Tummy Tuck Frequently Asked Questions
Your Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty Surgery
How is the tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery performed?
Dr. Pittman–Waller normally performs tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery at an outpatient surgery center, either:
- Northeast Baptist Surgery Center, located in the Northeast Baptist Medical Center, 8715 Village Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78217, 210-477-1775 or
- Physicians Ambulatory Surgery Center at the Quarry, in our own building at 423 Treeline Park, San Antonio, Texas 78209, 210-829-2600.
In the case of a very large tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery, she may want you to spend the night. In that case, the surgery will most likely be performed at:
- Northeast Baptist Hospital, located in the Northeast Baptist Medical Center, 8811 Village Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78217, 210-297-2000.
Dr. Virginia and her staff are dedicated to ensuring your comfort during and after your tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery. The procedure should take between 3 to 5 hours during which general anesthesia will be used, although it can sometimes take longer or shorter depending on your particular anatomy, the areas to be treated, the technique used and the amount of skin and fat to be removed.
You will be given general anesthesia by an anesthesiologist, a medical doctor trained in administering anesthesia. In traditional abdominoplasty, an incision is made from hip to hip along the bikini line at the top of the pubic area. The skin is lifted off the abdominal wall up to the rib line. The navel is cut away from the tissue surrounding it so that it can be repositioned and stitched into a new location in the skin later. The abdominal wall muscles are then pulled together and sutured to give a more pleasing waistline. Finally, the overlying skin is pulled down, the excess fat and tissue are trimmed off, the navel hole is created, the navel is sewn in, and the remaining skin is sutured into place at the bikini line. Normally, a temporary drain is placed on both sides to remove excess fluid from beneath the incision. All the incisions are then closed and covered with dressings. The surgery takes between 3 to 5 hours.
In an extended abdominoplasty, the doctor makes an incision across the stomach to the back of the hips. Liposuction is used to remove fat and achieve an attractive body contour. Excess skin is removed from the abdomen as well as the sides of the body and the muscles in the stomach are tightened and sewn together. The navel is then repositioned and the skin is sutured closed. Normally, 2 to 4 temporary drains are placed to remove excess fluid from beneath the incision. The surgery takes 4 to 5 hours.
In a circumferential abdominoplasty, the surgeon cuts an incision around the entire circumference of the body at the waistline. Liposuction is used to remove excess fat from the surrounding areas. The abdominal muscles are then tightened and sutured and the navel is repositioned. The excess skin is cut away and the remaining skin is stretched and sutured together. Normally, two to four temporary drains are placed to remove excess fluid from beneath the incision. The surgery takes 4 to 5 hours.
In a mini–abdominoplasty, a horizontal incision is placed just within or above the pubic area. If the amount of loose skin is minimal and the fat is located below the navel, it may be possible to avoid an incision around the navel. If there is loose skin above the navel, however, Dr. Virginia may make a second incision around the navel, but this technique does not involve cutting away and repositioning the navel. Although the length of the incision involved in this technique depends on the amount of skin that is to be removed, it is much smaller than the one created during traditional abdominoplasty surgery. Excess skin and fat are removed and the abdominal muscles below the belly button are tightened before the overlying skin is pulled down and sutured. A min–abdominoplasty is often combined with liposuction to remove additional fat. Normally, a temporary drain is placed to remove excess fluid from beneath the incision. The surgery takes 2 to 3 hours.
After you awaken from the anesthetic, the nursing staff will determine when you can leave and a friend or relative can drive you home. You will be able to walk on your own. It is best to have someone stay with you the first two nights, as you may have discomfort and need help to take your pain medication on time. You may also need help with simple things like getting to the bathroom and getting some food to eat.
Preparing for Your Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty Surgery
Starting Now
STOP SMOKING: Smoking reduces circulation to the skin and impedes healing. It is best to avoid smoking, second hand smoke, and cigarette replacements, such as nicotine patches or gum, in the perioperative period, the period before and after tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery.
TAKE MULTIVITAMINS: Start taking multivitamins twice daily to improve your general health once you have scheduled your tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery.
TAKE VITAMIN C: Start taking 500 mg of Vitamin C twice daily to promote healing.
DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN OR IBUPROFEN: Stop taking medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen. Review the list of drugs containing aspirin and ibuprofen carefully. Such drugs can cause bleeding problems during and after tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery. Instead, use medications containing acetaminophen (such as Tylenol).
LIMIT VITAMIN E: Limit your intake of Vitamin E to 400 mg or less per day.
FILL YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS: You will be given prescriptions for medications. Please have them filled BEFORE the day of your tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery and bring them with you.
The Day Before Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty Surgery
CONFIRM SURGERY TIME: We will call you to confirm the time of your tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery. If you are not going to be at home or at your office, please call us to confirm at (210) 826–2626.
PRESCRIPTIONS: Make sure that you have filled the prescriptions you were given and set the medications out to bring with you tomorrow.
CLEANSING: The night before your tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery, shower and wash the surgical areas with antibacterial soap.
EATING AND DRINKING: Do not eat or drink anything after 12:00 midnight. This includes water.
The Morning of Your Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty Surgery
SPECIAL INFORMATION: Do not eat or drink anything! If you take a daily medication, you may take it with a sip of water in the early morning. (Except, do not take any diabetic medications.)
ORAL HYGIENE: You may brush your teeth but do not swallow the water.
CLEANSING: Shower and wash the surgical areas again with antibacterial soap.
MAKEUP: Please do not wear moisturizers, creams, lotions, or makeup.
CLOTHING: Wear only comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that does not go over your head. Remove hairpins, wigs, and jewelry. Please do not bring valuables with you.
Medications to Avoid Before and After Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty Surgery
If you are taking any medications on this list, they should be discontinued 10–14 days prior to tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery and only Tylenol should be taken for pain. All other medications that you are currently taking must be specifically cleared by Dr. Pittman–Waller prior to tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery. It is absolutely necessary that all of your current medications be specifically cleared by the doctor.
Aspirin Medications to Avoid
- 4–Way Cold Tabs
- 5–Aminosalicylic Acid
- Acetylsalicylic Acid
- Adprin–B products
- Alka–Seltzer products
- Amigesic
- Anacin products
- Anexsia w/Codeine
- Argesic–SA
- Arthra–G
- Arthriten products
- Arthritis Foundation products
- Arthritis Pain Formula
- Arthritis Strength BC Powder
- Arthropan
- ASA
- Asacol
- Ascriptin products
- Aspergum
- Asprimox products
- Axotal
- Azdone
- Azulfidine products
- B–A–C
- Backache Maximum Strength Relief
- Bayer Products
- BC Powder
- BC Tablets
- Bismatrol products
- Buffered Aspirin
- Bufferin products
- Buffetts 11
- Buffex
- Butal/ASA/Caff
- Butalbital Compound
- Cama Arthritis Pain Reliever
- Carisoprodol Compound
- Cheracol
- Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate
- Choline Salicylate
- Cope
- Coricidin
- Cortisone Medications
- Damason–P
- Darvon Compound–65
- Darvon/ASA
- Dipentum
- Disalcid
- Doan's products
- Dolobid
- Dristan
- Duragesic
- Easprin
- Ecotrin products
- Empirin products
- Equagesic
- Excedrin products
- Fiorgen PF
- Fiorinal products
- Gelpirin
- Genprin
- Gensan
- Goody's Extra Strength Headache Powder
- Halfprin products
- Isollyl Improved
- Kaodene
- Lanorinal
- Lortab ASA
- Magan
- Magnaprin products
- Magnesium
- Magsal
- Marnal
- Marthritic
- Meprobamate
- Mesalamine
- Methocarbamol
- Micrainin
- Mobidin
- Mobigesic
- Momentum
- Mono–Gesic
- Night–Time Effervescent Cold
- Norgesic products
- Norwich products
- Olsalazine
- Orphengesic products
- Oxycodone
- Pabalate products
- P–A–C
- Pain Reliever Tabs
- Panasal
- Pentasa
- Pepto-Bismol
- Percodan products
- Phenaphen/Codeine #3
- Pink Bismuth
- Propoxyphene Compound products
- Robaxisal
- Rowasa
- Roxeprin
- Saleto products
- Salflex
- Salicylate products
- Salsalate
- Salsitab
- Scot–Tussin Original 5–Action
- Sine–off
- Sinutab
- Sodium Salicylate
- Sodol Compound
- Soma Compound
- St. Joseph Aspirin
- Sulfasalazine
- Supac
- Suprax
- Synalgos–DC
- Talwin
- Triaminicin
- Tricosal
- Trilisate
- Tussanil DH
- Tussirex products
- Ursinus–Inlay
- Vanquish
- Wesprin
- Willow Bark products
- Zorprin
Anti Inflammatory Medications to Avoid
- Actron
- Acular (opthalmic)
- Advil products
- Aleve
- Anaprox products
- Ansaid
- Cataflam
- Clinoril
- Daypro
- Diclofenac
- Dimetapp Sinus
- Dristan Sinus
- Etodolac
- Feldene
- Fenoprofen
- Flurbiprofen
- Genpril
- Haltran
- IBU
- Ibuprin
- Ibuprofen
- Ibuprohm
- Indochron E–R
- Indocin products
- Indomethacin products
- Ketoprofen
- Ketorolac
- Lodine
- Meclofenamate
- Meclomen
- Mefenamic Acid
- Menadol
- Midol products
- Motrin products
- Nabumetone
- Nalfon products
- Naprelan
- Naprosyn products
- Naproxen
- NaproxX
- Ocufen (opthalmic)
- Nuprin
- Orudis products
- Oruvail
- Oxaprozin
- Piroxicam
- Ponstel
- Profenal
- Relafen
- Rhinocaps
- Sine–Aid products
- Sulindac
- Suprofen
- Tolectin products
- Tolmetin
- Toradol
- Voltaren
Other Medications to Avoid
- 4–Way with Codeine
- A.C.A.
- A–A Compound
- Accutrim
- Actifed
- Acular (opthalmic)
- Anaprox products
- Anexsia Arthritis
- Anisindione
- Anturane
- Bufferin
- Children's Advil
- Clinoril
- Clinoril C
- Contac
- Coumadin
- Dalteparin injection
- Dicumerol
- Dimetapp Sinus
- Dipyridamole
- Doxycycline
- Emagrin
- Enoxaparin injection
- Feldene
- Flagyl
- Fragmin injection
- Furadantin
- Genpril
- Heparin
- Hydrocortisone
- Ibuprin
- Indochron E–R
- Isollyl
- Ketoprofen
- Lovenox injection
- Macrodantin
- Meclofenamate
- Mellaril
- Menadol
- Miradon
- Nabumetone
- Naprosyn products
- Nuprin
- Opasal
- Oruvail
- Pan–PAC
- PentoxyfYlline
- Persantine
- Phenylpropanolamine
- Ponstel
- Prednisone
- Protamine
- Pyrroxate
- Rhinocaps
- Ru–Tuss
- Salatin
- Sinex
- Sofarin
- Soltice
- Sparine
- Stelazine
- Sulfinpyrazone
- Suprofen
- Tenuate
- Tenuate Dospan
- Thorazine
- Ticlid
- Ticlopidine
- Toradol
- Trental
- Ursinus
- Vibramycin
- Vitamin E
- Warfarin
Tricyclic Antidepressant Medications to Avoid
- Adapin
- Amitriptyline
- Amoxapine
- Anafranil
- Asendin
- Aventyl
- Clomipramine
- Desipramine
- Doxepin
- Elavil
- Endep
- Etrafon products
- Imipramine
- Janimine
- Limbitrol products
- Ludiomil
- Maprotiline
- Norpramin
- Nortriptyline
- Pamelor
- Pertofrane
- Protriptyline
- Sinequan
- Surmontil
- Tofranil
- Triavil
- Trimipramine
- Vivactil
Herbal Medications to Avoid
- Garlic
- Ginkgo Biloba
- Ginseng
- St. John's Wort
More Tummy Tuck FAQs
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