When the patient has made up their mind to go ahead with tummy tuck cosmetic surgery, the first step will be to have personal consultation with the surgeon. Many surgeons will prefer to schedule the first appointment a few weeks ahead of the date of surgery, while some others may not want too much gap between the initial consultation and the surgery.
Leading plastic surgeons at the Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery provide tummy tuck and various other cutting edge procedures for the breast, body, and face. Patients in Houston, Texas, TX, and surrounding locations have an opportunity to receive tummy tuck at the ACPS.
Assessing the Patient’s Health
The pre-operative consultation process for tummy tuck plastic surgery will include an evaluation of the patient’s overall health to determine if they are fit candidates. A careful review of the patient’s medical history will be performed, and a few medical tests may be ordered.
The patient should be frank about sharing their past and present medical conditions, any medications that may be taking, and talk about their history of smoking and drinking. The surgeon will require them to stop smoking at least two weeks prior to the surgery. The patient’s skin type, elasticity and thickness as well as muscle strength in the abdominal area will be assessed to create a customized tummy tuck surgery plan.
Patient’s Cosmetic Goals
Cosmetic needs and goals are unique to each patient who seeks tummy tuck surgery. The cosmetic surgeon will try to understand the patient’s personal goals and incorporate these into the surgical plan. The degree of correction, the choice of surgical technique, and the location of incisions are some of the decisions that will require a surgeon to understand the patient’s individual cosmetic needs and goals.
With a surgical approach that is tailored to meet the specific goals of the patient, the surgeon can deliver more targeted results in a less invasive way. Higher patient satisfaction levels are usually obtained with a customized tummy tuck surgery. The ACPS receives patients from Houston, Texas, TX, and nearby areas.
Patient Involvement
The patient should actively engage with the surgeon during the pre-op consultation, and discuss about their:
- Personal cosmetic goals and aspirations
- Past and present medical conditions and ongoing treatments
- Any known drug allergies
- Current medications, including herbal supplements, and vitamins
- Past or present use of tobacco, alcohol, or drugs
- Previous surgeries, if any
Surgeon’s Tasks
The surgeon will typically perform the following tasks during the initial consultation:
- Assess the patient’s general health, medical history, and risk factors
- Take pre-operative photos
- Discuss various surgical and non-surgical options and costs
- Recommend the optimal treatment approach
- Discuss the likely or realistic outcome
- Inform about the potential risks and complications
- Discuss the estimated downtime and other recovery aspects
- Address all the questions, doubts, and concerns of the patient
The surgeon may also present tummy tuck before and after photos during the initial consultation to show the potential effectiveness of the procedure.
For more information about The Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery (ACPS) physicians and the cosmetic surgery treatments and procedures they perform please click here or call us at 713.799.9999. We have offices in and around Houston, Texas.