Safety & Care
Every tummy tuck performed by Dr. Paulo Michels takes place at Elyzee Hospital in Abu Dhabi, a private surgical facility recognized for:
24/7 in-house emergency response
ICU access, and post-operative nursing led by certified plastic surgery nurses.
International safety standards
JCI-aligned protocols, and a multidisciplinary team trained in plastic surgery anesthesiology.
Strict infection-control architecture
designed for high-acuity aesthetic surgery.
The foundation of Excellence
A superior result begins with an accurate diagnosis. Most clinics rely on visual inspection and pinch tests. Dr. Michels' consultation pairs clinical examination with measurable, image-based diagnostics to build a personalized surgical roadmap.
Diastasis Recti Mapping
Measures exact muscle separation above and below the umbilicus.
Photographic & 3D Surface Mapping
Standardized photography and advanced surface mapping help optimize symmetry, procedural planning, and long-term surgical precision.
Type of Fats
The Challenge of Visceral Fat and Your Contour
Why some abdomens will never be flat by surgery alone.
The abdomen is shaped by two distinct fat compartments:
The Clinical Spectrum
A single technique cannot serve every body. Using the precision diagnostics described above, Dr. Michels matches your unique anatomy — muscle integrity, skin elasticity, fat distribution, prior surgical history, and lifestyle goals — to the exact procedure required.
Tailored Technique
Mini Tummy Tuck
Ideal Candidate
Early post-partum patients with mild lower abdominal loose skin, small fat deposits, and strong upper abdominal tone.
Procedure
A shorter low-placed incision hidden beneath swimwear. No belly button repositioning. Faster streamlined recovery.
Incision:
A shorter low-placed incision hidden beneath swimwear. No belly button repositioning. Faster streamlined recovery.
Belly button:
A shorter low-placed incision hidden beneath swimwear. No belly button repositioning. Faster streamlined recovery.
Recovery:
A shorter low-placed incision hidden beneath swimwear. No belly button repositioning. Faster streamlined recovery.
Tailored Technique
M.I.L.A.
Ideal Candidate
Patients with diastasis recti and abdominal bulging, but good skin elasticity and no need for skin removal.
Procedure
Video-endoscopic internal corset repair through tiny discreet incisions with minimal visible scarring.
Incision:
Video-endoscopic internal corset repair through tiny discreet incisions with minimal visible scarring.
Belly button:
Video-endoscopic internal corset repair through tiny discreet incisions with minimal visible scarring.
Recovery:
Video-endoscopic internal corset repair through tiny discreet incisions with minimal visible scarring.
Tailored Technique
Full Tummy Tuck
Ideal Candidate
Moderate to severe skin laxity, multiple pregnancies, or significant muscle separation.
Procedure
Complete abdominal restoration with muscle repair, skin removal, waist contouring, and custom belly button reshaping.
Incision:
Complete abdominal restoration with muscle repair, skin removal, waist contouring, and custom belly button reshaping.
Belly button:
Complete abdominal restoration with muscle repair, skin removal, waist contouring, and custom belly button reshaping.
Recovery:
Complete abdominal restoration with muscle repair, skin removal, waist contouring, and custom belly button reshaping.
Tailored Technique
Fleur-de-Lis / Tummy Tuck 360
Ideal Candidate
Patients after massive weight loss with multidirectional loose skin.
Procedure
Advanced horizontal + vertical tightening or full circumferential contouring of abdomen, flanks, thighs, and buttocks.
Incision:
Advanced horizontal + vertical tightening or full circumferential contouring of abdomen, flanks, thighs, and buttocks.
Belly button:
Advanced horizontal + vertical tightening or full circumferential contouring of abdomen, flanks, thighs, and buttocks.
Recovery:
Advanced horizontal + vertical tightening or full circumferential contouring of abdomen, flanks, thighs, and buttocks.
The Internal Corset
The Internal Corset is the structural heart of every tummy tuck Dr. Michels performs. By precisely plicating (suturing together in layers) the separated rectus abdominis muscles, the surgeon reconstructs the integrity of the abdominal wall.
This single step accomplishes several outcomes simultaneously:
-Restores core strength and abdominal contraction.
-Narrows the waistline from the inside.
-Provides a firm structural foundation for the new aesthetic contour.
-Resolves chronic lower back pain in a high proportion of post-partum patients with diastasis.
-Improves posture and standing alignment.
-Addresses stress urinary incontinence in selected patients (functional benefit reported in international literature).
-Reduces the functional and aesthetic distortion caused by diastasis recti.
This is what separates a serious abdominoplasty from a "skin-only" cosmetic procedure: surgical repair of an anatomical and functional condition.
Advanced Techniques
Advanced Techniques
The Internal Corset
Rapid weight loss through GLP-1 medications has created an entirely new aesthetic patient profile across the UAE. The skin is "deflated" — the volume disappears faster than the dermis can retract — leaving a uniquely loose, crepey, and elastically-compromised tissue.
Standard abdominoplasty is not always enough. Dr. Michels has developed a Post-GLP-1 Abdominoplasty Protocol that includes:
- Pre-operative metabolic and nutritional optimization — protein loading, micronutrient correction, and selective adjustment of the GLP-1 medication around surgery in coordination with your prescribing physician.
- Tissue-tightening surgical techniques designed for compromised skin elasticity (often Fleur-de-Lis or extended patterns).
- Aggressive structural plication to compensate for loss of fascia tension.
- Adjunctive energy-based skin tightening when indicated.
- Post-operative protein-led recovery support.
Advanced Techniques
Surgical Synergies
For patients seeking complete transformation in a single surgical session, Dr. Michels offers strategic combinations:
Rib Remodeling (RibXcar)
A precise, safety-first technique to narrow the lower ribcage, enhancing the hourglass silhouette beyond what waist liposuction alone can achieve.
Ultrasound-Guided BBL (UG-BBL)
Brazilian Butt Lift performed under real-time intraoperative ultrasound — fat is placed exclusively in the safe subcutaneous plane, never deep into the muscle or near the gluteal vessels. This is the international gold-standard safety protocol for BBL and has been adopted by Dr. Michels as a non-negotiable rule.
Mommy Makeover
Tummy tuck + breast lift / augmentation in a single session.
360° Body Reshaping
Tummy tuck + back/flank lipo + BBL — the complete circumferential transformation, reserved for the appropriate candidate.
A “Painless” Journey • Recovery & VIP Logistics
Our advanced protocols are designed to help you return to life in Dubai or Abu Dhabi quickly, safely, and with exceptional comfort.
TAP block
(Transversus Abdominis Plane) — selectively numbs the abdominal wall for 24–48 hours.
ESP block
(Erector Spinae Plane) — extended posterior trunk analgesia.
Multimodal opioid-sparing protocol
to reduce nausea, sedation, and post-operative discomfort.
Detailed Criteria
You are likely a strong candidate for tummy tuck surgery in Dubai or Abu Dhabi if:
Detailed Criteria
Dr. Michels will recommend against — or postpone — surgery in the following situations:
4-6 Weeks before Surgery
A successful surgery begins weeks before the operating theater. Patients of Dr. Michels follow a structured optimization plan:
Medical & Laboratory
Complete medical preparation includes comprehensive blood panel evaluation, coagulation testing, metabolic and hormonal analysis, inflammatory markers assessment, ECG, pre-anesthesia consultation, and cardiopulmonary clearance when clinically indicated.
Medication Review
Blood-thinning medications and supplements must be discontinued at least two weeks before surgery. Coordination with prescribing physicians may also be necessary for GLP-1 medications, hormonal therapy, and oral contraceptives.
Nutrition & Body Optimization
Pre-operative preparation includes a high-protein nutritional strategy to support tissue healing, hydration optimization, and correction of iron or vitamin D deficiencies when necessary.
Lifestyle Preparation
Patients are required to maintain strict nicotine cessation for a minimum of six weeks before and after surgery. Alcohol consumption should be restricted for at least seven days pre- and post-operatively, while light cardiovascular conditioning is encouraged to support recovery and circulation.
Logistics & Recovery Planning
Patients should arrange a confirmed companion for the first 72 hours after discharge, organize nearby accommodation for international recovery when needed, prepare compression garments in advance, and arrange transportation assistance, as driving is restricted for approximately two weeks after surgery.
What to Expect
1
Admission
Private suite at Elyzee Hospital, Abu Dhabi.
2
Pre-op
Final marking with Dr. Michels in standing position. Compression stocking fitting. Anesthesia consultation.
3
Anesthesia
General anesthesia + ultrasound-guided regional blocks.
4
Surgery duration
2–5 hours depending on the technique and combined procedures.
7
Discharge
Walking with assistance, in compression garment, with full written and verbal post-operative instructions in English (and Arabic on request).
Week-By-Week
A successful surgery begins weeks before the operating theater. Patients of Dr. Michels follow a structured optimization plan:
Day 0
Surgery Day
General anesthesia + regional blocks. Patient is walking with assistance the same evening. VTE prophylaxis initiated.
Days 1–3
Hospital monitoring and discharge. Walking encouraged every 2 hours to prevent thrombosis. Compression garment worn continuously. Slightly flexed posture to protect the abdominal closure. Lymphatic drainage may begin from day 2–3 (gentle, manual).
Days 4–7
Significant reduction in early swelling and bruising. Return to gentle home activity. First post-op clinical visit and dressing review. Diet: high protein, high water, low sodium.
Days 8–14
Stitches reviewed and surgical-glue interface inspected. Standing posture progressively normalizes. Most office-based and remote work can resume. Driving may resume if patient is off opioid analgesics and able to perform an emergency stop comfortably.
Weeks 2–4
Light cardiovascular activity (walking, stationary bike, easy elliptical). Continued compression garment. Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) sessions continue 2–3 times per week. Most patients return to professional and social life.
Weeks 4–6
Light strength training of upper body and lower body, excluding direct core engagement. Sun protection of the scar is critical. Sexual activity may resume with comfort.
Weeks 6–8
Gradual reintroduction of core training under guidance. Swimming is permitted once the incision is fully closed and approved by Dr. Michels.
Weeks 8–12
Return to full gym training, weightlifting, HIIT. Most residual swelling resolved. Final aesthetic preview emerging.
Months 3–6
Final contour visible. Scar enters active maturation phase — silicone protocol, sun avoidance, selective laser scar refinement.
Months 6–12
Scar continues to fade. Result is considered final at 12 months. Definitive before/after photographic documentation.
Risks, Safety
FAQ
