Many women researching a mummy makeover come across clinics in Turkey and other countries. Plenty of skilled surgeons work overseas, and for some people travelling for surgery feels like the right choice. But a mummy makeover is usually a bigger operation than a single procedure, and that changes what you need to plan for if you have it abroad.
This guide sets out what UK health bodies advise about cosmetic surgery abroad, what that means for a mummy makeover in particular, and the questions worth asking any provider, in the UK or overseas, before you decide.
Why a mummy makeover needs extra thought if you travel
A mummy makeover is a tailored combination of procedures, often a tummy tuck with breast surgery and sometimes liposuction. Combining procedures can mean one anaesthetic and one recovery, but it also tends to mean a longer operation on more than one area of the body.
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) groups procedures by how long the general anaesthetic lasts and how many areas are treated. For journeys of around four hours or more, it advises that patients having surgery under general anaesthetic lasting over three hours, or on multiple sites, arrive a week before surgery and stay two to four weeks afterwards. Many combined procedures fall into this group, so it is worth asking your surgeon which applies to you before you book flights.
When can you fly after a mummy makeover?
Flying soon after major surgery increases the risk of blood clots, which can be life threatening. The NHS and the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) advise waiting:
- 5 to 7 days before flying after breast surgery or liposuction
- 7 to 10 days before flying after a tummy tuck
A combined mummy makeover may need longer, depending on your procedures and your own health. Your surgeon should tell you how long to stay, and you should plan for a recovery stay rather than a holiday. The NHS describes a holiday straight after surgery as unrealistic, because you need to rest and avoid alcohol, sun, swimming and sightseeing while you heal.
Aftercare and follow up
Aftercare is a big part of any mummy makeover. Drains and stitches need checking, compression garments need fitting, and your surgeon will want to see how you are healing over the following weeks and months. BAAPS recommends at least one review by your operating surgeon before you fly home, early follow up at one to two weeks, and further checks between six weeks and six months.
In the UK, your surgeon is responsible for your follow up if problems arise. If you have surgery abroad, the NHS notes that overseas clinics may not offer follow up care, or may not have a UK healthcare professional you can contact. Before you book, ask exactly where your check ups will happen and who you would see once you are home.
What happens if something goes wrong?
Complications can happen wherever you have surgery. The difference is how easily you can get help from the team who operated on you. According to BAPRAS, the NHS will treat life threatening emergencies, but usually declines to treat less serious complications of cosmetic surgery, and you may be charged as a private patient. If you need a correction, you may also have to travel back to the original clinic, with the extra time off work that involves.
Insurance
Standard travel insurance does not normally cover complications from planned surgery. BAPRAS recommends checking that you have full cover, including medical evacuation, and reading the small print on what the clinic’s own insurance includes.
Consultations and time to think
The NHS advises having two consultations with your surgeon before surgery, and notes that the UK normally has a two week cooling off period. BAAPS recommends those consultations are at least two weeks apart, with at least one in person. This gives you time to ask questions, see before and after photos and be sure about your decision, which matters even more when several procedures are combined.
Recovery with young children
Most people having a mummy makeover have young children at home. Recovering in a hotel away from your family, then travelling home while you are still healing, is a very different experience from recovering in your own home with support close by. Our guide to mummy makeover recovery with young children covers what to plan for.
Comparing your options fairly
When you compare providers, look at the whole plan, not just the headline offer. It helps to ask each provider what is included and what is not:
- how many consultations you will have, and with whom
- the hospital stay, anaesthetist and nursing care
- compression garments and dressings
- follow up appointments, and where they take place
- what happens, and who pays, if you need further treatment
- travel, accommodation and the time off work a longer stay involves
To see what a mummy makeover with Transform would involve for you, you can use our quick price check or book a free consultation.
Questions to ask any provider
- What are the surgeon’s qualifications, and which professional bodies do they belong to?
- How many mummy makeovers has the surgeon performed?
- How is the hospital regulated, and is there a doctor on site at all times?
- Which procedures do you recommend for me, and why?
- How long will the operation take, and how long should I stay nearby afterwards?
- Who will I see for follow up, and where?
- Who do I contact if I have a problem once I am home?
Having a mummy makeover in the UK with Transform
Transform has clinics and hospitals across the UK, so you can have your consultations close to home and meet your surgeon before you commit. Your aftercare, including follow up appointments, is planned as part of your treatment, and you can recover at home with your family nearby. Find your nearest clinic or read more about mummy makeover surgery.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to have a mummy makeover abroad?
Many surgeons abroad are skilled, but no surgery is risk free, and the NHS notes that safety standards and follow up care vary between countries. Because a mummy makeover often combines procedures, it is especially important to check the surgeon, the hospital, the aftercare and how long you will need to stay.
How long should I stay abroad after a mummy makeover?
BAAPS advises that patients having longer operations under general anaesthetic, or surgery on more than one area, stay two to four weeks after surgery when the journey home is around four hours or more. Your surgeon should confirm what applies to you.
When can I fly after a tummy tuck?
The NHS and BAPRAS advise waiting 7 to 10 days before flying after a tummy tuck, and 5 to 7 days after breast surgery or liposuction. A combined mummy makeover may need longer.
Will the NHS treat complications from surgery abroad?
According to BAPRAS, the NHS will treat life threatening emergencies but usually declines to treat less serious complications of cosmetic surgery, and you may be charged as a private patient.
Does travel insurance cover cosmetic surgery abroad?
Standard travel insurance does not normally cover complications from planned surgery, so check what cover you have before you travel.
Sources: NHS: cosmetic surgery abroad; BAPRAS: cosmetic surgery abroad; BAAPS cosmetic tourism guidelines. This article is general information and not a substitute for advice from your own surgeon.