Treatments / Body / Fleur-de-lis tummy tuck
Body contouring after weight loss
Fleur-de-Lis Tummy Tuck in Kent, Surrey, Sussex and London
Tightening the tummy from side to side
A fleur-de-lis tummy tuck adds a vertical scar to the usual low scar, so the tummy and waist are tightened from side to side as well as from top to bottom. Mr Siva Kumar recommends it mainly after major weight loss.
At a glance
What is a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck?
Two directions of tightening
A standard tummy tuck removes loose skin from top to bottom, through a low scar from hip to hip. After major weight loss, though, the skin is often loose from side to side as well, so the waist can still look wide and the upper tummy can still crease.
A fleur-de-lis tummy tuck removes an extra wedge of skin down the middle of the tummy. This leaves a vertical scar from just below the breastbone to the low horizontal scar, in the shape of an upside-down T. The tummy muscles are tightened where needed, and the belly button is repositioned.
The trade-off is the extra scar, which is visible in a bikini. Many people who have had open abdominal surgery, such as an open gastric bypass, already have a scar down the middle of the tummy, so a fleur-de-lis can be planned to remove it.
It is one of several options after weight loss. You can compare them all on the surgery after weight loss page, and our article on loose skin after weight-loss injections explains timing and preparation.
A fleur-de-lis tummy tuck can help with
- Loose skin above and below the belly button after major weight loss
- A wide waist with loose skin across the tummy
- Creases and folds of skin across the upper tummy
- An existing scar down the middle of the tummy
- Rashes and soreness in skin folds
What it won’t do
- Avoid a visible scar: the vertical scar shows in a bikini
- Remove fat inside the abdomen, around the organs
- Treat loose skin on the hips and back, which needs a lower body lift
Improve skin quality too
Scars and skin quality
Once you have healed, IPL, CO₂ laser or radiofrequency microneedling can soften red or raised scars and improve crepey skin, as part of one joined-up plan.
How surgery and skin treatments fit together · Radiofrequency microneedling
Your options
Is a fleur-de-lis right for you?
Mr Kumar recommends a fleur-de-lis only when a standard tummy tuck would leave too much loose skin across the waist. These are the main alternatives.
Full tummy tuck
Removes loose skin from top to bottom through a low scar, repairs the muscles and repositions the belly button.
- Best for: loose skin mainly from top to bottom
- Tummy tuck
Fleur-de-lis tummy tuck
Adds a vertical scar down the middle to tighten the waist from side to side as well, for the smoothest, narrowest result at the front.
- Best for: loose skin in both directions, or an existing midline scar
Lower body lift
Continues the low scar all the way around the back, lifting the hips, outer thighs and buttocks too. A fleur-de-lis can be added if needed.
- Best for: loose skin that wraps around the waist
- Lower body lift
Panniculectomy
Removes only the overhanging apron of skin below the belly button, mainly to ease rashes and discomfort, with no muscle repair.
- Best for: an overhanging apron causing rashes
- Panniculectomy
Mr Kumar’s view
Fleur-de-lis or standard tummy tuck?
The vertical scar is the price of a narrower waist. I only recommend a fleur-de-lis when I think a standard tummy tuck would leave you disappointed with the loose skin left across the middle.
If you already have a scar down the middle from previous surgery, a fleur-de-lis can often take it away and replace it with a neater one.
| Full tummy tuck | Fleur-de-lis tummy tuck | |
|---|---|---|
| Direction of tightening | Top to bottom | Top to bottom and side to side |
| Scars | Low, from hip to hip, and around the belly button | Low scar plus a vertical scar down the middle |
| Waist | Some narrowing | More narrowing at the front |
| Best for | Loose skin and separated muscles after pregnancy or moderate weight loss | Loose skin in both directions after major weight loss, or an existing midline scar |
| Guide price | From £9,500 | From £11,500 |
Watch & read
Everything you need to know, in one place
Patient guide
Fleur-de-lis tummy tuck: your patient guide
A detailed booklet written by Mr Kumar. It explains the procedure in depth, how to prepare, every risk and complication, and how to look after yourself afterwards.
Opens as a booklet you can flick through. Your copy is also given to you at consultation.
Your journey
Your step-by-step journey
Your journey starts the moment you get in touch. From your first enquiry to your final check-up, you deal with the same small team, and you will always feel listened to, informed and never rushed.
Get in touch
Call, email or send an enquiry. Our team replies promptly and personally, and finds a time and clinic that suit you.
There is no pressure and no sales script. Tell us a little about what prompted you to get in touch, and we will make sure your consultation is with the right person for you.
Consultation
An unhurried, face-to-face appointment with Mr Kumar himself, who will be your surgeon from start to finish.
He listens to what you would like to change, examines you, explains every option, including non-surgical ones and doing nothing, and gives you an honest view of the likely result.
Time to decide
You receive a written plan, a clear quote and your patient guide, then take as long as you need.
A second consultation is included before surgery, and there is a cooling-off period of at least two weeks. Bring someone with you, ask anything, and change your mind at any point.
Day of treatment
A fleur-de-lis tummy tuck is done under general anaesthetic and usually takes three to four hours. Small drains are sometimes used, you wear a compression garment, and you usually stay in hospital for one or two nights. Measures to prevent blood clots start on the day of surgery.
He will see you beforehand to go through the plan and answer last-minute questions, and you will have clear instructions and a number to call once you go home.
Aftercare and follow-up
Reviews at each stage of your recovery, with support 24 hours a day whenever you need it.
Follow-up appointments are included in your package price, and continue until you have healed and are happy with how things have settled. Your wounds are checked regularly in the first few weeks, with particular attention to where the scars meet.
Recovery
Healing, step by step
Everyone heals at their own pace. This is a typical recovery, and Mr Kumar will give you a personal plan.
Rest at home with help. Walk little and often, slightly bent at the waist, and wear your compression garment.
Wound checks. Gradually standing more upright. Keep the wounds clean and dry as advised.
Most people return to desk work and driving from about three to four weeks. No heavy lifting.
A gradual return to exercise from about six to eight weeks. The scars slowly soften and fade over the next year.
Patient results
Before & after
Photographs are shared only with each patient’s written consent. Everyone is different, so individual results vary.
More patient results coming soon
In the meantime, Mr Kumar can show you results for patients with similar concerns during your consultation.
Safety
Risks and staying safe
All surgery carries some risk. Mr Kumar will go through these with you in detail, and the patient guide covers them in full, so you can make an informed decision.
Possible risks
- Slow wound healing where the vertical and horizontal scars meet
- Fluid collecting under the skin (seroma)
- Bleeding or a collection of blood (haematoma)
- Infection
- Wide or raised scars, including the vertical scar
- Numbness of the tummy skin
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
- Some loose skin remaining, or asymmetry
Lowering your risk
- Your weight should be stable for at least 6 to 12 months, ideally close to your goal
- A BMI as close as possible to your goal, ideally under 30 to 32
- Eat well, with enough protein, iron and vitamins, which helps healing
- Tell Mr Kumar and your anaesthetist if you take weight-loss injections, and do not stop or change them without speaking to your prescriber
- Tell us about all medicines and supplements, especially blood thinners
- Stop smoking and vaping well before and after surgery
Fees
Guide price from£11,500
Self-pay consultations £250.
One package price. No hidden surprises.
If you go ahead, you receive a single package price covering your whole journey, so you know exactly what you are paying before you commit. It usually includes:
- Your surgeon’s fee
- Anaesthetist’s fee
- Hospital and theatre fees
- Follow-up consultations
- Aftercare, with 24/7 support
- A clear written quote
FAQs
Your questions, answered
Why would I need a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck?
Usually because, after major weight loss, the skin of your tummy is loose from side to side as well as from top to bottom. A standard tummy tuck only tightens one way, so it can leave a wide waist and creases above the belly button. It also suits people who already have a scar down the middle of the tummy.
How is it different from a standard tummy tuck?
A standard tummy tuck has a low scar from hip to hip. A fleur-de-lis adds a vertical scar down the middle, which allows extra skin to be removed across the waist. The result is usually a narrower, smoother waist, at the cost of the extra scar.
How painful is a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck?
Most people describe tightness and soreness for the first week or two, much like a standard tummy tuck, and it is usually well controlled with regular painkillers. It is more uncomfortable if the muscles are repaired.
Is the vertical scar noticeable?
Yes. It runs down the middle of the tummy and shows in a bikini, although it fades and flattens over 12 to 18 months. Most people who choose a fleur-de-lis feel that a smoother waist is worth the extra scar, but it is an important decision to think about.
Is it riskier than a standard tummy tuck?
Slightly. The main extra risk is slow healing where the vertical and horizontal scars meet, because the blood supply to the skin there is weakest. This usually heals with dressings, but it can take a few weeks. Not smoking and good nutrition lower the risk.
Fleur-de-lis or 360 body lift?
A fleur-de-lis treats the front of the body in two directions. A lower body lift, or 360 lift, treats all the way around the waist, including the hips and buttocks. Some people need both, which can be done together or in stages.
How much does a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck cost in the UK?
The guide price starts from £11,500. Your final fee depends on your treatment plan and choice of hospital, and is confirmed in a written quote after consultation. Self-pay consultations cost £250.
Is it covered by insurance?
Cosmetic treatment is not usually covered by health insurance. Where there is a medical reason, it may be. Insurers will need Mr Kumar’s full name, Siva Kumar Veeramani, and GMC number 6114710.
Locations
Where to have your fleur-de-lis tummy tuck in Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Your consultation and follow-up appointments with Mr Siva Kumar are at The Ü Clinic in Sevenoaks, Kent, or The Ü Clinic in Oxted, Surrey. Your surgery takes place at one of his partner hospitals: The McIndoe Centre in East Grinstead, West Sussex, KIMS Hospital in Maidstone, or North Downs Hospital in Caterham. See all of Mr Siva Kumar's clinic and hospital locations.
Both clinics are within easy reach of Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, West Malling, Westerham, Swanley, Dartford, Gravesend, Orpington, Bromley, Redhill, Reigate, Caterham, Coulsdon, Purley and Croydon. KIMS Hospital in Maidstone is close to Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Aylesford and Ashford, and The McIndoe Centre in East Grinstead is close to Crawley, Horley, Haywards Heath and Edenbridge. Patients also travel from across Sussex, including Brighton, Worthing, Horsham, Eastbourne, Hastings and Crowborough.
Fleur-de-lis tummy tuck cost: guide prices start from £11,500. Your fee is confirmed in a written quote after your consultation. See all prices.
Thinking about fleur-de-lis tummy tuck?
Start with an unhurried consultation with Mr Siva Kumar at The Ü Clinic in Sevenoaks or Oxted. Self-pay consultations cost £250.