Okay for a General Surgeon to Perform Tummy Tuck?

If you live in a small town in which there are no board certified plastic surgeons, then it might be appropriate., certainly better than going to a dermatologist, otolaryngologist, or any other physician untrained in plastic surgery yet willing to give it a try.
Afterall, in underserved communities family practice doctors deliver babies, set fractures, and treat heart patients. But in modern, first-world communities, orthopedic surgeons fix the fractures, obstetricians deliver the babies, pediatricians treat the chidren, and cardiologists treat the heart problems.
So a general surgeon should technically be able to carry out the procedure, but without the care and understanding of nuance, aesthetics, modern techniques, and assessing the aesthetics of the entire trunk.
So, if you live in an underserved medical community, go to the general surgeon. If you live in a modern city, go a plastic surgeon, but just for fun, ask yourself why a general surgeon in a big city would dabble with something over their head. Does that worry you about his or her character? It should.
And when I say "plastic surgeon," let me be more specific. Anyone can call themselves a plastic surgeon, including your general surgery friend. But only someone certified by "The American Board of Plastic Surgery" is considered a bonafide plastic surgeon, and that is the qualification upon what you must insist. And if you want to take it to an even higher level, be sure that the surgeon is a member of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Those surgeons are all ABPS certified and have a special interest and higher level of experience specifically in aesthetic surgery.

Thank you for your question regarding whether it's okay to have a tummy tuck performed by a general surgeon during an abdominal hernia repair, especially for a 65-year-old woman who has had complications from previous surgery.

While it's technically possible for a general surgeon to perform a tummy tuck, I would strongly advise going to someone who is trained and specialized in plastic surgery. A board-certified plastic surgeon has specific training in aesthetic aspects of surgery, which is crucial for procedures like a tummy tuck that require not only technical expertise but also an artistic sense to achieve the best cosmetic results.

Board-certified plastic surgeons are also trained to manage complications and nuances that can arise from combining cosmetic procedures with functional surgeries like hernia repair, especially in patients with complex medical histories. Given the previous complications and the extended healing issues your mentioned patient has experienced, the selection of a surgeon who specializes in plastic surgery becomes even more critical to ensure the best outcome and minimize potential risks.

For a 65-year-old woman, especially one with a history of healing complications, thorough preoperative evaluation and optimization are essential. A plastic surgeon would typically conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine suitability for surgery, considering all health factors and previous surgical history to plan the safest approach.

Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon ensures that you are in the hands of a professional who has undergone rigorous exams and meets high standards in both safety and ethical practices in surgery.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Abdominoplasty procedures are designed to remove infraumbilical skin and fat; and to tighten the anterior abdominal wall musculature. Patients should always undergo these procedures with a well qualified plastic surgeon who is board certified.
In more complicated abdominal reconstructions, cooperation between and general surgeon and a plastic surgeon is sought to correct abdominal wall hernias and acheive a cosmetically acceptable result. This cooperation between specialities is important in minimizing risk of hernia recurrence and optimizing tissue dynamics to acheive a more acceptable abdominal contour.