otherwise. That extra length is what lets me remove skin sitting further toward the sides and finish the correction properly instead of leaving a bulky end to it. My aim is to keep it low and plan it around underwear or swimwear whenever the anatomy allows. But a shorter scar isn't automatically a better scar — not if it leaves untreated skin hanging at both ends.
“I'd rather have a well-planned longer scar than a short one with an incomplete result underneath it.”
Cost, Duration & Hospital Stay
All prices are in AED.
| Procedure | Extended Tummy Tuck with VASER Lipo 360 |
|---|---|
| Starting Price | AED 70,000 + VAT |
| Duration | Approximately 4 hours |
| Hospital Stay | Usually 1 night |
Note: All prices are starting estimates and exclude 5% VAT. The final quotation is confirmed after examination and may change based on surgical complexity, previous operations, additional liposuction, hospital requirements, or combined procedures.
Why Choose Dr. Hardik Ganatra for An Extended Tummy Tuck?
I work in body contouring and nothing else. That matters here, because an extended tummy tuck has to balance the front abdomen, waist, hips and back. It isn't a matter of removing a longer strip of skin.
As a recreational natural bodybuilder, i have a fairly specific idea of how a fit torso should narrow, curve and move. More than half of my work is revision and correction, so i pay close attention to the things that tend to get left behind: scar length, side folds, dog ears, waist imbalance.
The Practice Is Built Around Safe Surgery, Strong Aesthetic Results, Structured Post-Operative Care And Honest Guidance. If A Standard Tummy Tuck Will Do The Job, i'll Say So Rather Than Sell You A Longer Operation. And If The Skin Carries On Around The Back And Genuinely Needs A Lower Body Lift, i'll Tell You That Too, Instead Of Overpromising What An Extended Procedure Can Deliver.
Are You a Good Candidate? For An Extended Tummy Tuck?
An extended tummy tuck is usually the right operation for:
- Patients whose loose skin runs from the lower abdomen into the flanks
- Patients after major weight loss — natural, medical or bariatric
- Women whose lower tummy and sides have both stretched after pregnancy
- Patients left with folds or bulges at the outer ends of a previous tummy-tuck scar
- Patients who'd still have obvious side looseness after a front-only correction
- Revision patients who need a wider excision to fix the transition between the abdomen and hips
It isn't the answer for everyone. If the loose skin isn't limited to the front and sides but continues around the lower back and affects the buttocks, that patient needs a 360 tummy tuck or a lower body lift — not an extended front operation.
“I don't want a flat centre with loose sides. I want the abdomen and the waist to look like they belong to the same body.”
Before Your Surgery
Because the skin excess extends to the sides, the correction is planned with you standing — that's the only way to judge how far the fold really runs. At consultation i decide whether a full, extended, or 360 tummy tuck is the right operation for your pattern of looseness, and i mark the incision far enough laterally to actually remove the fold rather than chase it with liposuction.
How I Perform The Procedure
The general steps of a tummy tuck — general anaesthesia, a low incision, skin lifting, muscle repair where needed, belly-button reshaping, layered closure, drains and compression — are covered in detail on the main tummy tuck in dubai page. What matters specifically in an extended tummy tuck:
- Adding vaser lipo 360 where needed to reduce fat and smooth the transition around the waist and back
- Removing the abdominal and lateral skin as one balanced design, not two separate corrections
- Repairing abdominal muscle separation (diastasis recti) during the same operation when it's present
- Checking the final contour from the front and both sides before i close
Recovery & Aftercare
Early recovery is broadly similar to a full tummy tuck, though the longer side correction makes turning and twisting feel tighter in the first week. Most patients need around two weeks before desk work is comfortable, then build activity up gradually after review.
- One night in hospital in the usual case
- Walking from day one, slightly bent and with help at first
- Compression garment for roughly 6–8 weeks
- Abdominal binder for longer when the muscles have been repaired
- Lymphatic massage once the wounds allow, often from around day 7
- Gym and serious core work come back gradually, after medical clearance
Because the correction extends to the sides, healing needs particular attention to wound tension at the outer ends of the scar, fluid collection, scar widening, delayed healing and contour balance between the front and the sides.
Extended Tummy Tuck
Before & After
View real transformations that showcase natural definition and proportionate shape enhancement. Each result represents thoughtful contouring, not overcorrection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do i know whether i need a full or extended tummy tuck?
If the loose skin is mainly at the front, a full tummy tuck may be enough. If it carries on clearly into the sides and flanks, i’ll usually recommend an extended correction.
Is the scar much longer?
Yes. It extends further toward the hips. That extra length is exactly what allows the side skin to come out properly.
Does an extended tummy tuck include liposuction?
In my practice, usually yes. I combine it with vaser lipo 360 when there’s fat around the abdomen, waist and back that also needs treating.
Can it lift my buttocks?
It can give limited improvement at the outer hip, but it isn’t a circumferential lower body lift. Significant buttock and lower-back looseness needs a different plan.
Can the muscles be repaired at the same time?
Yes. If there’s diastasis recti, i repair it during the same operation.
Can it correct dog ears from a previous tummy tuck?
Often, yes — particularly when the problem is skin left at the outer ends of a short scar. The plan depends on the previous scar and the quality of the tissue.
How long before i return to work?
Most patients are back at a desk in around two weeks. Larger combined procedures can take longer.
Will the scar fit under underwear?
I plan it as low as the anatomy safely allows. Clothing styles vary, so we discuss placement during the standing markings.
When would you recommend a 360 tummy tuck instead?
When the loose skin isn’t limited to the front and sides, but continues around the lower back and affects the buttocks.
Book a Consultation
If You're Not Sure Whether You Need A Full, Extended, Or 360 Tummy Tuck, That's Exactly What A Consultation Is For. I'll Assess Where The Loose Skin Actually Sits, Your Muscle Condition And Weight Stability, And Recommend The Operation That Fits — Not The Longest One.
Medical disclaimer
: this page is for general educational purposes and does not replace a personal consultation or medical examination. The correct procedure depends on the location and amount of loose skin, previous scars, abdominal muscle condition, weight stability, general health and individual healing risks. Results, recovery and scar quality vary from patient to patient.