In addition to the significant cost I am worried the pain level will be so high the next day after the anesthesia wears off I won't be able to get home without an ambulance, esp. since I plan on recovering on the 2nd floor of my house.
Answer: Is an overnight hospital stay for a tummy tuck since it is major surger, necessary? I perform surgery at an outpatient surgery center. Most patients are usually discharged home, preferably with a nurse for one day. It is the rare patient who, for a variety of reasons, may benefit from additional monitoring ( as an overnight stay or as an inpatient). Regardless, when you are discharged home it is important to have a good support system to help you during the healing process ( the more help the better). Generally speaking, “mommy makeover” procedures are associated with a very significant physical ( and often emotional) recovery period, often underestimated by patients. Best wishes.
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Answer: Is an overnight hospital stay for a tummy tuck since it is major surger, necessary? I perform surgery at an outpatient surgery center. Most patients are usually discharged home, preferably with a nurse for one day. It is the rare patient who, for a variety of reasons, may benefit from additional monitoring ( as an overnight stay or as an inpatient). Regardless, when you are discharged home it is important to have a good support system to help you during the healing process ( the more help the better). Generally speaking, “mommy makeover” procedures are associated with a very significant physical ( and often emotional) recovery period, often underestimated by patients. Best wishes.
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January 13, 2014
Answer: Tummy Tucks and Overnight Stays Practices vary across the country. Some surgeons use drains (I don't).But it is my personal practice to require all patients undergoing full tummy tucks to have an experienced nurse with them overnight. The issue is not pain control. The issue is the early detection of a hematoma (post-operative bleeding). Detected early, a hematoma is easily corrected surgically. If left untreated, the outcome can be life-threatening.My true preference is to have the patients stay overnight in the office with a one-on one private duty plastic surgery nurse. I see the patient first thing the next morning, they are feeling so much better already, and are happy to have been in a hospital bed overnight, and happy to have avoided a car ride home on the day of surgery. Some patients will stay in the hospital overnight, if they are having other medical procedures (hysterectomy) or if they are having multiple procedures.I am okay with full tummy tucks going home with a private duty nurse. You shouldn't need an ambulance to go home.Best of luck!
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January 13, 2014
Answer: Tummy Tucks and Overnight Stays Practices vary across the country. Some surgeons use drains (I don't).But it is my personal practice to require all patients undergoing full tummy tucks to have an experienced nurse with them overnight. The issue is not pain control. The issue is the early detection of a hematoma (post-operative bleeding). Detected early, a hematoma is easily corrected surgically. If left untreated, the outcome can be life-threatening.My true preference is to have the patients stay overnight in the office with a one-on one private duty plastic surgery nurse. I see the patient first thing the next morning, they are feeling so much better already, and are happy to have been in a hospital bed overnight, and happy to have avoided a car ride home on the day of surgery. Some patients will stay in the hospital overnight, if they are having other medical procedures (hysterectomy) or if they are having multiple procedures.I am okay with full tummy tucks going home with a private duty nurse. You shouldn't need an ambulance to go home.Best of luck!
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October 7, 2014
Answer: Tummy Tuck Recovery Concerns. Tummy Tucks are done with both 23 hour overnight observation for pain management or as an outpatient. Pain thresholds are variable from patient to patient so a definitive answer about your experience is unrealistic. On average most patients do well with narcotic pain medicines and definitely do not need an ambulance to transport them home. You will need a responsible adult at home to assist you. Best wishes.
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October 7, 2014
Answer: Tummy Tuck Recovery Concerns. Tummy Tucks are done with both 23 hour overnight observation for pain management or as an outpatient. Pain thresholds are variable from patient to patient so a definitive answer about your experience is unrealistic. On average most patients do well with narcotic pain medicines and definitely do not need an ambulance to transport them home. You will need a responsible adult at home to assist you. Best wishes.
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January 10, 2014
Answer: Overnight stay after abdominoplasty In my practice all abdominoplasties I do in the surgery center go home that day. I have done this for 15 years and every patient that I plan to send home goes home. Long acting local anesthetics placed at the time of surgery (either "pain pump" or Exparel) have really made this a MUCH easier proposition in the last dozen years. I find people really prefer the comfort of their own home/family is a big reason motivating them to get home. Best of luck to you,James E. Chappell, MD FACSSeverna Park, Maryland
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January 10, 2014
Answer: Overnight stay after abdominoplasty In my practice all abdominoplasties I do in the surgery center go home that day. I have done this for 15 years and every patient that I plan to send home goes home. Long acting local anesthetics placed at the time of surgery (either "pain pump" or Exparel) have really made this a MUCH easier proposition in the last dozen years. I find people really prefer the comfort of their own home/family is a big reason motivating them to get home. Best of luck to you,James E. Chappell, MD FACSSeverna Park, Maryland
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January 10, 2014
Answer: Overnight stay after tummy tuck Dear motherof4kids, The answer to your question can vary from surgeon to surgeon. It depends on their experience and comfort level. In my surgery center most of the patients go home after surgery, mostly because of the infiltrative long acting anesthetic that I use that makes them comfortable. Very rarely I would have a patient requesting to go to the hospital after surgery and be placed on the pain pump ( PCA ). That is however very expensive and can add to the total cost close to $2000. So, my answer to you, that is based on over 1000 tummy tucks, is that you do not have to stay in the hospital over night but you have to find the right surgeon. Always, consult with board certified plastic surgeons and check their before and after pictures to make sure that you like results. Best of luck, Dr Widder
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January 10, 2014
Answer: Overnight stay after tummy tuck Dear motherof4kids, The answer to your question can vary from surgeon to surgeon. It depends on their experience and comfort level. In my surgery center most of the patients go home after surgery, mostly because of the infiltrative long acting anesthetic that I use that makes them comfortable. Very rarely I would have a patient requesting to go to the hospital after surgery and be placed on the pain pump ( PCA ). That is however very expensive and can add to the total cost close to $2000. So, my answer to you, that is based on over 1000 tummy tucks, is that you do not have to stay in the hospital over night but you have to find the right surgeon. Always, consult with board certified plastic surgeons and check their before and after pictures to make sure that you like results. Best of luck, Dr Widder
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