Tummy Tuck in Higher Risk Patients, Raleigh, North Carolina*

Most abdominoplasties are performed in an outpatient setting in the plastic surgeon's own operating suite. Dr. Lyle performs the majority of his tummy tucks in his fully accredited outpatient surgery center. Only patients who are very healthy and meet criteria can have their operation in that setting. Many patients have underlying health problems that could present more risks with major procedures. These risks have to be weighed against the benefits of cosmetic surgery. Provided that the patient does not have unacceptable risks, cosmetic surgical procedures can be performed in higher risk patients however, it is recommended that they be performed in a hospital setting. This provides the safety net necessary if a problem ensued. Examples of higher risk patients include patients with body mass index over 35, diabetes, history of heart disease or other health problems. Severe conditions would prohibit any surgery on these patients but patients with milder conditions can be done safely as long as all factors are taken into consideration. This is a 51-year-old woman requested abdominoplasty. She who has an unfavorable C-section scar as well. She was otherwise healthy but had an underlying bleeding disorder. She was quite motivated to have the procedure and had preoperative clearance with her hematologist. The procedure was performed in the hospital setting with an overnight stay for monitoring. The patient did very well- with no complications.