Tummy Tuck Risks and Safety

Just like any other surgical procedure, tummy tuck or abdominoplasty involves some amount of risk. Before committing to this cosmetic surgery procedure, the patient should carefully consider the risks and benefits and make an informed decision. The surgeon will require them to sign consent forms prior to the procedure, which will mention that the patient is aware of the risks.

At the time of pre-operative consultation, the surgeon will discuss all aspects of tummy tuck, including the potential risks.

The patient should feel free to ask questions and clear any doubts or concerns they may have at this time. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai provides tummy tuck to patients in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and surrounding locations.

Common Risks

Some of the potential risks associated with abdominoplasty include:

Adverse Anesthesia Reaction

Tummy tuck is usually performed with the patient under general anesthesia, which entails some degree of risk. Poor reaction to general anesthesia may occur in rare circumstances. An experienced anesthesiologist or a certified nurse anesthetist should be able to detect the problem early before it becomes complicated, and minimize this risk. They will usually remain present in the operating room throughout the procedure to monitor the patient’s response.

Blood Clotting

After tummy tuck plastic surgery procedure, blood clots may form inside a blood vessel. This is a rare occurrence, which may complicate the blood flow. Patients should follow the surgeon’s pre- and post-op care instructions carefully to minimize this risk. Compression garment around the waist and mild exercises during recovery will improve blood flow and reduce the risk of clotting.

Infection Risks

Chances of infection are higher during and immediately after the tummy tuck procedure. The surgical room should be completely sterile to mitigate the risk. Proper wound care is a must after the surgery in order to reduce post-surgical infection risk. The patient should follow the surgeon’s instructions about changing or removing bandages and avoiding contact with the incision sites in the initial days of recovery.

Fluid Accumulation

Following tummy tuck surgery in some patients, seroma formation or collection of fluid between the skin flap and the muscle layer can occur. This will increase the risk of infection. The surgeon will place temporary drain tubes under the incision areas to minimize this risk. The patient should adhere to the surgeon’s instructions about measuring and emptying the drains every day until they are removed.

Slow Healing

It may take a few weeks until the bruising, swelling and pain in the treated sites are completely resolved. But if the symptoms continue to be significant beyond this stage, it may be a case of poor healing. Irregular healing can sometimes lead to skin loss. Scarring in such patients may also be higher. Patients should strictly avoid smoking before and after the surgery for a certain time period as advised by the surgeon to minimize this risk.

Experienced cosmetic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai receives patients from West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and nearby areas for tummy tuck surgery.

For more information on cosmetic plastic surgery procedures and treatments by Beverly Hills board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Roger Tsai, MD please click here or call us at 310.276.1190.Taking patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and other surrounding cities.

Tummy Tuck Procedures

Tummy tuck, clinically known as abdominoplasty, is a major cosmetic surgery procedure involving a few key steps. Some of the steps could vary in each procedure according to the extent of correction required and the type of surgical technique used. The surgeon will explain the steps to the patient at the time of initial consultation.

Once the patient is aware of what to expect during tummy tuck surgery procedure, it can help to reduce their pre-surgery anxiety and make them better prepared for the surgery. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai provides tummy tuck surgery to patients in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and surrounding communities.

Incision Placement

After the patient is brought into the surgery room and placed under anesthesia, the first step in the tummy tuck procedure will be to create incisions in discreet locations within the abdominal area. The length and number of incisions will depend on the choice of surgical technique. A partial abdominoplasty will only require a small incision to be placed under the navel, while a circumferential tummy tuck will involve a major incision around the entire waist line, including the back.

Navel Repositioning

A traditional tummy tuck surgery may involve navel. This is done to make the tightened and lifted abdomen look more natural. The surgeon will detach the original navel and move it to a more youthful location. In a few cases, the original navel may not be re-attached, but a new navel may be artificially sculpted. This type of artistic cosmetic surgery procedure should only be performed by an experienced surgeon.

Tightening Abdominal Muscles

Due to aging and excessive weight of the abdomen, the underlying abdominal muscles may become weak or separated over time, causing the abdomen to sag. The surgeon will use the incisions to separate the abdominal skin from the abdominal walls. They will pull the weak muscles closer together and stitched them into a position to create a more toned appearance. Abdominal muscle tightening will make the waistline appear narrower.

Removal of Loose Skin

Once abdominal muscles and tissue are tightened, the surgeon will pull the skin downward to make it smooth and taut. Excess skin will then be trimmed away. The surgeon may sometimes perform liposuction as an additional procedure at this stage to eliminate excess fatty tissue before the skin is pulled taut.

Reducing Stretch Marks

Stretch mark removal is not an integral part of tummy tuck surgery, but in many cases the effect of stretch marks can be reduced. This will depend on the location of the incisions. If the stretch marks are present under the navel, they are often eliminated with the removal of loose skin. Even other stretch marks could become less pronounced after a tummy tuck surgery.

Closing the Incisions

Once the procedure is completed, the surgeon will suture the skin together with surgical stitches. This will allow the wounds to close naturally over time. Surgical drains below the skin at the site of incisions will be temporarily inserted. Profound cosmetic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai receives patients from West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and other cities and towns in this part of California for a tummy tuck.

Preparing for your Tummy Tuck Consultation

Abdominoplasty, popularly known as tummy tuck, is a leading body contouring cosmetic surgery to restore a flatter and firmer abdomen. Careful planning and preparation should precede the surgery in order to achieve safe and desirable outcomes and high patient satisfaction levels.

Well-prepared patients are often more confident about the procedure and are in a position to make better decisions about the surgery. Patients in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and other communities and neighborhoods in this region of the country have an opportunity to receive a tummy tuck from the stellar, prudent, and board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai.

Preparation Tips

The patient should follow these essential tips in order to prepare well for their tummy tuck surgery:

Send past medical records to the surgeon’s office in advance from the doctor and the specialists.
Prepare a list of all current medications, including prescription drugs, over the counter medicines such as aspirin and blood thinners, and vitamins and herbal supplements.
Get x-rays or lab tests recommended by the surgeon.
If any prescription drug schedules need to be adjusted, arrange for the physician to discuss with the surgeon as necessary.
Quit smoking a specified time period ahead of surgery, according to the surgeon’s advice.
Complete any pressing tasks at home or the workplace ahead of time so that the initial post-op recovery period remains stress-free.
Arrange for help during the first few days of post-operative phase, if required.
Arrange for someone who can drive the patient back home after the surgery, and possibly stay overnight for assistance.

The patient should be ready to follow the surgeon’s pre- and post-operative care instructions closely. Not adhering to the instructions can increase the risk during the surgery as well as recovery.

Common Instructions

The surgeon’s office may provide a set of written or oral common instructions to the patient as a part of the preparation for tummy tuck plastic surgery. These may include:

Avoid using aspirin, ibuprofen and other such pain medications and NSAIDs for at least 10 days before surgery.
Do not use vitamin E supplements, homeopathic and herbal remedies or dietary supplements for about a month prior to the surgery.
On the day of the surgery, do not wear makeup, jewelry, body piercings or contact lenses.
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes on the day of the surgery. Loose pants or shorts are preferable and the top should have buttons or a zipper in the front.
Avoid alcohol consumption for at least 48 hours before surgery.
Do not eat or drink anything for eight hours prior to the surgery.
If the patient is a diabetic, they should have their condition reviewed on the morning of the surgery.

If the patient has any last minute questions or concerns, they should not hesitate to discuss with the surgeon. For the recovery period, the patient should arrange for essential items at home in advance for their own comfort.

Committed and magnificent cosmetic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai receives patients from West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and other towns and cities in this section of the west coast for tummy tuck surgery.

Your Tummy Tuck Consultation

Once a patient has chosen to proceed with tummy tuck cosmetic surgery, they will have an opportunity to engage in a detailed consultation with the surgeon. The surgeon may prefer to schedule this appointment well ahead of the desired date of surgery so that the patient can have adequate time for preparation.

The patient should be ready to participate proactively in the consultation process and make the most of this opportunity. A good consultation will lay the foundation for a safe and predictable surgery. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai provides tummy tuck to patients in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and surrounding communities.

Health Assessment

One of the vital elements in the tummy tuck consultation process is an evaluation of the general health of the patient to determine whether they are fit to undergo this surgery. The surgeon will review the patient’s medical records and examine their abdominal anatomy and skin elasticity.

The patient should be forthcoming about any underlying health condition as well as current medications that they may be taking.

If the patient is a smoker, they will be required to quit the habit for at least a specified time period before and after the plastic surgery. The surgeon will also assess the patient’s skin type and thickness as well as abdominal muscle laxity in order to create an appropriate surgical plan for tummy tuck.

Cosmetic Goals of the Patient

Every patient will have their own cosmetic goals and expectations from a tummy tuck surgery. The surgeon will seek to understand these goals during the consultation and incorporate them in the customized surgery plan.

The type of tummy tuck surgical technique, the extent of correction, and the placement of incisions are some decisions that can be made more appropriately when the surgeon accounts for the patient’s specific aesthetic requirements.

Patient Feedback

During the pre-op consultation for tummy tuck surgery, the patient should freely discuss about their:

Personal aesthetic needs and goals
Medical and ongoing treatments, if any
Any known drug allergies
Current prescription and non-prescription medications, including herbal supplements and vitamins
Past or present use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs
Previous abdominal surgeries, if any

Surgeon’s Tasks

During the tummy tuck consultation, the surgeon may perform some or all of the following tasks:

Evaluation of the patient’s general health condition, pre-existing illnesses, and risk factors
Taking pre-operative photographs of the patient
Discussing treatment options and costs
Informing about any non-surgical alternatives
Recommending the best surgical technique
Explaining the likely outcome of tummy tuck
Informing the risks and complications
Discussing the recovery and downtime
Answering the patient’s questions
Presenting tummy tuck before and after images as well as past patient testimonials and reviews as required

The patient should preferably create a checklist of questions that they want to ask during the consultation. An experienced surgeon will address all questions to the patient’s satisfaction. Dedicated and standout cosmetic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai receives patients from West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and nearby areas across the landscape for tummy tuck surgery.

Location

West Hollywood

Dr. Roger Tsai Plastic Surgery
9201 W. Sunset Blvd. GF-1A
West Hollywood, CA 90069

310.276.1190

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