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Okay for a General Surgeon to Perform Tummy Tuck?

asked 3 years ago by steph_956 in Henderson,Ky
Latest answer by Walter D. Gracia, MD
Question viewed 1,663 times
Tags: doctor, qualifications, surgeon

Is it okay to have a Tummy Tuck done by a general surgeon during abdominal hernia repair? Is it also healthy to perform this procedure on a 65 year old woman who has had previous hernia repair and had complications healing from it? From the first hernia repair, she had an open wound from 2001 till 2008 which over the years would sometimes get infection to where she had to take antibiotics through an IV.

22 answers to Okay for a General Surgeon to Perform Tummy Tuck?

General surgeon doing tummy tuck

I am a plastic surgeon who first became board certified in general surgery at a top program. I would never have performed a tummy tuck as a general surgeon nor would any of my attendings. Plastic surgery training is where a surgeon learns how to do the tough cases and deal with the complications.

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

Why would he do it?

If you live in a small town in which there are no board certified plastic surgeons, then it might be appropriate., certainly better than going to a dermatologist, otolaryngologist, or any other physician untrained in plastic surgery yet willing to give it a try. Afterall, in underserved communities family practice doctors deliver babies, set fractures, and treat heart patients. But in modern, first-world communities, orthopedic surgeons fix the fractures, obstetricians deliver the babies,... more

Steven Teitelbaum, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

No, plastic surgery is best done by a plastic surgeon

No, I would not recommend having a general surgeon perform a tummy tuck, just as I would not recommend that a plastic surgeon perform neurosurgery. It is very important to find someone who is both trained and board-certified in the procedure of your choice. The case you have described sounds fairly complex, and you will likely need to consult with both a general surgeon and a plastic surgeon for a comprehensive solution to the issue at hand. We do often work together on cases of... more

Nina S. Naidu, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

In short - No

General surgeons are not trained in plastic surgery and would not be an intelligent choice for having a tummy tuck. Specialty training is very important in giving you the best outcome possible. If you do have complications, they will send you to a plastic surgeon anyways as they would not be able to deal with it. You should not have a surgeon perform a procedure on you unless they know how to handle all complications related to the procedure. Also, sounds like a tummy tuck may not even be... more

Bahram Ghaderi, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Only if the general surgeon is trained in plastic surgery

You can tell a surgeon to cut on a dotted line and put in a certain type of sutures from point A to point B, but the experience and trainng in plastic surgery goes much beyond the technical aspects of a procedure. It involves decision-making, sensitivity to evolving blood supply and tissue tension issues, assessment of multiple variables and options, ability to avoid and handle potential complications, determining the appropriateness of a patient for a procedure, and explaining all the risks... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Not no, but HELL no

This to me is not a good idea. First, a general surgen has no formal training in the procedure, nor has he been trained to manage potential complications resulting from the procedure. You already had a multi year complication when you were much younger. Now, a recurrent hernia, older, and who knows what other health issues are present. In this setting you want to perform a hernia repair, and a singificant operation (TT) by someone is not qualified? My advice to you is to let a dentist... more

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

This is probably not in your best interests...

Hi there- During the many years we spend completing residency training in Plastic Surgery, preparing for and passing our Board Certification exams (written and oral), and in practice, we plastic surgeons learn many important details of skin and soft tissue surgery, wound healing, skin and soft tissue anatomy, fine suturing techniques, and the geometry of the beautiful body. This high level of understanding of these important details is brought to bear to your advantage when you seek out a... more

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

Complex case, you will need both!

This sounds like a high risk case. I would approach this problem with more care. A non-healing wound for such a long time could signal other medical problems that need to be addressed before you attempt the repair. Regarding the type of doctor that would do your tummy tuck: A Tummy tuck is a plastic surgery procedure that is performed by a plastic surgeon. Most reputable general surgeons would ask a plastic surgeon to help in a case where a ventral hernia repair need to be done in the same... more

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Always have a plastic surgeon perform plastic surgery

I do not feel comfortable with a general surgeon performing an abdominoplasty; especially in your situation. I recommend a board certified plastic surgeon based on many factors such as: 1. Plastic surgeons respect blood supply and will evaulate your abdominal scars to make alterations to the technique and optimize your ability to heal 2. Because plastic surgeons perform abdominoplasty procedures routinely, he or she will determine if you are a good candidate and then discuss the... more

Michael Baroody, MD
Danbury Plastic Surgeon

You get what you pay for

Some general surgeons may do an adequate job on an abdominoplasty, but it is not in there specific area of expertise. I would sugest that you seek out a board certified Plastic Surgeon for cosmetic surgery.

Walter D. Gracia, MD
Arlington Plastic Surgeon

Qualifications of a plastic surgeon performing Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty procedures are designed to remove infraumbilical skin and fat; and to tighten the anterior abdominal wall musculature. Patients should always undergo these procedures with a well qualified plastic surgeon who is board certified. In more complicated abdominal reconstructions, cooperation between and general surgeon and a plastic surgeon is sought to correct abdominal wall hernias and acheive a cosmetically acceptable result. This cooperation between specialities is important... more

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

No Way, particuarly in this case

In general, the answer is always "No" to this question, but this particular case sounds even more complicated than most. My recommendation is to seek out a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in your area to evaluate you to see if you are even a candidate for a tummy tuck at this time. He or she may then decide to perform the procedure at the time of the hernia repair, or more likely, delay it and perform it as a separate procedure once the hernia repair has healed (6 months or so... more

Shahram Salemy, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.drsalemy.com

Tummy Tucks are not part of General Surgeons' scope of training

Only go to doctors who practice within the scope of their training. A weekend course or reading about it in a book is not a replacement for years of training.

Brian K. Brzowski, MD
Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

www.brzowski.com

Is it OK for a plastic surgeon to do a gallbladder removal?

Hello We are all trained to specialize in an area. Board certified plastic surgeons are best at tummy tucks and I would keep it that way. One would never expect a plastic surgeon to take out a gallbladder and one should not expect a general surgeon to do an abdominoplasty, especially a complicated one like you describe.

Francisco Canales, MD
Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon

Not in an ideal world

Unfortunately, this has become much more common as plastic surgeons have chosen for the most part to not accept insurance payments for procedures which are sometimes medically necessary, as it sounds like this might be. However, the more complicated the case, the less appropriate it is for a surgeon to range outside their comfort level. It sounds to me like this patient would be best served by a combined approach involing a general surgeon and a plastic surgeon. At 65, an abdominoplasty... more

W. Tracy Hankins, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tucks should be performed by plastic surgeons

Absolutely not. Even a simple tummy tuck should be performed by a plastic surgeon if you are interested in getting the best result. The goal is not to just survive the procedure. The goal is to have a beautiful result with the nicest recovery and the least chance of developing a complication. This is what a plastic surgeon is trained to deliver. Your case is potentially quite complicated. The special expertise of a plastic surgeon is critical if you are going to have a tummy tuck. You may... more

Parham Ganchi, MD
Wayne Plastic Surgeon

No

A general surgeon who has not also trained in plastic surgery should not attempt this. Being a Board Certified General Surgeon myself, I know how they think and they think a tummy tuck is easy compared to what they do within the abdomen. I can tell you that a beautifully done tummy tuck will not be performed in the hands of a non-plastic surgeon. It actually sounds as though this case is also extremely complicated and a tummy tuck by anybody may not be safe or wise to do. Here again, a... more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Not unless you're in the tundra and there are no plastic surgeons

Steph, I don't know how rural Henderson is, but I venture to say that it is close enough to civilisation to find a plastic surgeon who can either do the entire procedure or work with the general surgeon. The complication rate for abdominoplasty surgery is not zero even when performed by a well trained plastic surgeon. For a general surgeon, it would be prohibitive. Find a plastic surgeon to participate to get the safest and best result. Good luck!

Kenneth R. Francis, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

How foolish could you be?

While you might get lucky and get a good result with a general surgeon doing your tummy tuck, it does not seem logical. This tendency to see general surgeons do tummy tucks for cheaper rates is insane. Would you go to a plastic surgeon and say, while you are doing some liposuction, can you take out my gallbladder? Do you want your plastic surgeon delivering your baby? Sure, we are all doctors, but we all are trained in specialities that we should stick to. Bargain hunting for prices is... more

Evan Sorokin, MD
Cherry Hill Plastic Surgeon

General Surgeon Performing a Tummy Tuck--NO GOOD

Not a good idea. You have already had multiple issues and heading down the path of having further issues to come. I am a board certified general surgeon as well as a board certified plastic surgeon. I can manage both issues as far as dealing with complicated hernia issues and abdominoplasty. However, I would have never thought about doing a tummy tuck when I was a general surgery. It goes beyond the technical aspects. BE CAREFUL!!!! If you want to have everything done at the same time,... more

Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

In general, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon will do a better job on the abdominoplasty, but it may

As a plastic surgeon who does a lot of body contouring for massive weight loss patients, I have seen a number of tummy tucks done by general surgeons who have been the initial bariatric surgeon. These patients do not exhibit incision placement, consideration for the other areas of skin redundancy and fat contour residuals, and closure technique which reflect the thoughtfulness that a plastic surgeon would have brought to these patients. They are, in fact, seeing me to re-do the issues they... more

David N. Hing, MD
Ann Arbor Plastic Surgeon

Seems like a case for a experinced plastic surgeon

I would recommend a board certified plastic surgeon. You have a complex problem . My concern is that it took long time for the wound to heal last time. You will need a full evaluation by a internist to make sure you do not have a medical problem and also nutritional evaluation.