Is an overnight hospital stay for a tummy tuck since it is major surger, necessary?

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!

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

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

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. 

Almost always, my abdominopasty patients go home on the same
day of surgery as long as there is a responsible adult to help care for them.
When multiple procedures (such as breast augmentation and abdominoplasty) are
performed, I give the patient the option to go home, but most stay overnight.
Overnight stays are certainly a bonus as far as comfort goes, but they can be
costly. Given the option to pay for a night in the hospital, most decline. The
decision yours, but I imagine you will feel up to heading home on the day of
your surgery. Best wishes for your surgery.

Discuss your questions and concerns with experienced plastic surgeons is your area. Our patients typically are well treated at home, in their own bed, with their family after 1-2 hours observation in our accredited surgical facility.  There is not normally the need for hospital care, overnight stay, or specialty nursing care.  Pain, cost, and hospitalization are all valid concerns and plastic surgeons have developed excellent techniques to deal with these issues.You may have individual issues that need extra care, which your surgeon can consider for you. 

and your surgeon should be utilizing either a pain pump or long acting anesthetics that can be injected into your abdominal wall.  Get out of bed and ambulate to help prevent blood clots in your legs.

The overwhelming majority of patients go home in a private car the day of tummy tuck. To me that demonstrates that this is not necessary for most patients. There was a time that a patient could stay overnight in my hospital for $450, but now it is $2000. I would occasionally on patient request arrange such a stay, but no longer (not for at least 5 years and about 250 TT's).You might ask your surgeon about options for long lasting local anesthesia, either by pain pump or Exparel injection, both of which last for three days. Remember that the reasonable goal of pain management is comfort, and not to be pain free. All the best. 

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.

For many years we have sent all tummy tucks home.   Every patient get a Marcaine drip pain pump and patients are very comfortable with this.  I feel strongly about the great benefits of a pain pump when doing this surgery.   Patients must go home with a responsible adult and I see them at 48 hours and remove the drain and pain pump.  This has worked great for years and I plan to continue this game plan.  This keeps the extreme costs of hospitalization away and patients appreciate this.  Obviously patients are given Percocet for pain if needed.   My Best,  Dr C