African women embrace tummy tucks as empowerment tool

ONCE reserved for celebrities and kept a secret, the tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is shedding its taboo image in South Africa.

- GERRY CUPIDO

The procedure is increasingly being embraced by women as a powerful tool for self-reclamation, with a notable surge in interest among Black African women who are openly choosing to restore their bodies and confidence on their own terms.

Leading this shift is Professor Chrysis Sofianos, a respected figure in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.

“Cosmetic surgery is less about vanity and more about feeling at home in your own skin again,” he explains.

“It’s often an important investment in self-worth, confidence, and acceptance.

“And tummy tucks, especially post-pregnancy or after weight loss, are one of the most powerful tools we have in body restoration.”

What is a tummy tuck?

A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen while tightening weakened or separated abdominal muscles.

The result is a smoother, firmer, and more contoured silhouette.

Professor Sofianos customises each procedure, often combining it with targeted liposuction to sculpt the waist and flanks for a balanced result.

He performs two primary types of tummy tucks: