Tummy Tuck in Tijuana, Mexico
The doctors, nurses and staff are amazing. Angels on earth, or very close. I’m glad I chose them again to help me. I know I’m in good hands.
— John S., Ariel Center patient
- Hospital
- Hospital Cyntar and Obesity Control Center, Zona Río
- Price
- Written quote, all-inclusive
- Signature variant
- Mini, standard, 360 or fleur-de-lis
Why have your tummy tuck at The Ariel Center?
The operation is the same one you would get in the US. The difference is how it is planned and priced: a board-certified surgeon, all logistics handled for you, and one written price before you book.
Board-certified surgeon
Certifying body and credentials listed in full so you can check them yourself.
15 minutes from San Diego
Airport pickup, border crossing, hotel and transfers — all arranged by your coordinator.
One written all-inclusive price
Surgeon, anesthesiologist, hospital, nursing, recovery stay, transfers and follow-up in a single figure.
Tummy tuck before and after photos
Before-and-after photos for this procedure are not published yet. We add them only with each patient’s written consent.
What can a tummy tuck fix?
Remove loose skin
Repair separated muscles
Flatten the lower abdomen
Reposition the navel
Planning your tummy tuck with Dr. Juan Cuéllar
Your surgeon walks you through the procedure, the plan and the recovery on your video call before you book.
Which type of tummy tuck do I need?
Mini tummy tuck
Skin below the navel only, short incision, no navel repositioning.
Full tummy tuck
Hip-to-hip incision, muscle repair, new navel position. The most common choice.
Extended tummy tuck
Incision continues around the flanks for loose skin on the sides — common after weight loss.
Fleur-de-lis
Adds a vertical incision for significant excess skin after massive weight loss; traded for a visible midline scar.
Am I a good candidate for a tummy tuck?
- Loose abdominal skin after pregnancy or weight loss
- Muscle separation that diet and exercise do not fix
- Stable weight for 6 months; BMI ideally under 32
- Not planning further pregnancies
How much does a tummy tuck cost in Tijuana?
Your price is given in writing before you book and covers the surgeon, anesthesiologist, hospital, nursing, your recovery stay, airport transfers and follow-up visits. The final figure depends on your medical evaluation.
Price by written quote
Included in the price
- Video call and written surgical plan
- Surgeon, anesthesiologist and hospital fees
- Pre-operative labs and cardiology clearance when indicated
- Private pickup at San Diego International Airport and all local transfers
- Hospital stay as indicated for the procedure
- Compression garment and first set of post-op supplies
- In-person post-op checks before you travel home
- Remote follow-up with your coordinator and surgical team
US average surgeon fee: $8,200 — The US figure is the surgeon fee only — anesthesia, facility and implants are billed separately in the US. US average: American Society of Plastic Surgeons statistics report
Financing: United Medical Credit, eFinance Solutions and PayPal Credit
What happens on surgery day and during recovery?
- Arrival and marking
- Anesthesia
- Incision
- Muscle repair
- Skin removal and closure
- Recovery room
- When can I fly home?
- Set by your surgeon in your written plan
- Nights in Tijuana
- 6
Weeks before
Video call and plan; stop nicotine; arrange 2 weeks off work.
Day −1
Arrive, pickup, exam and markings.
Day 0
Surgery (2–4 h). One night in hospital.
Days 1–5
Recovery stay, walking bent at the hips, drain care, nurse visits.
Day 6
Drains out if output allows, clearance, travel home.
Weeks 2–6
Standing upright by week 2; desk work at 2 weeks; core exercise after 6 weeks; scar matures over 12 months.
Scroll sideways on mobile. Days are typical and set individually by the surgeon.
What are the risks of a tummy tuck?
- Bleeding, infection, fluid collection (seroma) and delayed wound healing
- Scarring — every incision leaves a permanent scar; placement is planned to be hidden by clothing where possible
- Asymmetry or contour irregularities that may need a revision
- Changes in skin sensation, usually temporary
- Blood clots (DVT/PE) — risk is reduced with early walking, compression devices and, for some patients, anticoagulants
- Anesthesia-related risks, reviewed with you by the anesthesiologist
- Travel-specific considerations: we require a minimum stay in Tijuana before clearing you to fly, and we coordinate aftercare with your home physician
How we manage them: surgery in a hospital with ICU support, a dedicated anesthesiologist, DVT precautions before and after surgery, and in-person follow-up before you are cleared to fly home.
Complication protocolHow long do tummy tuck results last?
Tummy tuck results are long-lasting when your weight stays stable. Pregnancy and large weight changes after surgery can stretch the skin and muscles again.
Individual results vary.
Who performs my tummy tuck?
Dr. Juan Cuéllar
Plastic surgeon · Chief of Plastic Surgery, The Ariel Center
- Board-certified plastic surgeon — Consejo Mexicano de Cirugía Plástica, Estética y Reconstructiva (CMCPER)
- Medical degree — Universidad La Salle, Mexico City
- Fellowship, facial cosmetic surgery — UCLA
- Anesthesiologist: named in your written plan
- Hospital Cyntar and Obesity Control Center in Zona Río, Tijuana. Ask your patient coordinator for facility accreditation details.
Tummy tuck in Tijuana: your questions answered
Often combined with a tummy tuck
The Ariel Center at a glance
- Price range
- All-inclusive, in writing before you book
- Nights in Tijuana
- Depends on the procedure — listed in your plan
- Back to work
- Depends on the procedure — listed in your plan
- Distance
- 15 minutes past the San Ysidro border, in Zona Río
- Who operates
- Dr. Juan Cuéllar
The Ariel Center is the plastic-surgery practice of the Obesity Control Center group in Zona Río, Tijuana. Most of our patients come from the US and Canada for surgery with a board-certified surgeon, 15 minutes from the San Diego border.
Affiliations and accreditations
Hospital Cyntar and Obesity Control Center in Zona Río, Tijuana. Ask your patient coordinator for facility accreditation details.
Where to find us
The Ariel CenterPaseo de los Héroes 9111, Suite 100
Zona Río, Tijuana
Baja California, MX
(866) 936-1786
Outside the US and Canada: +1 (415) 738-8100
15 minutes from the San Ysidro border
Get directions