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Facelift FAQ's in Denver
Tummy Tuck FAQ’s
Can you be too old or too young for a “tummy tuck”?
As long as you are in good physical and mental health, you are probably never too old for an abdominoplasty. Regarding “too young”, we don’t encourage “a tummy tuck” or any cosmetic operation for adolescents. The rare exception might be if an adolescent suffering from morbid obesity had a bariatric operation, lost a tremendous amount of weight, and needed to have excessive skin removed. Otherwise, we probably set the lower age limit at 21 unless the individual was an emancipated minor” (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-emancipated-minor.htm).
Will I have bandages?
There will be a clear adhesive plastic dressing over both the bikini line incision and the belly-button incision with gauze dressing beneath. This will be changed on the first day after surgery and a new dressing applied that will stay in place for a week
When can I bathe and shower?
You can shower immediately. When you do shower, you will need to keep in mind the following:
For the first week or 2:
• The shower water should not hit the abdominal wall; shower with your back to the shower
• No hot water – lukewarm instead- just in case any water gets on the abdominal skin, it can be injured easily
• No rubbing the abdomen
• Blot or pat the abdominal skin if it gets wet dry
• Reapply your girdle or garment as soon as you are dry after completing your shower
Ask about showering and bathing instructions after 2 weeks.
Could I get the same results if I just dieted and exercised?
No. While diet will certainly reduce tummy fat, it won’t tighten the skin and muscles. If you meet the indications for having a “tummy-tuck”, you have lax muscles and loose, excess skin. Exercise will strengthen the muscles, but it cannot bring them back to their original position.
If I’m having a Mini-Abdominoplasty, can I drive myself home after surgery?
No. Even if you have had a very limited surgery under local anesthesia, the surgical experience may make you weak, shaky, or distracted enough that it is dangerous to drive. If you’ve had a general or twilight anesthetic, you still will have some after-effects of the medications. You should have someone bring you to surgery and take you back home.
How long is the operation?
The classic or modified classic tummy-tucks take about 3-4 hours. A mini-tummy-tuck takes 1-2 hours.
How long does it take to heal?
We encourage all of our patients to be physically active as soon after surgery as is practical. In fact, activity begins the night of surgery. But you will need to limit any straining or tightening of the abdominal muscles for 6 weeks.
Stitches are removed at about a week after surgery if external sutures are used. Still, complete healing with return to full, unlimited activity takes several months. Nevertheless, after a couple of weeks, the fact of your surgery will not be apparent to anyone while you are clothed.
The scars will go through several stages of healing. The first stage is when stitches are still in place. Then the scar will pass through several stages of gradual fading of color from red to pink to white. At Grossman Plastic Surgery ® we ask that you use a layer of hypoallergenic paper surgical tape to support the scar (the staff will show you how) for 3 months to help insure that it remains as fine and imperceptible as possible.
Should I apply heat or ice to the areas?
Absolutely not! Both cold and heat can severely injure the skin. The skin will not tolerate these.
Is this surgery covered by my insurance?
Generally no. This is a cosmetic operation and is not covered by health insurance.
When can I start jogging and lifting weights?
After 6 weeks following surgery.
Should I lose weight before the surgery?
If you are overweight and seriously intend to lose weight and keep it off, you should do so before your abdominoplasty.
How many scars will I have?
We won’t know for sure in advance. The number of scars will be determined at surgery by the number of access incisions necessary to get to the fat that needs to be sculpted. In any case, they will likely heal well with minimal visibility. Generally, these incisions (and therefore the scars) are about ¼- ½ inch in length.
When will the results be complete?
The results will be apparent immediately. Still, there will be healing and swelling that will need to resolve. These will take several months. In some patients, there is an extra layer of fat that we’ll want to shape after healing has occurred with a little liposuction. We recommend that this can be done no sooner than 3 months after surgery when the scar tissue has softened.
When can I resume my vitamins and supplements?
By 2 weeks after surgery you can resume these med’s and supplements. But you should still speak with the staff to be sure.
When can I begin having sex again?
Remembering that you need to avoid tightening or using your abdominal muscles for 6 weeks after surgery, if your sexual activity can steer clear of this, you might try after 2-3 weeks. Otherwise, we advise your waiting 6 weeks to be safe.
Do I have to sleep in a special position?
Yes. Especially during the first week or 2, you will need to avoid tension on the incision line by having 2-3 pillows behind your back and another 1-2 pillows under your knees. If you have a hospital type bed, you can accomplish this mechanically having the head of the bed elevated to 45-60 degrees and the knees at 45 degrees.
Do I have to stop smoking or should I use the nicotine patches or gum instead?
Use of tobacco or nicotine replacement medications will be disastrous to an abdominoplasty! The nicotine in cigarettes as well as the nicotine replacement medications have a very bad effect on the skin following surgery and can result in poor healing and even areas of skin loss. Therefore, no smoking, nicotine replacements, or supplements following surgery for at least 2 weeks after surgery. Cessation 3-4 weeks before surgery and 2 weeks after would be preferable. Drugs that suppress the desire to smoke, such as Zyban® (www.quitsmoking.com) and Chantix® (www.chantix.com) can be used. Our staff will prescribe this for you if you wish.
Should I be on a special diet before surgery?
Not necessarily. However, if you are prone to constipation, higher fiber diet that keeps you “regular” would be beneficial. We suggest that you be on a well-balanced diet. Avoid radical diets prior to surgery. You may take vitamin and mineral supplements, but avoid health-food supplements the ingredients of which are uncommon and may have drug effects.
Are there special medicines that I should or should not take before surgery?
Our staff will provide you with preoperative instructions that include any medicines or supplements that we wish you to take. You should, of course, inform us of any medications that you are taking regularly or which your own doctor has prescribed. If those will not interfere with surgery or anesthesia, we will allow you to continue to take them. Otherwise, supplements such as iron, vitamin K, Vitamin C, Beta Carotene are all right. But Vitamin E needs to be eliminated beginning 2 weeks prior to surgery, as it causes prolonged bleeding. The same is true of many nutritional supplements. It is best to simply stop all supplements at least 2 weeks before surgery. Over-the-counter diet pills that contain ephedra or ma huang must be stopped at least 1 month before surgery.
Will I need any special tests before surgery?
Yes. You will be asked to have a complete pre-operative medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests before surgery. Especially as this is elective surgery, we need to be sure that you are in good health. These can be performed either by your own physician or our staff will recommend a physician or a Physician Assistant to complete these for you.
How soon can I lie in the sun or use a tanning bed?
You need to protect the entire abdominal area from sun exposure until swelling, firmness, and tenderness s well as any bruising are gone. But even then, the exposure should be brief since the skin doesn’t have normal “feeling”. Without normal feeling, you could easily burn the skin severely. It can take many months – as long as a year- for the skin’s sensitivity to return. Even then there may be areas of numbness that are permanent. Therefore, both natural sunlight and tanning bed usage can begin after a month or so, but should be done with the abdominal skin’s delicateness in mind.
How much weight will I lose?
Remember, this is not a weight loss surgery. We have no idea as to how much weight will be lost in the abdominoplasty. This is not the object of the surgery. But some weight will be lost.
Will I be able to tone my abdominal muscles as I did before surgery?
Yes, and probably much better since the muscles are back where they belong
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