Robert C. Bledsoe, Jr., MD

Both types of implants have their advantages/disadvantages. Basically, saline implants are less expensive and less troublesome when they leak.  They are not as natural feeling as gel implants and have more of a tendency to cause rippling that can be felt and sometimes seen.  As previously mentioned, you need to have a detailed discussion with your surgeon concerning available implant types and be comfortable with your choice before you have your surgery. 

Drains are usually removed after a tummy tuck based on the volume of fluid they produce over a 24 hour period. Our office will remove these drains when their 24 hour output is less that 25cc for the last several days.  Drains/drainsites can become infected so removing them as soon as possible is an important part of the recovery process.  Removing them too  soon can also lead to fluid collections under the abdominal skin called seromas.  You should discuss this issue with your plastic surgeon before surgery so there are no surprises during the recovery process.

Your best bet would be to contact Plastic Surgeons in your area so that their office staff can assist you in determining what criteria your particular insurance policy uses to determine your eligibility for this procedure.  Some policies specifically exclude coverage for breast reduction surgery. You can do this for yourself online but it is usually much easier to get help from offices that do this frequently and are familiar with the process. Physically, you appear to be a good candidate for this surgery although this does not necessarily mean that your insurance carrier will cover this procedure for you. 

It is very important to allow your body to heal completely after all the changes that occur during pregnancy and delivery. Ideally, you would want to let your body loose as much of your pregnancy weight as is practical.  For some, this may take only a few months. For others, this may take up to a year.  Generally speaking, I think a minimum of 6 months is necessary for healing after an uneventful pregnance/delivery.  Delivery by C section and/or other complications during birth would probably lengthen the time interval before a tummy tuck would be optimal.  As always, there is no set time frame for everyone so a comprehensive discussion with your plastic surgeon is essential in planning your abdominoplasty.

For the first two weeks after breast augmentation, the main argument for a surgical bra/sports bra is to provide gentle pressure over the breasts which usually minimizes pain and swelling. Some surgeons also feel this reduces the risk of bleeding after surgery.  Most importantly, it is important to discuss this issue with your chosen surgeon prior to surgery to be comfortable with his post-operative plan.

Tummy tuck incisions/scars are very carefully drawn out pre-operatively in order to insure optimal shape and symmetry. This is usually done in the holding room just prior to surgery.  However, it is rare to see a patient who is perfectly symmetrical in the lower abdomen when measuring bony and skin surface landmarks.  Additionally, skin tension across the scar and other healing forces are rarely equal side to side. So, many factors can contribute to scar shape as well as symmetry.  It is critical that you discuss this concern with your plastic surgeon before the day of surgery so he/she can give you an analysis of your abdomen that includes an evaluation of side to side symmetry in the lower abdomen where the scar will be placed as well as a discussion of the shape of the scar after surgery.

A full tummy tuck involves a longer scar but will significantly improve both the upper and lower abdomen.  In comparison, the Mini Tummy Tuck uses a shorter scar to improve the lower (below the belly button) abdomen only.  If you are happy with your upper abdomen, then a Mini might be just the procedure for you.  A physical evaluation by a Plastic Surgeon will allow these concepts to be applied in more detail to your specific physical characteristics and give you  a good idea of the comparative results of these two procedures.

For an otherwise healthy patient,  most surgeons will give antibiotics through the IV just before, and during the operation.  A few will prescribe oral antibiotics after surgery.  You need to discuss your health issues with your surgeon at your initial consult to decide exactly what role antibiotics would play in your tummy tuck.

Everyone responds to recovery after tummy tuck in somewhat different ways.  Generally speaking, having some assistance at home during the day would be helpful for at least a day or two and possibly up to a week after surgery.  This might be a shorter period if you have a high tolerance to discomfort and like to be self-sufficient.  If you have small children, this period might extend up to 2-3 weeks.  As always, a complete discussion with your surgeon of your recovery concerns is most important in avoiding difficulties during the recovery process.

I assume you are referring to Upper Blepharoplasty.  As stated previously, you could be driven (by a responsible adult) home the day after surgery.  I would not advise this as it would be wise to remain near your surgeon for the first week after surgery in case any complications were to develop.  I would not advise driving yourself on a long trip like you propose for at least 1-2 weeks after surgery.