Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before a Tummy Tuck

NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- If you have stubborn fat and extra skin around your midsection that even dieting and exercise cannot touch, a tummy tuck can often help. A surgical procedure, a tummy tuck (also known as an abdominoplasty) removes excess fat and skin while tightening the muscles of your abdomen, giving your belly a smoother appearance.

Before getting a New York City tummy tuck, you must meet your surgeon in a consultation. Ask plenty of questions to be sure you will get the best possible care and see the results you expect. Here are some questions to get you started:

Are you board certified?
Plastic surgeons who have been board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery are qualified to safely perform a tummy tuck.

How much experience do you have?
Find a doctor who has plenty of experience performing tummy tucks. Ask not only how long he's been doing the procedure, but how many he's done. Look through the before-and-after photos to see results.

Is the facility accredited?
An abdominoplasty should only be performed in an accredited facility, whether it is a hospital or surgery center.

What about anesthesia?
Who will provide anesthesia? What type of anesthesia will be used? Is the anesthesiologist board certified? Will any medications or supplements I'm taking interfere with the anesthesia?

How do I prepare for surgery?
How do I physically prepare for my tummy tuck? What paperwork do I need to bring? How early should I arrive on the day of surgery?

What happens during the tummy tuck?
How long will the surgery take? What complications can arise during surgery?

What about my appearance?
Where will my scar be? How do you avoid or treat "dog ears" at the ends of the scars?

Would combining procedures be advisable?
Would liposuction along with the tummy tuck help optimize my results?

What happens after the tummy tuck?
When will I go home? When can I go back to work? How much discomfort should I expect, and what can I take to relieve the pain? When can I resume regular activity such as exercise and sex?

Asking questions about your New York City abdominoplasty will prepare you for the procedure and ensure you have chosen a qualified provider.

About Central Park Plastic Surgery: Scott J. Zevon, MD, FACS, has been featured in New York Magazine as one of the Best Doctors in New York and is listed in the Castle Connolly directory Best Doctors in New York. The Central Park Plastic Surgery offices and AAAASF-accredited ambulatory surgical facility is located at 75 Central Park West, New York, New York 10023. He can be reached by phone at 212-496-6600 or at http://www.drzevon.com.

Media Contact: Mary Monahan, 212-496-6600, http://www.drzevon.com

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SOURCE Central Park Plastic Surgery