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How Long Do Most Doctors Wait to See a Patient Again After a Full Tummy Tuck?

asked 9 months ago by Vivi21 in Hudson OH
Latest answer by James McMahan, MD
Question viewed 292 times
Tags: follow-up, normal, timing

I'm having a full tummy tuck and small hernia repair next month. My first post-op appointment is nine days later. Is this normal? It seems like a very long time to wait to have the tubes removed. Don't most doctors want to see patients sooner to remove the dressings and to check for problems?

22 answers to How Long Do Most Doctors Wait to See a Patient Again After a Full Tummy Tuck?

Every practice is different, however...

We all have different routines. I see my tummy tuck patients back the next day for the first postoperative appointment. I am aware of how uncomfortable that is, but it ensures that the patients are up and moving and allows me to address nausea, pain etc. Nine days seems like a long time.

Brian Klink, MD
Sacramento Plastic Surgeon

www.solanoplasticsurgery.com

Post-operative visits

In my practice a patient would be seen the day after a tummy tuck, or no later than day 2. Seeing patients soon after surgery and seeing them often is important not only for the prevention of post-operative complications but for patient peace of mind

Michael Law, MD
Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

michaellawmd.com

Tummy Tuck

I call my tummy tuck patients the night of surgery and see them the following day.

David Bray, Jr, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck followup

Every surgeon has his own routine. Some use drains while others do not. If your surgery is down as an out patient, I would first see you in three to four days. If you stay overnight and I released you in the morning, I would not see you for a week or so. Much depends on when you surgeon thinks your drains will be removed and you can keep in touch by phone.

Richard Linderman, MD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

How Long Do Most Doctors Wait to See a Patient Again After a Full Tummy Tuck?

In my personal practice I see ALL my post TT patients on day 2. But if you are not comfortable waiting 9 days than discuss with your chosen surgeon.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck Appointment

My normal routine, if all goes well during surgery, is to provide my office and pager number and my cell phone to each patient so they can easily contact me 24-7 if any problems or questions arise after their tummy tuck. If tummy tuck is combined with another major procedure, patients often stay overnight in the surgery center with two nurses, and I see them early the following morning. If they go home after tummy tuck, I call to check on them that evening or the next morning... more

Steve Laverson, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

feelbeautiful.com

Follow up after tummy tuck

I usually call the patient on the night of surgery, and see them the following day. Drains are usually removed at the next visit which is typically 3-5 days later. I would have a difficult time waiting 9 days to see my post op patients!

Marialyn Sardo, MD
La Jolla Plastic Surgeon

Post op visit after Tummy tuck surgery

Every surgeon's routine for postoperative care is different. Personally, I ask to see my patients one to four days after abdominoplasty surgery. This may be slightly longer if the patient has a nurse observing him/her. I also like to communicate with my patients via phone on a daily basis as much as possible during the healing process. In my practice, drains are usually moved one to 3 weeks postoperatively depending on the drain output. If you have questions or concerns... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Close follow-up after a tummy tuck is important....

Although every plastic surgeon is different, close follow-up after a tummy tuck surgery is important to make sure your healing goes as smoothly as possible. I see my patients one day following surgery, again at one week, two weeks, and at four weeks. If all is well at four weeks following the tummy tuck, the next visit is at six months for a final post-op visit and pictures. There are many reasons to see a patient frequently the first week or two, mainly to determine the... more

Christa Clark, MD, FACS
Folsom Plastic Surgeon

www.clarkplasticsurgery.com

Being seen for the first time after a tummy tuck 9 days later is far too long

Although every plastic surgeon does things a little bit differently, I strongly believe that having your first postoperative appointment 9 days after a tummy tuck is excessively long, imprudent and potentially dangerous. I disagree with those who claim that this length of time is OK. It is not and a tummy tuck is a major procedure. Seeing a patient nine days after removing a mole is a different story and quite acceptable. For me, this amount of time would be a deal breaker and I would... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

Follow-up For Full Tummy Tuck

There is no hard and fast rule for the time to see patients after their full tummy tucks. I agree with Dr. Hing. I admit almost all of full tummy tucks for at least one night post-op (I am lucky to operate at a hospital which significantly discounts the charge for overnight stays after aesthetic surgery). If, when I examine the wounds and change the dressing the next morning, everything looks fine, there is no problem with waiting a week or so to see the patient back in the... more

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Postop follow up after tummy tuck

Everyone has their routine and what works for them . I might be a little more controlling. I call my patients the night of their surgery and they must come back to the office the next day. I change the tape on the incision, check if they deal with the drains appropriately and refill their pain pump. The next visit is at 7 days unless the drainage decreases enough to pull them earlier.

George Marosan, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

Followup after tummy tuck

Every practice will have a different routine, though we see patients about four days after tummy tuck. We do not use any drains so after the first visit the next may be at the two week point unless of course questions come up. some might suggest a visit the first day after surgery, and we find that a phone call will suffice, and the car trip back in on the first day uncomfortable. Best of luck. peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

When should patient be seen post tummy tuck

I personally see patient 3-4 days later as I use a pain pump to help with the pain post operatively and this is removed. I then see them 2-3 days later to remove the drains. Every surgeon is different. My suggestion is to discuss things with your surgeon in advance and express your concerns.

Rick Rosen, MD
Norwalk Plastic Surgeon

Postop care after plastic surgery

Personally, I always call my patients the night of their surgery and always see them the next day. No exceptions.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Post operative care for abdominoplasty/ tummy tuck

If your tummy tuck and hernia repair were done with an overnight stay and your surgeon saw you the day after surgery, follow up in nine days may well be an appropriate interval for the next visit, as long as all the incisions looked healthy, all the drains had very little blood in them, and the tissues all had good circulation. If your surgery was an outpatient procedure and you were discharged that day of the procedure, an earlier visit might be appropriate to check on healing,... more

David N. Hing, MD
Ann Arbor Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck follow up varies

I used to see most of my surgery patients the next day. Many of them did not appreciate coming in just for my piece of mind when they were in pain and sometimes still nauseated. Rarely did any of them have any kind of a problem for which I had to see them and, when they did, they knew it and could have called to come in. Therefore I decided that it was simply cruel to have them come in without any good reason and they were better off at home. Now I see all of my tummy tuck patients 3-4... more

James McMahan, MD
Columbus Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck alone

As everyone says; its very individual. i too call all patients the night of surgery and we see them the next day. now a days i don't use drains, so i personally may not see them till the fifth post op day, although I do peek in on them the next day. it took me years to understand that my Job isn't to just make you look good, it's to make you feel good. that's why we now do everything for my patients after a tummy Tuck, including shower, hair, nails...everything. it requires a... more

Ayman Hakki, MD
Washington Plastic Surgeon

How Long Do Most Doctors Wait to See a Patient Again After a Full Tummy Tuck?

I alway call the patient the night of surgery and see them within the next day or two, depending on the patient's discomfort. I think it is important to check on the wounds, pain levels, ambulation, drains etc. in order to avoid potential problems and to ensure a rapid and uneventful postoperative course.

Donald M. Brown, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Follow up for tummy tuck surgery

I see all tummy tuck patients either 48 hours or 72 hours after the surgery. regards DR Tachmes

Leonard Tachmes, MD
Miami Beach Plastic Surgeon

After care for a Tummy Tuck

Each practice has it's own post-operative care routine. I call the patient the very next day to check to see how they are doing. Then, we usually see the patient in office 1 week after surgery. After that, the next visit is determined by when the drains come out. In order for the drains to be removed, we like for the drainage to be less than 25ccs in a full 24 hour period per drain. Once the drains are removed, we see the patient weekly for a month and then... more

Leo Lapuerta, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Post option visit

I see patients about 6 to 8 days after a tummy tuck. If there are any problems I will see patients sooner. So long as there is good communication and you are not having problems, 9 days is not too long.