Why are mommy makeovers outpatient? It seems like pretty big procedures.

This is an excellent question, and kudos to you for being proactive
about your health. Indeed, most mommy makeovers are relatively major procedures
in terms of length. Whether or not it's performed as an outpatient procedure
depends on a few different factors, including your overall health, the
significance of your surgery, and your doctor's own preference. An overnight
stay in a hospital or specialized surgical center can be beneficial for some
patients. Others, however, may return home to rest just a few hours after
surgery. Most surgeons approach aftercare on a case-by-case basis rather than
making claims that mommy makeover is always
an outpatient or inpatient procedure. The techniques we use for mommy
makeovers are extraordinarily safe and reliable, so although it is a
"major" procedure in the sense that in involves more than one area of
the body, it's not typically medically complex. As you consult with plastic
surgeons while you plan for surgery, be sure to ask about their individual
approaches for recuperation.

Actually, in my practice, mommy makeover surgery is not an outpatient procedure. I require my patients to stay overnight at the surgical center at which the mommy makeover was performed, so as to keep a close eye on the early stages of recovery and to provide maximum comfort directly following surgery. In fact, I have found that the majority of surgeons prefer to have the patient stay at least one night and that this guideline can truly reduce the risk of complication. Still, the surgery is personalized on an individual basis and may be possible that your surgeon is not stressing an overnight stay for your mommy makeover because your treatment is relatively less intensive. However, if you feel more comfortable moving forward with a surgeon who does stress this overnight stay, I recommend consulting with another surgeon in your area to get a second opinion. 

I prefer to keep most of my mommy makeover patients overnight for observation. This is not a requirement but certainly not every mommy makeover patient is discharged after the operation.

Even though a mommy makeover can be a somewhat long procedure, it usually doesn't result in much shifting of fluids into and out of the vascular (blood vessel) system, so the anesthesiologist doesn't need to give the patient too much fluid via the IV. That means that this surgery is much less stressful for the body (heart, lungs, etc.) than a surgery that involves entering the abdominal cavity (like intestinal surgery). As others have mentioned, the biggest risk is deep vein thrombosis ( blood clots in the legs). There are several things that can be done to decrease the likelihood of this problem, including frequent walking after surgery. Almost all of my patients go home after mommy makeovers. There are options for overnight stays or home nursing care, but patients with attentive family care at home don't necessarily need those options. I call my patients at home and stay in close communication. Ultimately, you need to do what makes you most comfortable, and what your surgeon of choice recommends. If you'd feel better having a nurse or staying overnight at a care facility, that can be arranged.

Assuming you are in good health, not overweight, and the surgeon can complete the procedure in under 5 hours or so, it is reasonable to do a mommy makeover as an outpatient. Several things contribute to making this a safe procedure including advances in anesthesia which enable you to wake up quickly, long-acting numbing agents such as Exparel which reduce the need for post-op pain medications, and better surgical techniques. Most mommy makeovers are done as an outpatient and the cost for an overnight stay is prohibitive for many.