Smart choices in Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

A Practical Guide

Available electronically at https://mychicagoplasticsurgeons.com/e-books/

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Tummy Tuck Basics…….……………………....3 How do I get started?...........................4 Are all Tummy Tucks the same?………....5 Abdominoplasty....................................7 Recovery….............................................8 Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon……………..….………..9 Am I Ready? ……………………….……….……12 What is ASPS? …………………………..…....13 Meet the Doctor……………………………….14 Meet Our Staff………………………………….15 Contact Information……………………..….17

Tummy Tuck Basics Here are some tummy tuck facts*:

Tummy tucks may be performed in a hospital or

outpatient facility, depending on the extent of

the procedure and the individual patient.

Surgery normally lasts 3-4 hours.

Patients can return to work after 10-14 days

depending on their particular surgery.

Patients should wait 4-6 weeks or more to

resume strenuous activities and workouts.

Scars will fade and flatten in three (3) months to

two (2) years.

Obese patients who plan to lose weight should

postpone surgery until they reach their ideal

weight.

Most people will lose weight after surgery due

to muscle tightness.

*Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)

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Who gets a tummy tuck?

• People with loose or excess skin in their abdomen that

does not respond to diet or exercise.

• Women with slack muscles and skin due to pregnancies

or fluctuating weight.

• Women or men that want to improve the look and/or

shape of their body.

How Do I Get Started? Come in! The best way to get started is to come in for a

personal consultation! The consultation for

abdominoplasty in our offices is

complimentary.

The consultation takes about 30 minutes and

includes a full medical history and an exam.

During your exam, Dr. Szczerba will be taking

your measurements and asking questions to

see what outcome you desire. Then a

custom surgical plan is developed so you

achieve an optimal outcome.

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Are all Tummy Tucks the same? All Tummy Tucks are not the same because not all tummies are the same. Here are some

variables we are checking for during your exam:

• The amount of loose skin

• Surgical scars from other surgeries

• Stretch marks

• Lax abdominal muscles

• Hernias such as in the umbilicus or along the midline

• Extra unwanted pockets of fat on the front, sides or back of the torso

• Whether or not the tummy tuck needs to be combined with another procedure such as

liposuction

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Are all Tummy Tucks the same? There are three general types of Tummy

Tucks:

1. Simple skin excision- just small amount

of loose skin usually removed below the

bikini line usually but not always over a

C- section scar.

2. Mini Tummy Tuck- this surgery is done

through a low, small incision just above

the pubic area and allows muscle

tightening and removal of some excess

lower abdominal skin.

3. Full Tummy tuck- this surgery is done

through full length incision below the

bikini line and around the belly button.

The maximum amount of skin is

removed and allows maximum muscle

tightening.

3. Full Tummy Tuck:

4. Combining liposuction- areas of

excess fat pockets that are outside

the area that is being removed is

addressed with liposuction. The flank

areas are the most common. Back fat

and upper abdominal fat can be

treated usually the same day.

Occasionally patients come back after

healing fully, and have the entire

torso liposuctioned to further safely

sculpt their waist area.

5. Combining hernia repair. Umbilical

and midline hernias are easily fixed

during these surgeries. Only certain

hernias need to be dealt with a later

surgery.

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Abdominoplasty Full Abdominoplasty with lipo

54 year old female shown before her Tummy Tuck and 10 months after her surgery.

Page 7 Patient Consent on file.

Recovery: We focus on Rapid Recovery!

We focus on rapid recovery techniques during and after surgery so you are back to your normal routine

as soon as you feel comfortable. We have found that most women can return to work in about 10-14

days however each patient is different and some have gone to back to work sooner.

Due to the long acting pain medications we inject during the procedure, patients report more pressure

than actual pain for the first day, then mild soreness or discomfort for several days after surgery. The

combination of prescribed medications has been consistently reported by out patients to be more than

enough to get you through the recovery. A comfortable chair to recover in, plenty of rest and healthy

food options are recommended while you are healing. We’ll give you the instructions for caring for the

surgical incisions during your preoperative visit. As well as before and after surgery care and answer

any and all questions.

Dr. Szczerba has a very structured follow-up schedule after abdominoplasty and advances your exercise

activity and your garments for abdominal support based on how the surgery went and how the patient

is healing.

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Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon] What are your credentials and training experience?

Always look for board certification and the ASPS symbol.

How many procedure of this type have your performed?

Dr. Stefan Szczerba has performed hundreds of abdominoplasty cases and has been in practice since 2005. We at CASI

perform tummy tucks on a regular basis and usually perform your surgery on a day that allows a scheduled follow up

visit later in the week.

Where and how will you perform my procedure?

Your procedure will usually take place at Chicago Aesthetic Surgery Institute where we have JACHO accredited surgical

suites. Surgery at a hospital in the area is also an option however, recent studies show that office based surgery has

less complications than surgery at a hospital.*

How long of a recovery period can I expect? What kind of help will I need during my recovery?

Although most of our patients take off about two weeks from work, many have told us that they felt well enough to go

back to work 10-14 days after surgery. Since pain medications are required for about two days, some help may be

required until you are off pain medications. Please do not drive if you are taking narcotics. You should also hold off

from heavy lifting and exercise for 4-6 weeks. After two weeks, Dr. Szczerba will advance your routine with each

follow-up visit.

*Is Office-Based Surgery Safe? Comparing 184,914 Aesthetic Surgery Procedures Across Different Types of Accredited Facilities. Gupta, V., Parikh R. et al. Aesthet Surg J. (2016) 37

(2):226-235.

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Will my recovery keep me from my usual daily activities such as work?

After your operation, you can move your legs in the normal range of motion and can even go out for short walks

but hold off from any strenuous activity that would raise your heart rate.

Depending on the job – most patients return to work 10-14 days post-surgery.

What do I need to do to prepare for surgery?

Since anesthesia requirements are based on age and medical history, our office will provide you with all the

information you will need to get ready for surgery. A formal preoperative physical exam with your primary is

never discouraged! We ask that you have any required testing completed and results available during your pre-op

appointment which is usually two weeks before surgery.

A formal medical history and physical exam (H&P) stratifying your risks from anesthesia is called an H&P clearance

and is generally recommended somewhere between 35-40 years of age. However, depending on your risk factors,

health and lifestyle, a series of tests like an EKG, CBC, PT/PTT, blood chemistry panel as well as a mammogram for

the appropriate patient may be recommended by your primary physician.

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Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon](Cont.)

What are the risks?

As with all surgeries, the risks cannot be eliminated altogether.

Here are some risks:

Anesthesia risks, bleeding, infection, seroma, poor wound healing (increased with smokers), skin loss, numbing

sensation, skin discoloration, scarring.

How are complications handled?

We follow a very fair and open policy on revisions and complications. The details are covered by Dr. Szczerba

during your visit before surgery and a written policy statement is available.

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Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon](Cont.)

Am I Ready? Things to Consider Pros:

• A Tummy Tuck is a long-term solution for

achieving a balanced figure.

• Your clothes will fit better

• You will have a more youthful-looking

figure

• You may see an increase in your

confidence.

Cons:

• The recovery time can take a while. • Normal surgical risks are involved

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What is ASPS? The ASPS is the American Society of Plastic

Surgeons. It’s the society a plastic surgeon joins

after he or she is board certified. When everyone

talks about making sure your plastic surgeon is

board certified, this is what they are talking

about- you have to be board certified to be a

member of the ASPS!

The mission of ASPS is to advance quality care to

plastic surgery patients by encouraging high

standards of training, ethics, physician practice

and research in plastic surgery. The society is a

strong advocate for patient safety and requires its

members to operate in accredited surgical

facilities that have passed rigorous external

review of equipment and staffing.

The criteria are listed here, but at least you know

to look for the ASPS symbol when choosing a

plastic surgeon.

Membership Requirements:

Board certification by the American

Board of Plastic Surgery® (ABPS)

Complete at least six years of surgical

training following medical school with a

minimum of three years of plastic surgery

residency training

Pass comprehensive oral and written

exams

Graduate from an accredited medical

school

Complete continuing medical education,

including patient safety each year

Perform surgery in accredited, state-

licensed, or Medicare-certified surgical

facilities

Adhere to a strict Code of Ethics

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Dr. Stefan Szczerba

Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship (one year) :

New York Eye & Ear Infirmary New York, New York

Plastic Surgery Fellowship (three years):

Emory University. Atlanta, Georgia.

General Surgery Residency (five years):

Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Chicago, Illinois.

Medical School (four years):

Rush Medical College Chicago, Illinois.

There are only a few aesthetic surgery fellowship trained, board certified plastic surgeons around. It’s important to feel safe and confident in choosing a properly trained and certified plastic surgeon. Dr. Szczerba has been in practice since 2005 and performs hundreds of tummy tuck surgeries per year. Page 14

Meet Our Staff

Janine Pawlus, BSN, RN

Practice Manager, Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist

Anita Wozniczka, NP

Certified Aesthetic Nurse

Specialist

Joanna Office manager

Licensed Aesthetician

Kerry

Certified Nursing Assistant Justyna

Patient Care Coordinator

Nancy

Patient Care Coordinator

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That’s About It There is never any pressure! Thankfully we do this every week! So, when you are

ready to schedule your surgery, just give us a call and we’ll start working on getting

you onto our schedule. We’re thrilled that you considering this and look forward to

taking excellent care of you!

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Contact Information

We have three offices to serve you!

• Rosemont: 10400 W. Higgins Rd. Suite 100

• Downtown: 900 N. Kingsbury Suite 130-N

• Hoffman Estates: 2500 W. Higgins Rd. Suite 380

• Phone (all three offices): 847.853.9900

• Fax: 847.297.8208

• www.casi-nd.com

Page 17 Copyright © 2018 Chicago Aesthetic Surgery Institute