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Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)–the surgery and recovery
By admin | September 29, 2008
The Surgery and Recovery.
Most plastic surgery procedures are performed in an area of the doctor’s office. What separates our practice from others is that we have two independent state licensed operating suites on site that are licensed by the Texas Department of Health and pass the federal Medicare regulations. This is the highest rating a surgical facility can achieve. All of our patients’ care before, during, and after her surgery takes place under the same roof for maximum convenience and privacy.
During the surgery, the patient is completely asleep and remembers nothing and wakes up in the recovery room two hours later with everything finished. The skin is tightened which often gives a secondary lifting effect to the upper thighs and privates. All of the skin and fat of the lower abdomen are removed as well as any stretch marks and/or cellulite. The abdominal muscles are tightened along the entire length to act as a permanent “internal girdle” to flatten the stomach. Special attention is given to the belly button to restore its youthful, aesthetic appearance. The belly button should be oval in shape and gradually slope inwards and not be left too large. Positioning is critical as well.
Returning to Normal.
Patients who have an isolated tummy tuck go home the afternoon of their procedure, whereas those with combined procedures typically spend one night in our center with a registered nurse and medical assistant. Several years ago, we changed our post-operative protocol to include non-narcotic, anti-inflammatory medicines with traditional pain medicines and have dramatically reduced the discomfort of the surgery. We also offers an optional pain pump that delivers local anesthesia internally during the first days. Most patients will return to work two weeks after surgery and no restrictions are required after six weeks. After the swelling has subsided, it’s not unusual for a patient to have dropped one or two clothing sizes.
For more information, please visit our website.
Robert D. Wilcox, MD
Topics: Home, Tummy Tuck |
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