| You would not select a dentist to perform Liposuction. | | | | hospital. (This is necessary in an emergency situation |
| Similarly, you should not jeopardize the outcome of | | | | when a patient needs to be transferred to a hospital). |
| your Tummy Tuck procedure, or your well being, by | | | | Does the facility have the capacity for overnight stay? |
| choosing anyone less than the most qualified plastic | | | | There is a trend towards requiring post-surgical |
| surgeon. | | | | overnight monitoring or stays for more extensive |
| While many states allow any licensed physician such | | | | procedures such as a Body Lift, Panniculectomy, Belt |
| as a gynecologist, general surgeon, or otolaryngologist | | | | Lipectomy; or in cases when multiple procedures are |
| to perform cosmetic surgery, that does not mean all | | | | performed at one setting. |
| these physicians have had the extensive formal | | | | Is your physician credentialed to operate at a local |
| training in cosmetic surgery that is taught to a Board | | | | hospital? Does your physician have privileges to |
| Certified Plastic Surgeon. In some states, even dentists | | | | perform your chosen surgery in a hospital? If a hospital |
| are lobbying to perform cosmetic procedures. | | | | does not approve a surgeon as qualified to perform |
| Because a Tummy Tuck is major surgery, you should | | | | your procedure in its facility, this is a significant factor |
| place your life in the hands of the most qualified and | | | | to consider for your safety. Has he or she been |
| skilled plastic surgeon. You should also choose a | | | | barred, disciplined, or suspended from any hospital? |
| surgeon who will show you solid "Before and After" | | | | To investigate the status of local physicians, visit: |
| examples of his or her work, and whose artistic sense | | | | What Kind of Anesthesia Is Used for a Tummy Tuck? |
| is in sync with the results that you are seeking. | | | | As a rule, your cosmetic surgeon will use general |
| In choosing a surgeon to perform Abdominoplasty, you | | | | anesthesia for this procedure. There are some |
| should first choose one who has been certified by the | | | | surgeons who supplement the general anesthesia with |
| American Board of Plastic Surgery | | | | an Epidural injection (such as is given during childbirth). |
| This assures that surgeon has endured the most | | | | While helping to reduce pain during the immediate |
| rigorous training possible, including three to five years of | | | | post-operative period, some surgeons feel that epidural |
| training in general surgery and two years of training in | | | | anesthesia might potentially cause more harm, by |
| plastic surgery. Beware of those physicians who claim | | | | causing urinary retention and preventing the patient |
| to be "board certified" cosmetic surgeons. This may | | | | from moving around right away. |
| mean that they have taken a brief weekend course in | | | | Pain Pumps are new devices that can help patients |
| a procedure, but does not guarantee the competence | | | | with post-operative pain. Pain Pumps are small |
| that the American Board of Plastic Surgery ensures. | | | | reservoirs (the size of a "Walkman") of local |
| Ideally, you will choose a surgeon who has extensive | | | | anesthetic that infuse Lidocaine or Marcaine into the |
| Abdominoplasty surgery experience, not only | | | | wounds for the first 24-48 hours after surgery. Unlike |
| experience in plastic surgery in general. | | | | Patient Controlled Anesthesia (PCA) which can only |
| Abdominoplasty, like sculpturing, is an art that is learned | | | | be administered in a hospital, Pain Pumps are sent |
| through experience, but can only be perfected by the | | | | home with the patient. Because they help keep the |
| plastic surgeon that has an eye and feel for body | | | | surgical areas anesthetized, they reduce the need for |
| proportions and contour. This ultimate expert should be | | | | narcotics, therefore, lessening the post-operative |
| an artist as well as a skilled surgeon. | | | | incidence of nausea. While some patients like using |
| What Surgical Facility is Best for a Tummy Tuck/ | | | | them, others feel that they are not that effective and |
| Abdominoplasty/ Body Lift? | | | | are instead cumbersome and hinder their mobility. |
| You wouldn't have your wisdom teeth pulled in your | | | | Therefore, Dr. Younai gives his patients the choice of |
| dentist’s living room. Why not give equal | | | | using a Pain Pump if they wish to have them. |
| consideration to your physician's surgical facility? Your | | | | You should pay special attention to the |
| very life could depend, not only upon the skill of your | | | | anesthesiologist who your plastic surgeon uses during |
| surgeon, but upon the quality of this facility. | | | | surgery. Like your surgeon, the anesthesiologist literally |
| The Importance of Accreditation | | | | holds your life in the balance. It is therefore critical that |
| Your surgery should be performed at an accredited | | | | you put your life in the best hands. |
| ambulatory surgery center, or at a hospital. It is unwise | | | | Many patients have preconceived notions about the |
| to have your surgery performed merely in a | | | | type of anesthesia that is best for them. Unfortunately, |
| physician’s office, or procedure room, especially in | | | | these thoughts are often based upon hearsay, or upon |
| the case of a Body Lift, which is a more extensive | | | | informal research that has no scientific basis. While you |
| surgery. If your physician operates in a surgical facility, | | | | are the final arbiter of your treatment, only an |
| there are five crucial factors to consider: | | | | experienced physician can guide you properly in |
| It is certified by the American Association for | | | | making the crucial decision about your anesthesia. |
| Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities ( or; | | | | This is not guesswork! Allow your physician to explain |
| It is certified by the Accreditation Association for | | | | your safest anesthesia option. |
| Ambulatory Health Care ( or; | | | | Many facilities employ trained nurse anesthetists. |
| It is certified by Medicare or; | | | | However, it is optimal to have anesthesia administered |
| Is it certified by the Joint Commission on the | | | | by an anesthesiologist rather than a nurse. Preferably, |
| Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) | | | | your anesthesiologist should be certified by the |
| and; | | | | American Board of Anesthesiology. |
| The facility has a transfer agreement with a local | | | | |