Preparation for - Tummy Tuck / Abdominoplasty, Body Lift, or Thigh Lift
How Should I Prepare for Tummy Tuck or Body Lift Surgery?
Prior to Surgery
 The surgeon will provide very specific instructions prior to surgery so you will have an optimal and safe experience. These include- what medications to avoid to prevent excessive bleeding and bruising, required medical exams, what to eat and drink prior to surgery, and the prescription of an anti-nausea pill to take on the morning of the surgery. In all cases, you will be asked to have a reliable friend or family member take you home after the surgery, as you will not be allowed to drive. Some procedures do require overnight stay in an aftercare facility or a hospital.
Also, tend to all of your chores and to do things before your surgery so you don’t have to worry about taking care of things early during your recuperation. This means if you usually clean the house, you should do so in advance of your surgery. Have your hair cut and colored, wax your legs, pay your bills, and take your dog to the vet before your planned day of surgery!
Pre-operative Instructions from the Office of Dr. Sean Younai:
Tummy Tuck/ Abdominoplasty; Body Lift, Thigh Lift
- If you are older than 45 years, or have heart disease or diabetes, we require a pre-operative EKG, which would either be done by your internist, cardiologist, or at our facility. Heart disease and all other medical illnesses need to be optimized, and you be cleared by an internist or specialist prior to surgery.
- Pre-operative laboratory blood and urine tests are done usually within 10 days of your surgery date. If you do have health insurance this might be covered, otherwise, the laboratory will charge you.
- If you are a smoker, live with a smoker, or use Nicotine products (patch, gum, or nasal spray) notify your plastic surgeon well in advance of your surgery. You are not allowed to smoke or use Nicotine products for two weeks prior to and two weeks after your surgery, because it greatly increases your risk of having complications including loss of abdominal skin after surgery.
- If you are anemic, or have a low blood count, please notify our office well in advance of surgery so that we can start you on Iron supplement. You cannot have a Tummy Tuck if you are anemic.
- In order for you surgical incisions to heal, your nutritional state must be satisfactory. You cannot be on any diets for several weeks before surgery. Also, if you have had any prior surgery (i.e. bariatric surgery) that reduces your ability to absorb vitamins and nutrition, you must be on adequate supplements as per your primary physician.
- If you have had a history of forming blood clots in your legs, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), Pulmonary Embolism (PE), or are known to have hypercoagulability, you need to notify your surgeon prior to surgery, so that necessary precautions can be taken for your surgery.
- Do not use birth control pills or any type of estrogen hormone replacement or supplement for several weeks before your surgery, because they can increase your risk of developing blood clots, DVT or PE.
- If you have specific medical illnesses, allergies, or physical handicaps, please notify our staff during your pre-operative visit.
- Please refrain from taking any Aspirin, Aleve, Advil, Motrin or other NSAID for ten days before your surgery. These drugs can increase the incidence of bleeding and bruising.
- Do not drink or eat after midnight, the night before your surgery. This means no coffee or breakfast on the morning of your surgery. You should take all your medications with a little water. If you have to take diabetic medication or insulin, be sure to have instructions from our office on how much of it to take the morning of surgery.
- Please remove and leave behind all jewelry, watches, and body rings before you come in for your surgery. Please do not wear any makeup or perfume.
- Prior to your surgery you will be given a prescription for pain medication, antibiotics, and nausea medicine. Get these filled in advance and bring them with you to surgery.
- Some patients elect to purchase a "Pain Pump" for their surgery. Pain Pumps are new devices that can help patients with post-operative pain. Pain Pumps are small reservoirs (size of a walkman) of local anesthetic which infuse Lidocaine or Marcaine into the wounds for the first 24-48 hours after surgery. Pain Pumps are sent home with the patient. Because they help keep the surgical areas anesthetized, they reduce the need for narcotics, therefore, lessening the post-operative incidence of nausea. While some patients like using them, others feel that they are not that effective and are instead cumbersome and hinder their mobility. Therefore, Dr. Younai gives his patients the choice of purchasing a Pain Pump at cost if they wish to have them.
- Before leaving home for your surgery, take one "nausea pill"- COMPAZINE - with a little water.
- Please wear comfortable and loose clothing the day of surgery. It would be helpful if you wear front open tops and loose sweat pants.
- We ask you to check the fit of your compression garments in advance, and to bring two with you to surgery.
- Set up your bed in an area that is easily accessible and that you don’t have to climb multiple stairs. Have bunch of pillows or cushions available so that you can place them behind your back and under your knees after the surgery.
- You must make arrangements for a responsible adult friend or family member to take you home after surgery. You are not allowed to drive yourself home or take a taxi. After surgery, this caregiver is required to stay with you and to monitor and assist you for at least the first 24 hours after surgery. If you don’t have such a person, or live far away, or are having extensive or multiple procedures please let us know in advance so that we can help you make arrangements for a stay at an after-care facility or hospital.
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Questions & Answers: Tummy Tuck |
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