Tummy Tuck Q&A
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Tummy Tuck and Catheter?

asked 1 year ago by hg.girl in Victoria, BC
Latest answer by Ezat Hashim, MD
Question viewed 208 times
Tags: catheter

My PS told me that I would be going home with a catheter for three days post op. I don't have a problem with that as part of his fee includes visits by a nurse for those three days as well as my caregiver is a RN. Is there any harm in this? I've never had one before, nor have I read about it in the forums.

7 answers to Tummy Tuck and Catheter?

+1

Do you mean urinary catheter or surgical drain?

There may be some confusion as to the term 'catheter'. Most of the time the term is used for a urinary catheter in the bladder. I have never sent a patient home with a urinary catheter. However, the term catheter could also refer to a surgical drain. Surgical drains are left in place when a surgeon believes that there could be some post-operative bleeding and blood accumulation under the skin flap. I almost always send patients home with surgical drains after a tummy tuck. more
Ezat Hashim, MD

Montreal Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy Tuck and Catheter?

Looks like there is confusion in terms. Catheter in bladder for urinary issues or the word catheter for drains under TT flaps? You need to explain or be explained which one or both??? Get a understandable informed consent!
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Your surgeon may have special concerns based on your medical history

The personal interview with your surgeon is important to go over the past medical history. Your surgeon may have concerns and would like you to have catheter. I do not use catheter routinely for tummy tuck.  
Kamran Khoobehi, MD

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon
+1

Catheter after Tummy Tuck

Not only do I not even use a catheter in the OR for Tummy Tuck, I have never heard of any Plastic Surgeon who discharged a patient with one. This is a set-up for a urinary tract infection. I, and many other Plastic Surgeons, do use wound drains for a few days, and those could be confused with a catheter, but this does not sound like what you are talking about.
Robert T. Buchanan, MD

Highlands Plastic Surgeon
+1

Urine catheter not necessary after tummy tuck.

Hi. I never heard of this.  Are you sure you understood correctly?  Perhaps you should get another consultation. see video
George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Catheter after surgery

I do not leave a uninary catheter in a tummy tuck case after surgery.  It is removed in the OR or the recovery room.  This decreases the chance of urinary tract infections and allows early ambulation.  Only  wound suction drains are left in after surgery and removed when output is decreased.  Donald R. Nunn MD Plastic Surgeon.
Donald Nunn, MD, DDS

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Foley catheter for Tummy Tuck

Every surgeons preferences are different but I have never needed to send a tummy tuck patient home with a urinary cathter.  The risk would be developing a urinary tract infection.  It may also keep you from ambulating to the restroom and ambulating in general which is not a good idea.  Unless you have a medical reason to be sent home with a catheter this doesn't make much sense to me.
Albert Dabbah, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

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