Combining a Tummy Tuck With a Hysterectomy
By Stanley Okoro | Published on December 9, 2010 | 0 Comments
How many times have you looked in the mirror and found yourself fixated on a part of your body? Maybe you pulled and poked at your less favored areas trying to imagine what you would like if you could lose a few inches here and there. While there are always exceptions, most women at one point or another in their lives will secretly—or verbally—think about undergoing a tummy tuck to finally get rid of unwanted, stubborn fat.
While some of these women will set up consultations with their plastic surgeons and have the procedure done, others will come up with excuses and reasons for putting it off. At Georgia Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, board-certified Stanley Okoro has proposed an new idea for tummy tucks to his patients in Marietta, Georgia. He suggests that if the time ever comes where they are in need of hysterectomies, that they get tummy tucks done at the same time. The combination is pretty smart, he says.
One of the main benefits, Dr. Okoro says, is that you are getting two surgeries done at once. As a result, you will be able to get your tummy tuck done at a fraction of the cost you would normally pay, because your insurance company will likely be paying for the hospital costs of having the hysterectomy done. This is a great way to combine the benefits of looking great and saving money.
A hysterectomy, in case you are unfamiliar, is the surgical removal of a woman’s uterus that is usually performed by a gynecologist. During the combined surgery, Dr. Okoro says that the hysterectomy is completed prior to the tummy tuck. Your plastic surgeon should assist your gynecologist in designing the placement of the incision so that both procedures can be done through one opening. Once the uterus has successfully been removed, your plastic surgeon can begin the tummy tuck procedure.
Most gynecologists are very open to the idea, Dr. Okoro says, and any skepticism is usually cleared up through a discussion about the advantages of performing both surgeries at the same time. In total, he says, you will be in and out of surgery within five to six hours. While a tummy tuck surgery is generally an outpatient procedure, because of the hysterectomy, it will be done as an in-patient procedure instead.
If this idea seems appealing to you, then Dr. Okoro recommends speaking with your plastic surgeon, who can arrange the necessary accommodations with your gynecologist. While your health should always be of the utmost importance, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t emerge from surgery with the body you’ve always dreamed of having.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.