An abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, is a body contouring procedure which involves the removal of excess sagging fat and skin to improve the shape and tone of the abdominal area.
When performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon, this abdominal surgery can:
- Flatten, tighten and firm up the abdomen
- Eliminate excess fat and skin that is resistant to diet and exercise
- Enhance body contours for a more proportional figure
- Improve overall health
Our Kelowna plastic surgeons are highly experienced in all types of abdominal surgeries and can develop a customized abdominoplasty surgery plan to fit your lifestyle and help you successfully reach all your aesthetic goals.
|
Learn More: Kelowna Body Contouring Procedures |
Importance of Preparing For Your Body Contouring Procedure
If you are considering an abdominoplasty, it’s extremely important to prepare beforehand to ensure that you remain healthy during and after your procedure.
Following your plastic surgeon’s pre and post-surgical instructions can have many benefits including:
- Lower risks of complications during the abdominal surgery
- Quicker and safer healing
- Better surgical results
By carefully preparing for your abdominoplasty, you will ensure that your body is in the best possible condition for surgery, minimizing the surgical risks and helping with a speedy recovery.
Preparing For Your Abdominoplasty: A Step-By-Step Guide
During an initial consultation before your abdominoplasty, your plastic surgeon will evaluate your health status and discuss:
- Your surgical goals
- Current medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments
- Previous surgeries
- Any herbal supplements, tobacco, alcohol or other drug use
- Likely outcomes of the abdominoplasty and the risks associated with the surgery
It’s very important to understand all aspects of your body contouring surgery. To ensure the complete safety and success of your abdominoplasty, be candid with your plastic surgeon and be sure to ask questions.
2 Weeks Prior To Surgery
|
DO |
DO NOT |
| Start taking a high-quality multivitamin once a day to help prepare your body for the abdominal surgery. |
Take any aspirin or derivatives of aspirin such as Alka-Seltzer, Aleve or Percodan. These medications can impede the body’s ability for normal blood clotting. |
|
Stop taking SSRIs prior to your abdominoplasty. (including Prozac, Paxil, Luvox and Zoloft). **NOTE: Make sure to talk to your prescribing doctor before stopping any medication |
Smoke as nicotine reduces blood flow and can cause significant complications during the healing process. |
|
Discuss your current medications with your plastic surgeon. You may need to stop certain prescription drugs prior to your body contouring procedure. **NOTE: Make sure to talk to your prescribing doctor before stopping any medication |
Use any diet pills. Doing so may adversely affect anesthesia and can cause heart rate, respiratory or blood pressure concerns. |
|
Take Tylenol for any pain relief needs prior to and after your abdominoplasty as this will not interfere with blood clotting or healing. |
Use any herbal medications. These could complicate your surgical procedure by:
|
1 Week Prior To Surgery
|
DO |
DO NOT |
|
Know your travel arrangements. You must arrange for a responsible adult to drive you to and from the facility on the day of your abdominal surgery. |
Drink alcohol for one week prior and one week after your abdominoplasty as this can interfere with the anesthesia and affect blood clotting. derivatives of aspirin such as Alka-Seltzer, Aleve or |
|
Discuss any signs of illness with your plastic surgeon. This includes colds, infections or boils which appear before your surgery. |
Take any cold medications without permission from your plastic surgeon |
Night Before/Morning Of Abdominoplasty
|
DO |
DO NOT |
| Eat a light breakfast or a small lunch up to 2 hours before your body contouring procedure. |
Apply any of the following to your skin, hair and face the morning of the surgery:
Using these products will add bacteria to the skin and increase the risk of infection. |
|
Clear your medications with your plastic surgeon to minimize any risks and ensure you stay healthy during your recovery. |
Wear contact lenses. If you do wear spectacles, make sure to bring your case to store them during the abdominoplasty. |
|
Take a shower the night before and morning of the abdominal surgery. This is to decrease the bacteria on your skin and lower your risk of infection. |
Bring any valuables or jewellery as these will be removed prior to surgery including:
|
Learn More
To learn more about how to prepare for your abdominoplasty, contact our Kelowna private health centre at 250-868-9799 or toll-free at 877-505-8895.
