Tummy Tuck: Prices, Photos, Reviews, Info, Q&A

Anesthesia for tummy tuck

General anesthesia is the norm. Epidural or spinal anesthesia may be used, however.

Always insist on and an ABMS Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and an ABMS Board Certified Anesthesiologist, the latter being arguably the more important! (J. Brian Boyd, MD, Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon)

Anesthesia risks for Abdominoplasty need to be evaluated for each patient.

All surgery involves some risk. Abdominoplasty surgery is nearly always done under general anesthesia or occasionally under regional anesthesia such as epidural and spinal anesthesia.

This surgery is extremely safe in healthy patients and should only be done in a hospital or a fully accredited surgery facility and with Board or Royal College Certified Anesthesiologists as part of the team. All Plastic Surgeons should be willing to speak with you about strategies used to reduce your risk of early or late complications. Ask your Plastic Surgeon so that you can get information that is unique and relevant to your situation. If you do not feel like safety is a high priority then get another opinion. (Mathew C. Mosher, MD, Vancouver Plastic Surgeon)

Anesthesia Options for Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a fairly large surgery that normally requires general anesthesia in conjunction with some local anesthetic for control of the local blood vessels.

I prefer a general anesthetic because your muscles need to be relaxed to perform a good tightening of them during the procedure. If your muscles dont need tightening, then a local with sedation might be sufficient.

The risks of general anesthesia are very small in a healthy patient, and if you aren’t healthy, then you shouldn’t have elective surgery. Provided all of this is performed by a licensed, board certified physician in a fully accredited facility. (Vincent P. Marin, MD, San Diego Plastic Surgeon)

Anesthesia for tummy tuck – minimizing the risk

Most doctors use a combination of local anesthesia and general anesthesia for a tummy tuck. This enables the anesthesiologist to give a lighter anesthetic.

To reduce the risk to its lowest, patients should follow preoperative instructions carefully, including not smoking, optimizing their health (diet and exercise), minimizing any medical problems (such as hypertension), stopping hormone supplementation, etc. Board certified plastic surgeons performing the surgery should operate in accredited facilities which have air filters in the ceiling, backup generators, safety mandates, safe staffing levels, etc (Medicare accreditation is considered an industry standard, including by most insurance companies).

All patients should have a history and physical examination before their surgery and blood tests, and a cardiogram and stress test if indicated. Surgeons themselves should be experienced and operate expediently. For our anesthesia providers, we prefer board certified anesthesiologists with active hospital credentials. They have the most experience and know what to do in the unlikely event of an emergency. We also insist all tummy tuck patients stay in an accredited aftercare facility for monitoring of their blood oxygen levels, blood pressure, etc.

Pain pumps are used in all tummy tuck cases. This minimizes postoperative pain and allows the patient to breathe better, move around more, minizing the chance of lung complications and blood clots. These safety steps will minimize the chance of a complication. (Brent Moelleken, MD, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)

Anesthesia Risk For Tummy Tuck

I do essentially all tummy tucks under general anesthesia. There is obviously some risk always with a general anesthetic, but I believe that the risk for other types of anesthesia for this procedure are as high or greater. If the surgery is performed in an accredited facility or hospital, the risk of general anesthesia should be minimal assuming the patient is otherwise reasonably healthy. (John Whitt, MD, Louisville Plastic Surgeon)

Abdominoplasty Anesthesia Varies With Patient and Surgeon

With regards to anesthesia for an abdominoplasty, it depends on a number of factors – the patient, the extent of the surgery, the surgeon, etc. All methods of anesthesia are safe when done on the apropriate patient in a safe and controlled manner.

Generally speaking, the larger the surgery, the more you need to manipulate the tissues, the greater the need for general anesthesia. Under general anesthesia, you can paralyze the muscles of the abdominal wall to facilitate repairing and weakness. Under sedation, a paralytic cannot be used, so repairing the abdominal wall can be more difficlut if needed. (Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD, Barrington Plastic Surgeon)

Anesthesia for tummy tuck

I think most surgeons use general anesthesia for tummy tuck, although there are other options, as indicated above. There are many resources that can describe risks of anesthesia, but the bottom line is that general anesthesia, when performed by a physician anesthesiologist in a busy, well staffed, and well stocked facility, is quite safe. As you research your planned surgery, be sure to make the facility and anesthesiology choices part of your research. (James Nachbar, MD, Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon)

General anesthesia for most tummy tucks

All of my patients have a GA with a physician anesthesiologist. If you are healthy and are having the surgery done by an experienced surgeon in an accredited facility with an MD anesthesiologist, you should be very safe. It takes me under 2 hours to do the surgery so it isn’t too long.

I would be wary if the doctor said it would take more than 4 hours as this seems excessively long and may indicate inexperience. (Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)