Attending a consultation is typically the first step for preparing to have a tummy tuck. This initial visit gives you an opportunity to ask questions, learn more about the procedure, and familiarize yourself with the surgeon’s style and approach. During a consultation, factors such as your surgical goals, previous surgeries, and illnesses, current health status, and allergies are discussed. This means that a tummy tuck consultation requires a person to be well prepared for anything.
In a tummy tuck consultation, the surgeon will initiate an open conversation to be able to establish trust with the patient. During this time, he will carefully evaluate your past medical records, as well as your pre-existing health status to enable him to spot any loophole that might make the surgery unsuccessful. Also, he may take some photos while at this. Here are tips to guide you on how to go for your tummy tuck consultation.
Know what to expect during a consultation
Knowing what to expect during tummy tuck consultation will help you to fully maximize the opportunity. Likewise, it will help you to have realistic expectations of the kind of results to expect after your surgical procedure. At this point, it is clear that your abdominal appearance doesn’t please you. You may either have too much, moderate, or very less loose abdominal skin that is resistant to exercise and diet. To be able to know what to expect in a tummy tuck consultation, conduct your research about it. This will give you an upper hand in your conversation.
Put on clothes that are easy to remove
A tummy tuck consultation involves a clear abdominal analysis. This may include the surgeon requesting you to remove all, or part of your clothing so that he can see for himself the state of your abdomen. Such clothes should be loose-fitting and should be able to open from the front, or back with ease.
Prepare a set of questions to ask the surgeon
A tummy tuck consultation is more like having a direct conversation with the surgeon. It should not only be based upon the surgeon’s inquiry about your general lifestyle and physique. When you think about tummy tuck surgery, several questions come to mind. Since this opportunity is so valuable, the best way to go about this would be to give priority to the most important questions that you would want to be answered.
Examples of such questions include:
How Qualified is the Surgeon?
A highly qualified surgeon is considered to be one who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons. He should be able to prove that he is from this board by showing his certificates, and medical license.
What experience does the surgeon have?
Experience comes from the number of tummy tuck surgeries that a surgeon has been able to perform. A well-experienced surgeon is one who performs tummy tuck procedures as often as possible. He should be able to back up his claim.
Does the surgeon specialize in tummy tuck procedures?
The best tummy tuck surgeon should be specialized in the field of a tummy tuck. A surgeon may be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons, and have experience in performing such procedures, but not be specialized in tummy tuck surgery. This is important to inquire about during a consultation.
Ask to see before and after photos of the previous surgeries
Pictures are evidence of the surgical procedures that a surgeon has performed. They speak louder than words. They will show you actual patients that have undergone tummy tuck procedures along with the results of their surgery. In other terms, pictures will show you the previous state of individuals before, and after they had tummy tuck surgery.
Ask whether you are qualified for the procedure
Unfortunately, tummy tuck procedures can’t work for all individuals. A qualified candidate has overall good health, is close to attaining their ideal weight, has loose skin that sags at the abdomen, and has realistic expectations. In some cases, a person may have all the requirements that are necessary to undergo tummy tuck surgery but miss out on having realistic expectations. If your surgeon realizes that you are obsessed with resembling a celebrity, or any other person, he may refuse to perform your tummy tuck procedure.
Ask whether liposuction will be performed together with your tummy tuck
The purpose of a tummy tuck is to eliminate stubborn fats and skin at the midsection. There are several types such as mini, full, extended, and reverse tummy tuck. The type that will be done on you is dependent on the number of fats and skin that the surgeon will have to remove. In the case that you have too many fats to eliminate, say an extended tummy tuck, the surgeon will have to integrate liposuction technique for effective fat removal.
The Cost of Surgery
Tummy tuck procedures are generally costly. The prize of one surgeon may differ from another surgeon. This may be due to several factors such as the location of the facility, the popularity of the surgeon, and the type of tummy tuck done. During a consultation, inquire about the cost of surgery. This will help you to plan your finances earlier enough.
Conclusion
It is important to be prepared before going for a tummy tuck consultation. Let this article guide you to effectively prepare.