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Coastal Cosmetic Center

Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon Before a Tummy Tuck

An Interview with Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Timothy Fee

Q: Am I good candidate for a tummy tuck?

Dr. Fee: Most patients who inquire about a tummy tuck are women who have had children or significant changes in their weight. They have acquired extra soft tissue on their belly area, and often their skin feels and looks a little worn out.

To find out if you are a candidate, please schedule a personal consultation since each patient case is different and there are variances.

Q: Can you make sagging skin on my tummy look new again?

Dr. Fee: There are some options to remove the unwanted soft tissue through liposuction or surgical removal, but there is really no way to make worn skin look new again. For this issue, the best alternative is to remove it by means of a tummy tuck. This is typically an incision down the beltline, like a bikini or a C-section scar, and another small scar under the belly button. The fat and the skin are elevated or freed up and pulled tight and the excess removed.

Q: How much will my tummy tuck surgery cost?

Dr. Fee: Each patient is unique, therefore each patient’s recommended surgical procedures are going to be unique. A tummy tuck is actually a range of procedures based on what the patient requires to get the best results. At Coastal Cosmetic Center, tummy tuck procedures start as low as four thousand dollars and can go up as high as ten or twelve thousand dollars. How much the procedure costs ultimately depends on the amount of and the complexity of the surgery.

Q: What can I do to get the best results after tummy tuck surgery?

Dr. Fee: Every patient’s healing experience is different. In order to maximize the chances of getting the best result possible, we recommend patients do the following before and after the procedure:

  • Stop smoking.
  • Maintain a healthy diet.
  • Stay hydrated.
  • Consider nutritional supplements such as protein supplements a multivitamin.
  • Limit activity immediately after surgery based on the post operative instructions.
  • Wait to exercise until after given the go ahead at one of your post-operative follow ups.

Q: How long of a recovery period can I expect for a tummy tuck?

Dr. Fee: While initially there is going to be some discomfort, the patient receives pain medications which usually ease the discomfort. While the patient is usually up and around the first day walking to the bathroom or the kitchen, it is wise not to expect to do much more than that.

Usually, it is the first two days that are the most difficult. After about three days the patient is switched over to a medication that helps with inflammation as well as pain. By five or six days things are a lot better. By three or four weeks, most patients have a hard time remembering they ever had surgery.

As far as work goes, two weeks off is ideal, but with a sedentary job one week is possible, even though the patient will be a little sore when they return. For any job that requires more aggressive, labor intensive activities, it is recommended to take off the full two weeks.

Q: What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?

Dr. Fee: The following are some of the potential risks with a tummy tuck procedure:

Pain: It’s not terrible, but it is uncomfortable, particularly in the first two days. Prescription pain medications will make it better but it’s not going to go away completely.

Bleeding: While there is going to be some bleeding, it is not significant.

Bruising: There will be bruising around the drains however, those come out after five to seven days.

Infection: An infection is always a risk, but each patient receives antibiotics to minimize that risk.

Numbness/Sensation Changes: There is a risk of numbness or sensation changes from the bellybutton down to the tummy tuck scar. The sensation will get better, but it may never go completely back to the way that it used to be.

Symmetry: Patients tend to pay more attention to their body after this surgery than ever before. They begin to see little differences that nobody else will notice. These differences are addressed in the follow up appointments. If after a reasonable amount of time things aren’t ideal a touch up can be discussed. A touch up procedure only actually happens about three percent of the time.

Blood Clots: Risks of blood clots do exist but they’re very very low. Each patient will receive medicine as well as leg squeezers or leg massages to minimize that risk. For patients with a history of heart, lung, or other health problems, they are encourage to have a work up with their primary care physician or a cardiologist preoperatively.

Q: How can I expect my stomach to look over time after tummy tuck surgery?

Dr. Fee: Think of cosmetic surgery is an investment. The patient will get out of it what they put into it. The patients who take care of their body with a sensible diet and sensible exercise, can expect to have a lifetime outcome. Patients who don’t take care of or neglect their bodies by not exercising or eating right cannot be guaranteed long term results.

Q: How can I expect my stomach to look over time, after tummy tuck surgery AND post pregnancy?

Dr. Fee: Most patients with a tummy tuck are done having children. Every once in awhile, an unexpected pregnancy can pop up after surgery. The risks associated with pregnancy in regards to a tummy tuck are largely cosmetic. Currently there are no known health risks to the developing baby. However, the tightening of the muscles and the elasticity of the skin may go back to the way they were before the tummy tuck procedure.

Q: What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the outcome of my tummy tuck?

Dr. Fee: As mentioned before, most patients go home after surgery and spend more time looking at their body than before. They may notice differences that may not be noticeable to anyone else. These concerns are addressed during the post operative appointments but most of those differences will settle out during the healing process. Healing for revisions is anywhere from three to six months after surgery. As long as the patient’s body is continuing to improve the way it looks, it is best to wait before deciding on a revision. The worst thing to do is a revision too soon. If a revision is needed, usually the touch ups are very, very small procedures which can be done on local anesthetic.

Q: Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for this procedure?

Dr. Fee: Coastal Cosmetic Center does have Before and After pictures of all of our procedures including tummy tucks on our website and in the office.

Q: How extensive will my tummy tuck scars be and where will they be located?

Dr. Fee: At this time it is impossible to remove skin without some sort of scar. It is common practice to make incisions in an area that is highly concealed. Tummy tuck scars are to the level of a C-section, down by the pubic bone to the hips, sometimes a little bit past. The scar healing itself takes about six months to a year to get to its final result. In the short term it’s going to be red, raised, and angry but as it heals it will soften, flat, and fade.

Q: What are our options for pain control after tummy tuck surgery?

Dr. Fee: Most patients go home with prescription pain medication as a mild narcotic, and other pain relievers associated with them. After a couple of days some switch over to a different kind of pain medication that also has an anti inflammatory component. Some patients elect to get a pain pump which delivers a local anesthetic underneath their skin to help assist with pain control locally.

Q: Do I need to be on any special diet pre or post surgery?

Dr. Fee: Patients are always encouraged to be on a healthy diet. Eat sensibly before and after surgery. It is more important patients that have undergone weight loss surgery to make sure their protein levels are up so they encourage them to increase their protein intake through a supplement or an extra protein shake a couple of weeks before surgery and extend that for at least a month after.

To schedule your consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Timothy E. Fee, contact us online or call (904) 332-6774.

Plastic Surgery (Cosmetic Surgery) in Jacksonville & Fleming Island, FL

Meet the Doctor

Timothy E. Fee, MD, FACS
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Fee is a board-certified plastic surgeon serving patients in Jacksonville and the surrounding communities. He is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the largest and most prestigious organization of plastic surgeon in the United States. A former President of the Greater Jacksonville Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Fee has published and participated in several peer reviewed journals.

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