Why would tummy tuck surgeries in Mexico take longer than Canada?

Question

Hi doctor community, today I made with a surgeon in Mexico who told me a mini tummy tuck surgery will take him 3-4h instead of 45min-1h, which is what Canadian doctors estimated. When I asked why he said surgeons in Latin America are more into sculpting, instead of just operating. He also said they use sedative anesthesia and epidural and not general. What does he mean by all this? Is this practice still safe? Thank you for helping make an informed decision

Sean T. Lille, MD · Answer

Every physician has a different technique for how they like to do procedures. Here in the US, we are more on the 3-4 hour side of tummy tuck surgery. If your surgeon is truly doing a mini tummy tuck that will require very little repair and skin removal, it could go that quickly. Typically if you have a mini surgery, you get a mini result. General anesthesia is the norm but that's not to say it is the best in every case. I recommend having more consultations.

Carlos Marciales, MD · Answer

Hello, thank you for asking, a tummy tuck is a surgical procedure performed exclusively by certified plastic surgeons, the duration of the procedure will depend on several factors, including unique characteristics of each patient, the important thing is to perform it carefully to avoid accidents, and the need to repair the abdominal muscles or not must be analyzed, adequate haemostasis must be performed to avoid bleeding after surgery, usually in Mexico it is performed in conjunction with liposuction to give a better result, in terms of anesthesia, sedation and epidural block They are the best way to manage this surgery, recovery is faster for the patient, there is a lower risk of venous thrombosis, the patient has less nausea and in general it reduces the surgical risks by 40%, so in this case it is not an old practice, rather it is the most current and safer for patients!! Thank you

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Each surgeon's operating time will vary to some degree, but a mini tummy tuck would take closer to 3-4 hours than 45 minutes.  General anesthesia is typically used for this procedure for both your comfort and safety.

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

Why travel to a foreign land where regulations are minimal and reports of infections and death are numerous? Because it's cheap? You live near very good plastic surgeons that use appropriate general anesthesia with certified anesthesiologists in clean facilities that adhere to strict standards. Your thinking is not clear.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Doing a procedure under local anesthesia does require a longer wait time to let the anesthesia work. I am sure Canadian physicians are good at "sculpting" as well.  However, not all surgeons operate at the same speed. Some are bunnies and some are turtles, but most can achieve the same results.  If you live in Canada, find a surgeon there so you can have good follow up care.

Why would tummy tuck surgeries in Mexico take longer than Canada?

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Everything you need to know about Mini Tummy Tuck

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Why would tummy tuck surgeries in Mexico take longer than Canada?

Answers (6)

Answer: Data Proven: Cheap equals Dangerous

Answer: Data Proven: Cheap equals Dangerous

Answer: Time

Answer: Time

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Mini Tummy Tuck

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.