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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Page 18Page
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
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