What to Expect at Your Tummy Tuck Consultation

Arrive at your abdominoplasty consultation on time. However, be prepared for the surgeon's office to be running a little late. Some appointments may run over their allotted time unless someone cancels ahead of you that day. It doesn't always happen but it can. Also, plastic surgeons who perform reconstructive surgery are occasionally called out to perform emergency surgery, so you may get a call to reschedule your appointment or arrive to find your appointment cancelled. These things happen.

You should bring a folder containing questions you want to ask, photos of yourself or of how you want to look, and anything else you can think of.

At the consultation, you will meet with the surgeon who will perform your tummy tuck or at least you should. (Some surgeons make it a practice to have you meet with a staff member and not meet with you until the day of surgery. I find this poor practice). You should interview the abdominoplasty surgeon as if your life depended upon it, because it does.

The consultation is your chance to:

  • Address all your questions, concerns, fears expectations, etc.
  • Discuss your medical history completely
  • Discuss your options in anesthesia, tummy tuck incision types, and more.
  • Discuss the risks of abdominoplasty at length
  • See a portfolio of the surgeon's tummy tuck before-and-after photos.
  • Ask if you can speak to any of his previous patients.
  • Ask to tour the facilities if your surgery will be performed on site.
  • Find out about the surgeon's education and training or any other pertinent information
  • Discuss the cost of your tummy tuck and fees with either the surgeon or with a staff member.

At the consultation, you may be given an informed consent form. This is a form that outlines all the possible risks of an abdominoplasty that you will have to read and sign if you decide to have the surgery. This piece of paper states that you have been fully informed about all the risks and that you completely understand them. Just make sure that the surgeon does address the risks. Abdominoplasty is not a fail-proof surgery. No surgery is. This is flesh and blood, your flesh and blood, and you must understand what you are doing.

The Physical Examination
The surgeon will examine you. You will be asked to remove your top and bra, and perhaps your panties, and get into an examination gown. A nurse is usually in the room during the examination. Your surgeon will examine your skin condition, type, thinness, and elasticity. He or she will also assess the amount of skin on your abdomen to be removed and if muscle repair is necessary. He or she may pinch or tug on your skin gently to test your laxity. You may be asked to bend over slightly and relax your stomach muscles. You may feel uncomfortable during this time, so prepare yourself for it.

Scheduling Abdominoplasty Surgery and Preoperative Appointments
You can schedule a tummy tuck surgery date at the end of this consultation, but you are by no means obligated to do so. If you should choose to schedule a surgery with a particular office you usually must give a deposit to hold your date. You will also make a preoperative appointment for lab work, chest x-ray, or other tests. Usually, surgery should take place within 2 weeks of your lab work.

You should come away from your consultation with enough information to make a decision about that surgeon. You can request a second meeting should you feel that more could have been covered.

Your intuition should kick in about the surgeon. You are making a judgment of character, trust and faith in the surgeon's abilities. This is important, so listen to your instincts. If you feel at all unsure of going through with the tummy tuck with that surgeon, make a consultation appointment with someone else.