Finding a qualified plastic surgeon is crucial to your safety and to the ultimate outcome of your procedure. Most plastic surgeons are willing and able to show you "before and after" photos of their work at the time of your consultation. Upon request, you may also be able to speak with former patients who have had the procedure you are interested in. When considering abdominoplasty, or tummy-tuck, it is very important to make sure that your surgeon is fully certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Those of us that do a lot of this type of work are usually members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery as well.
Specifically, with regard to the tummy tuck surgery, it is not important to have a pain pump postoperatively. My patients do very well with oral medications. Also, you should know that having liposuction done at the same time as the tummy tuck increases your risk of blood clots to the lung.
Lastly, price should not be a deciding factor in choosing your plastic surgeon. Here in South Florida where I practice we have a couple of large practices which offer very heavily discounted procedures. As a surgeon who frequently sees the unhappy results of these "deals", I can only say there is no free lunch and you may get just what you pay for.
