1. Where are the incisions made for abdominoplasty?

The incisions for an abdominoplasty are made at the bikini line, approximately where a cesarean section incision is. This is just above the pubic hairline. The incision extends low and then curves up to approximately the front part of the hip bone.


2. What kind of pain medication is used for this surgery?

I use Percocet or Vicodin or a similar narcotic, depending on the patient’s preference. I also use an anesthetic pump, which is a balloon filled with long-acting anesthetic medicine and is worn on a fanny pack. The balloon contracts over five days and shoots in pain medicine directly into the site of surgery through two tiny catheters. They are removed painlessly when the balloon is empty. This decreases the patient’s requirements for narcotics.


3. Is it advisable to do multiple procedures at one time?

This depends on the health of the patient and the number of procedures. I often do mommy makeovers, which usually combines a breast procedure with an abdominal procedure. Other common combinations are facelifts with nose jobs or facelifts with arm tucks, or an abdominoplasty and thigh lift. For more procedures than this, such as a body lift, which is an abdominoplasty, thigh lift and buttock lift all at once, the patient has to meet certain criteria in order to have an uneventful recovery.


4. Is it better to lose weight before or after a tummy tuck?

It depends on how overweight you are. Generally, I say that being 20 to 30 lbs overweight makes no difference on the results of surgery. People who are 50 or more lbs overweight should try to reduce their weight as much as possible, but without hurting themselves.


5. Will my abdominoplasty be paid for by my insurance?

No. A panniculectomy, which is removal of the skin below the belly button because it causes rashes or because it is infected, can be covered by some insurance plans.


6. How soon will I be able to exercise after my abdominoplasty procedure?

You will need to walk the next day, which will be somewhat difficult. True exercise, such as walking on a treadmill or riding a bicycle, can be attempted at about 10 to 14 days, but it really depends on the type of abdominoplasty that was done. A mini-abdominoplasty that does not tighten the abdominal muscles is easier to recover from. Older people take longer to recover.


7. When will my stitches be removed after my abdominoplasty procedure?

It depends on the practice. I usually use only dissolvable sutures and they do not need to be removed. Occasionally, I will place a suture that will be removed after about a week. Some practices use sutures that must be removed also at about 1-2 weeks.