Questions about Abdominoplasty Miami Florida
The questions listed below are frequently asked by patients considering a tummy tuck from the South Florida Center for Plastic Surgery. If you do not find the answers you are looking for, please email us. Remember to include the name of the procedure with your question. Then request your certificate for a Free Tummy Tuck Consultation and call us at (954) 565-7575 or (800) 274-LIPO today to schedule your appointment at our Miami or Fort Lauderdale location.
How is a tummy tuck performed?
Two kinds of abdominoplasty can be performed: a full tummy tuck or a mini tummy tuck. For information about the mini tummy tuck, please see our About Mini Tummy Tuck page.
During a full tummy tuck, an incision is made from one hip to the other just above the pubic area. A second incision circles the bellybutton, freeing it from the surrounding skin. Through these two entry ways, your surgeon will tighten the abdominal muscles with a series of sutures. Any excess skin will then be removed before the incisions are sutured shut. Great care is taken to minimize the visibility of scars.
A full tummy tuck may be called an extended tummy tuck if muscles in the fronts or backs of the thighs also are tightened.
How do I prepare for my tummy tuck?
During your initial consultation with us, our surgeon will request your complete medical history, including current medications, known allergies and all prior surgeries. You will also be given a blood test and a thorough physical examination. Patients over forty years of age will undergo an electrocardiogram.
Each preoperative step that must be taken prior to undergoing tummy tuck will be covered in detail during this initial visit. For more information, please read our page Preparing for Your Tummy Tuck.
Can my tummy tuck be combined with another procedure?
Yes. A tummy tuck is often performed in tandem with another procedure. The most common combinations are liposuction and hernia repair, though other pairings can be appropriate. Our surgeon will make an assessment of your unique cosmetic goals and thoroughly explain every option that is appropriate and safe for you.
How long will my tummy tuck take?
Performing a full tummy tuck will take at least two hours and as many as five. The expected time for your tummy tuck will depend on which procedural techniques are used and whether your tummy tuck is extended to include the fronts or backs of the thighs. Undergoing a second procedure at the same time will also add time.
What form of anesthesia will be used?
For the comfort and safety of our patients, general anesthesia will be used in most full tummy tuck procedures. At South Florida Center, only a professional M.D. anesthesiologist may administer a general anesthetic to our patients.
When can I return home?
In most cases, a full tummy tuck requires a short hospital stay. Between one and three nights is most common. When you visit South Florida Center for your initial consultation, your surgeon will consider your unique circumstances and cosmetic goals before determining the likely length of your hospital stay. Maximizing your safety and comfort during recovery are the most important considerations in this decision.
Someone will then need to drive you home following your stay and provide care for you during the 24 to 48 hours that follow your return home.
All South Florida Center tummy tuck patients must schedule follow-up appointments for these post-operative timelines:
- 1 day
- 1 week
- 1 month
- 3 months
- 6 months
- 1 year
How long before I can resume my normal activities?
Your return to work, exercise and other activities will depend on your fitness level, genetic factors and the procedural choices determined by you and your doctor during your consultation. Each patient will have unique recovery timelines, but most patients will return to work within a week and resume normal exercise in three or four weeks.
To request your certificate for a Free Tummy Tuck Consultation from the South Florida Center for Cosmetic Surgery, call us at (954) 565-7575 or (800) 274-LIPO today. Then schedule your appointment at the South Florida Center for Cosmetic Surgery in Miami or Fort Lauderdale.