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I would appreciate it if some of you could give me some information on your experience with your surgeon after your TT:
(1) After your tummy tuck how often did your surgeon/office staff see you in the office? Who did you see in the office? How long were you seen in the office (How many months after surgery?)
(2) Who removed your drains? Your pain pump?
My standard is to see patients quite a lot. I know this varies, but I want to make a fair comparison.
I am only 1 month po, but I can give my info so far. I had a bl/ba/ftt with mr/lipo to flanks on March 14, 2006.
I was in hospital 2 nights. I was seen by ps 1 day po in hospital.
I was seen at my ps's office 7 dpo. Draining too much so drains were not removed. Dressing's were taken off of my bb, and incision of tt (steristrips still on though).
I was seen at ps's office 14 dpo and drains were removed by him. I was draining 40 cc's in 24 hours, but he does not like to leave drains in longer than 2 weeks, so took them out.
I have an appointment this Tuesday when I am 5 weeks po.
Not sure what the follow up schedule will be after this yet.
My ps is the only one who is doing all of my after care.
I actually saw very little of my PS. She never even discharged my from the hospital - her nurse did. The nurse removed the drains, the staples, and did dressing changes on a wound problem.
I didn't see my PS until two and a half weeks after surgery. Knowing her habit of 15 min or less visits, I actually made my daughter stand between the doc and the door!! When I said the "code" word, my daughter stepped away. My PS removed some staples from the problem area and sent me to the wound clinic for two weeks. She checked on me once there.
I was seen by her in her office once more for a wound check, and discharged from her care two months after surgery.
Although I received excellent care from her nurse, I felt rather neglected by the PS, like she couldn't be bothered. Mine was an insurance case - it would be interesting to see if she treated the self-pay like that!
I had my FTT/MR and chin lipo on Feb 23, 2006. My plastic surgeon is Dr C. Robinson, Rome, GA. My surgery wqas out patient. He called evening of and next day after surgery. One of his staff also called day after. I saw him at one week post op. 1st drain removed at 2wks and second drain removed at 32 days post op. He did this himself. Saw him weekly until drains were out then at 2 weeks. My next visit is at 3 wks. His surgical assistant has also called several times to track my progress. I think they have been wonderful considering I have had no problems. If I did have a problem I am confident the care would be outstanding.
I had my work done in an out-patient facility.
I adored my surgical staff!! The nurses and gas-passer where a hoot [professional, but fun!]
I saw my PS the day after surgery for a quick check, then again on day five when he removed my drain.
I came back after 10 days/did not see the PS, but his nurse removed my new bb and old bb incision stitches. At week 2 she also removed my bikini stitches. My nurse took loads of time to chat and answer questions; she was quite hellpful.
I saw doc at weeks 3, 6, 12, and just saw him this week at wk 16.
He wants me back at the 7 month mark.
I've had no complications and have not needed to go in at any other times.
Our visits are extremely short...he is obviously heavily booked and seems to FLY around the rooms between patients.
I have had some concerns that he has addressed, and he has made some observations which we've discussed. But overall the visits are 5 minutes or less.
I called drain totals in and didn't have my first follow until day 11 and I got my 1 drain taken out by the RN and had the initial dressings removed. I had a follow up with the PS at day 18, 1 month, 8 weeks, 3 months, 4.5 months, 6 months and I go back at 8 months. I had not 1 complication but I was told that if anything occured that seemed odd, to call and they would get me in. My whole process couldn't have been smoother
a) went back to see my ps the day after surgery, he called the night of my surgery to see how I was doing.
b) had to go back in on day 4 po because I was having alot of pain from my right drain. saw my ps and I think every member of his staff also.(including his hateful old bat of a wife) he did something to my right drain and bandaged me back up and I felt much better.
c) went in 1 week po, saw my ps and his assistant. Drains were taken out by ps.
d) had my staples and stitches all taken out by my ps and his assistant was there. the old hateful wife came in at one point and basically just got on my nerves, nothing more.
at one point after having my drains out, a "blister" below my incision concerned me. I called my ps on a Sunday and his answering service paged him and he called me right back and was VERY VERY GOOD at informing me, instructing me and putting me at ease about it.
however, after I got home from having staples and stitches out, I was feeling a little tenderness on my right side (my right side has not healed as well as the left) and my husband discovered that part of my incision was "open"...I called my ps office and was given alot of grief. Probably because they all had just seen me and I was already calling them, being a big baby about some tenderness. (that's the impression they were all giving me) So I was asked alot of questions by the receptionist first, then his assistant and ultimatly his wife who got on the phone and was all, "NOW CRICKET, I WAS IN THE ROOM AND I SAW YOUR INCISION...IT IS NOT OPEN AND THERE'S NO WAY IT COULD'VE CAME OPEN....BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!" basically treating me like a piece of crap.
I want to set her on fire and I can already envision myself one day cussing her out.
I had to put my husband on the phone to explain to this bitch exactly what he was looking at. (I guess me saying so wasn't good enough??) She told him to keep nursing it with peroxide, neosporin and to keep it bandaged.
I go back in to see ps in 2 weeks.
the open part of my incision is still not closed and bubbles up like crazy everytime we put peroxide on it.
there's a spot on my left side that has come open also and is doing the same. I have not called my ps about it because I fear the headache I may get from his wife.
Last edited by cryscket on Sun Apr 16, 2006 8:14 am, edited 3 times in total.
1. 1st month PO I saw my Dr. once a week. Currently on a monthly schedule (I'm a bit over 5 months PO, surgery date 11/8/2005) I see my surgeon, have never been seen by a PA or nurse. I'll be scheduling another procedure during my next visit on 4/19. We're planning on complete scar revision, extending TT incision and thighplasty, as a result I expect to be seeing my PS for some time to come.
2. My pain pump was removed @ home by my son 4 days PO and my drains were removed by my PS himself, 1st @ 2 weeks PO and 2nd 4 weeks PO.
My PS has a simple philosophy regarding his patients: If patient can't sleep (due to pain/concerns/problems), then he shouldn't be sleeping either. I left the hospital with his cell phone and pager numbers with instructions to use either whenever I needed to). He went so far as to offer a house call @ 11 days PO due to extreme nausea.
9 weeks PO here. I seen my PS every week for the first 6 weeks in his office by him. My 7th visit will be Mon. My PS took drains out himself @ 5 days. I did not have a pain pump. I have not had any complications at this point.
"Yesterdays the past, tommorrow is the future, today is a GIFT, thats why we call it the present"
1st day after surgery, PS changed my dressings, and on day 7, went in to the office and nurse pull the drains & remove a few stiches from the Lipo areas. Went back on day 14, and PS did my check up, everything was fine, next appt is in 1 month.
1. My PS came back and discharged me, then called that night and the next day to check on me. I went in at day 3, and day 7, day 17. Then at 1 mo, 4 mo and now every 3 mo for one yr.
2. PS took out both drains and pump. There's a shared office nurse that works there, but she just weighs me and gives me the gown.. My visits with my PS average 30 minutes I'd guess. I've always got alot of questions.
Speaking of which.. would you please take a look at my post on anatomy questions. I think somegirl and I have come to the conclusion that some of the MR issues we now have is actually an inflammed inguinal ligament.
Is this something you've seen much of? And can you explain what happens in a TT that might cause it?
(1) After your tummy tuck how often did your surgeon/office staff see you in the office? Who did you see in the office? How long were you seen in the office (How many months after surgery?)
I always saw my surgeon personally...his assistant was only there when I was underessed. I was seen at 4 days, 11 days, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and I will again at a year for final pictures!
(2) Who removed your drains? Your pain pump?
My surgeon did everything! His assistant was there, but, oh wait, she did help take the bb stitches out on one side, while he did the other side.
My PS sees his patients within 7 days following surgery, if no problems. He was able to remove my drains at that time. I did have a healing issue above the pubic area so he saw me weekly (for about five weeks) and then less regularly as it started healing. He gave me all the medical supplies I needed for my home care. He will do a scar revision in that area probably late summer, early fall. He repeatedly emphasized for me to call if I became concerned about the healing (particularly during that short rough time) and that he would return my call ASAP. I did have to call once and he did call back immeidately. I must say he showed great concern for me and always assured me that I was doing just fine, physically and emotionally.
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