Whether you have lost a lot of weight lately or you have wrinkles on your belly from having children, a tummy tuck can be the perfect solution to the bothersome folds of skin. At Front Range Plastic Surgery, we have been performing tummy tucks for years, and we have been delighted to see the confidence it brings our patients.
If you are considering a tummy tuck, remember that you deserve the best, which means you need to take all the steps that are necessary to be prepared. In this blog, we will discuss what you should do before heading in for your procedure.
First, if you have found a great plastic surgeon like our Dr. Schutte, you need to have a preoperative appointment with him/her. If you have not found a surgeon yet, take the time to do your research and give us a call. During your preoperative appointment, you may undergo blood tests, including a complete blood count (CBC). Your surgeon may also request a hematocrit, which detects anemia. He or she will also share instructions with you on everything from what to do afterwards to medications to avoid.
Second, if you smoke, it is required to be nicotine-free prior to scheduling surgery (it usually takes 4 weeks for nicotine by-products to generally be cleared in a patient’s system). A second negative nicotine test is also required at about 2 weeks prior to surgery and is given at the Pre Op appointment. Smoking increases your risk for developing necrosis (tissue death) and struggling with poor healing. It can cause your incision to swell and heal in large scars.
At Front Range Plastic Surgery, we are proud to offer the services of a Board-Certified plastic surgeon who will give you world-class care. Contact us to make an appointment or simply learn more!