Tummy Tuck with Hysterectomy

At first thought, having a tummy tuck at the same time as a hysterectomy may seem to be an idea whose time has not come; however, at second thought, the idea seems almost natural. Having the two procedures done at the same time means cutting everything in half. The woman only has to go under anesthesia once and only has to go through recovery once. An added benefit for some women may be that having tummy tucks with their hysterectomies may reduce the financial burden of that procedure. Coming out of the recovery room with a flatter stomach can provide a little mental lift as well.

What are the prerequisites for combining a tummy tuck (known in medical parlance as an abdominoplasty) with a hysterectomy? First, and most importantly, a woman must receive the absolute approval and cooperation of the surgeon performing her hysterectomy. Although most physicians will not dispute that the two can be done at the same time, there are some additional risks. Some doctors may be unwilling to subject their patients to that additional jeopardy. The tummy tuck is definitely the secondary operation and should in no way interfere with the primary procedure. In some cases, getting the doctor doing the hysterectomy to go along with the doctor doing the tummy tuck will be no problem at all; there are doctors who do both. Most women probably won’t find a doctor willing to multitask in this way though so the second imperative task becomes having the two doctors coordinate their schedules. They will also need to devise the routine by which the two operations will be performed. In order to have the patient under anesthesia for the shortest time possible, as far as can be arranged the two doctors will work in unison. The work of the gynecologist will, of course, take precedence over that of the plastic surgeon.

Before the surgery occurs, a woman undergoing both procedures at once will want to consult with her insurance carrier. Tummy tucks are rarely, if ever, covered by insurance. Even though many of the costs may be rolled in with the costs of the hysterectomy, it is imperative that the insurance carrier be informed ahead of time. Trying to hitch a ride for the tummy tuck on the back of the hysterectomy without first talking to the insurance company could have dire financial consequences.

A woman should also be aware that although she will only have to go through recovery only once, it may be more painful and tiring to recuperate from two procedures at the same time. Tummy tucks can be excruciating the first one or two days after the operation; they can also cause fatigue and even minor depression. Obviously, the return from a hysterectomy is even harder. All of these difficulties may be exacerbated by a lowering or outright cessation of hormones which may accompany some forms of hysterectomy.

All in all, a woman facing a hysterectomy who would like to have a tummy tuck at the same time might actually be able to do so. Coordinating the two procedures will take some effort. Recuperation may be somewhat harder. Still, for some the benefits of having a tummy tucks at the same time as their hysterectomies may outweigh the disadvantages. So, if a woman is of the mind, she needs to get on that Internet and start scouting plastic surgeons that are up to the task.

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