Is it advisable to get a tummy tuck done by residents?

Thank you for your question!  Yes some residents are allowed to preform the surgery at a lower cost!  Make sure you way out your options.  Best of luck!Dr Dhaval PatelDouble Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Hofffman EstatesOrland ParkOakbrookChicago

Thank you for sharing your question.  Academic institutions do allow residents to perform procedures at a reduced cost in the name of education.  You can research this option and decide if you feel comfortable to pursue this avenue.  Hope this helps.

Experience counts. On the other hand, the residents probably have close supervision to assure a good result, and I feel certain it would be less expensive if that is your motivation. Otherwise, I would seek a PS with years of experience who does a large number of tummy tucks.I do recommend the no-drain TT for shorter recovery time, less discomfort, and lower complication rate. Plus, you will not have the drains that patients despise.Thank you for your question, and good luck.

We all had to learn how to operate in our careers. Typically, academic or teaching hospitals have residents performing surgeries under the guidance of an attending plastic surgeon. However, if this is not what you are comfortable with, choose a board certified plastic surgeon (usually in their own private practice) that does not work with residents.

Thank you for the question. Yes,  it is probable that you will be able to save money by having the surgery performed in a teaching hospital by a plastic surgery resident.  You will need to weigh this cost-saving to  the potential downsides associated with surgery performed by a less experienced surgeon.If you do choose to proceed with tummy tuck surgery in a training program, make sure that the attending physician is directly involved with your procedure (and can demonstrate lots of experience helping patients achieve the types of outcomes you would be pleased with).
 Generally speaking, a board-certified plastic surgeon will have a greater experience level than the plastic surgeon in training.  If I were in your shoes, I would suggest starting with the American Society of Plastic Surgery and/or the Aesthetic Society of Plastic Surgery to obtain a list of well experienced board-certified plastic surgeons.
Then, I would suggest you visit a few surgeons whose practices concentrate on aesthetic surgery. Ask to SEE lots of examples of their work AND preferably speak/see patients who have had similar procedures done.
Be very careful with your decision-making. You will find, while doing your due diligence, that there are many different “specialties” who will offer their services to you; again, I strongly recommend you concentrate on surgeons certified by the relevant Board of Plastic Surgery.
I would also suggest that you do not base your selection of plastic surgeon primarily on costs of surgery; keep in mind that revisionary surgery may be more costly in many ways. Best wishes.