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

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.  If all is well, the first post surgical office appointment is 2-4 days after the procedure.  Usually, patients are anxious for the first appointment.  They want the dressing changes so they can see their early result, and they want to begin showering, which is not allowed (sponge bathe only) until after that first dressing change 2-4 days following the procedure.

Thank you for your question! I see my patients, having tummy tuck procedures, 24-48 hours after surgery for their first post surgical assessment. 

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 3 months for pictures. I like to see my patients yearly thereafter just to see how they are doing.

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.

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. Post-operative appointments are scheduled prior to surgery and the price of post operative visits is included in the price of surgery.