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. 

I used to see most of my surgery patients the next day.  Many of them did not appreciate coming in just for my piece of mind when they were in pain and sometimes still nauseated. Rarely did any of them have any kind of a problem for which I had to see them and, when they did, they knew it and could have called to come in. Therefore I decided that it was simply cruel to have them come in without any good reason and they were better off at home. Now I see all of my tummy tuck patients 3-4 days after surgery and their next visit is 3-4 days after that.  Nine days after surgery for your first visit is simply too long.