Hysterectomy And Tummy Tuck At Same Time
A tummy tuck is a completely different surgical procedure and would require a plastic surgeon. During a tummy tuck, fat and excess skin are removed from the lower abdomen area. While it is not a substitute for healthy weight loss, it is helpful in removing loose skin and tissue.
Performing the surgeries at the same time could reduce overall time spent in the hospital, recovery time, and the risks associated with being put under general anesthesia since patients will only undergo one surgery. It could also save money. There are risks however. The study from 2012 found that 32% of the 65 women involved in the study had complications.
Combining a hysterectomy and tummy tuck
Combination procedures are nothing new. Breast augmentation with a tummy tuck is a mommy makeover. Facelift with upper eyelid lift for facial rejuvenation. But combining procedures between completely different specialties is less common. In this case, we’re referring to a hysterectomy and tummy tuck. This is a potential combination procedure.
As a woman gets older, she may develop a fibroid which is a benign muscular tumor of the womb, aka the uterus. This can result in a bloated abdomen, pain or irregular bleeding not necessarily associated with the menses. The treatment in many cases is a hysterectomy, or the removal of the uterus. As an aside, the ovaries can be left in place to avoid premature menopause.
So it’s not unreasonable to consider returning a woman’s abdomen to its pre-pregnancy shape with a tummy tuck at the same time as a hysterectomy. There are various ways to perform a hysterectomy these days. If performed through a lower abdominal incision, the hysterectomy can be done through the same incision as a tummy tuck. But there are instances where a hysterectomy is done without a lower abdominal incision. This includes removing the uterus through the vagina. Or laparoscopically through small incisions in the abdomen with the use of long thin instruments and a camera.
Regardless of which method is utilized, the plastic surgeon can perform the tummy tuck after the uterus is removed. Just as the surgeon “marks” the patient before an isolated tummy tuck, it’s also critical to mark the patient prior to the combination procedure.
It’s important that the OR staff, in the process of prepping the patient with betadine at the beginning of the operation, doesn’t remove the proposed tummy tuck markings. If that were to happen, the plastic surgeon would be at a loss as to where to make the incision since the skin shifts from standing preop to laying down during the procedure.
Will insurance cover a hysterectomy and tummy tuck
While your insurance typically covers a hysterectomy, you still may have out of pocket costs if you haven’t met your deductible. But no part of your insurance will cover the tummy tuck. It gets even more complicated than that.
Insurance can cover the hysterectomy costs. These include the surgeon’s fees, the operating room costs and the anesthesia fees. The tummy tuck costs include the surgeon’s fees. But that may be the least expensive part of this operation. Since the operation occurs at a hospital, the patient will also be responsible for the OR and anesthesia fees during the tummy tuck portion of the procedure.
Just because the procedures occur during the same operating room and anesthesia “event,” they’re not all covered by insurance. For example, once the hysterectomy ends and the tummy tuck begins, the clock also begins for the tummy tuck. Insurance won’t cover the time necessary to perform the tummy tuck. Those costs must be paid out of pocket by the patient. More importantly, the OR fees and anesthesia fees are way more expensive than those same fees when the procedure is performed in a doctor’s own office-based operating room.
A hospital is the most expensive place to receive care. We just don’t realize it since insurance often covers a bulk of it. Not so with cosmetic procedures performed at a hospital. And even though you can contact the hospital in an attempt to determine the cost, you will still receive an erroneous bill. Guaranteed!
tummy tuck with hysterectomy insurance
Combination procedures are nothing new. Breast augmentation with a tummy tuck is a mommy makeover. Facelift with upper eyelid lift for facial rejuvenation. But combining procedures between completely different specialties is less common. In this case, we’re referring to a hysterectomy and tummy tuck. This is a potential combination procedure.
Combining a hysterectomy and tummy tuck
As a woman gets older, she may develop a fibroid which is a benign muscular tumor of the womb, aka the uterus. This can result in a bloated abdomen, pain or irregular bleeding not necessarily associated with the menses. The treatment in many cases is a hysterectomy, or the removal of the uterus. As an aside, the ovaries can be left in place to avoid premature menopause.
So it’s not unreasonable to consider returning a woman’s abdomen to its pre-pregnancy shape with a tummy tuck at the same time as a hysterectomy. There are various ways to perform a hysterectomy these days. If performed through a lower abdominal incision, the hysterectomy can be done through the same incision as a tummy tuck. But there are instances where a hysterectomy is done without a lower abdominal incision. This includes removing the uterus through the vagina. Or laparoscopically through small incisions in the abdomen with the use of long thin instruments and a camera.
Regardless of which method is utilized, the plastic surgeon can perform the tummy tuck after the uterus is removed. Just as the surgeon “marks” the patient before an isolated tummy tuck, it’s also critical to mark the patient prior to the combination procedure.
It’s important that the OR staff, in the process of prepping the patient with betadine at the beginning of the operation, doesn’t remove the proposed tummy tuck markings. If that were to happen, the plastic surgeon would be at a loss as to where to make the incision since the skin shifts from standing preop to laying down during the procedure.
Will insurance cover a hysterectomy and tummy tuck
While your insurance typically covers a hysterectomy, you still may have out of pocket costs if you haven’t met your deductible. But no part of your insurance will cover the tummy tuck. It gets even more complicated than that.
Insurance can cover the hysterectomy costs. These include the surgeon’s fees, the operating room costs and the anesthesia fees. The tummy tuck costs include the surgeon’s fees. But that may be the least expensive part of this operation. Since the operation occurs at a hospital, the patient will also be responsible for the OR and anesthesia fees during the tummy tuck portion of the procedure.
Just because the procedures occur during the same operating room and anesthesia “event,” they’re not all covered by insurance. For example, once the hysterectomy ends and the tummy tuck begins, the clock also begins for the tummy tuck. Insurance won’t cover the time necessary to perform the tummy tuck. Those costs must be paid out of pocket by the patient. More importantly, the OR fees and anesthesia fees are way more expensive than those same fees when the procedure is performed in a doctor’s own office-based operating room.
A hospital is the most expensive place to receive care. We just don’t realize it since insurance often covers a bulk of it. Not so with cosmetic procedures performed at a hospital. And even though you can contact the hospital in an attempt to determine the cost, you will still receive an erroneous bill. Guaranteed!
will abdomen shrink after hysterectomy
If you’ve had a hysterectomy or are anticipating having the procedure performed, your first questions may be, “What happens internally after a hysterectomy?” or “What happens inside my body?”
These are completely normal questions to have. After all, the surgeon is removing a good portion of your abdominal tissues and organs, especially if you get a radical hysterectomy.
To understand what happens internally after a hysterectomy, we’ll first take a look at how the surgeon performs the procedure. Then we’ll answer many of the detailed questions women frequently ask about what to expect internally after a hysterectomy.
Types of Hysterectomy Procedures
What happens inside your body after a hysterectomy will depend on the type of hysterectomy and how the surgeon performs the procedure.
There are three different types of hysterectomy. The type your doctor recommends for you is based on your circumstances.
There are also four different ways the surgeon can perform your hysterectomy on the day:
Each of these techniques has its pros and cons. As you can imagine, having open surgery that requires the surgeon to cut through abdominal muscles causes many more internal side effects than laparoscopy, which only requires a couple of small slits.
Now let’s get to your questions.
Do the Remaining Organs Shift to Fill Up the Void?
Yes. After a hysterectomy, the remaining abdominal and pelvic organs will shift slightly to fill in the space. This shift can cause incontinence as well as other problems. Keeping your pelvic floor muscles strong by doing Kegels and regular exercise can help prevent these problems.
The fallopian tubes connect the ovaries to the uterus. Ligaments that extend from the upper part of the uterus to the lower part of the ovaries hold them in place. If you want to preserve your ovaries, your surgeon can reattach them after they’ve separated them from your uterus.
Everything in your pelvis sits close together, so it’s natural that your bowels would be affected by a hysterectomy.
You can expect your first bowel movement within 4-5 days after surgery. Bowel problems should go away anywhere from several days to weeks after your hysterectomy.
Some women have pelvic organ prolapse after surgery. The vagina may collapse, the tissue between the bladder and vaginal wall or rectum and vagina may weaken, or the small intestine may drop into the lower pelvic cavity.
Prolapses usually occur in women who have preexisting pelvic floor problems. Women who have no issues with prolapse prior to surgery are at a much lower risk of developing post-surgery prolapse.
Don’t worry. Things do change internally after a hysterectomy. But your surgeon is not going to leave you with a big gaping hole at the top of your vagina. Instead, they will make a vaginal cuff by stitching together the top part of the vagina to create a closure.
Can a Man Feel When a Woman Has Had a Hysterectomy?
This is a concern of many women who want to have sex after a hysterectomy. If the surgeon only removed your uterus, sex after hysterectomy for the man may feel surprisingly similar. In procedures that remove the cervix or some of the vagina, the surgeon will take steps to maintain vaginal functionality and do some reconstructive surgery if necessary.
It takes time for sensation and natural lubrication to return after a hysterectomy. Using water- or silicone-based lubricants can ease penetration.
The answer is yes. After a hysterectomy, you still have your clitoris and labia, which are highly sensitive. Stimulation to these areas can bring on an orgasm. More research needs to be done to understand what role the cervix plays in orgasm.
After a hysterectomy, sperm ejaculated into the vagina has nowhere to go because the remaining areas of your reproductive tract are closed off from your abdominal cavity. Your body will eventually expel sperm along with your normal vaginal secretions.
Since hysterectomy removes the cervix, you have eliminated the risk of developing cervical cancer because of persistent HPV infection. However, HPV can still hang out in cells of the vagina.
What happens internally after a hysterectomy is one thing. However, if your ovaries are removed, your body will go into premature menopause if you’ve not already gone through it naturally. This means that your hormones will be out of balance, and you will have all the symptoms of peri/menopause.
Even if you don’t have your ovaries removed, you still have a 4-6% chance of being affected by depression or anxiety after a hysterectomy. Unfortunately, younger women are at a higher risk (12%) of suffering from depression after a hysterectomy.
laparoscopic hysterectomy and tummy tuck
The idea of combining hysterectomy and tummy tuck in Atlanta 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 a tummy tuck Atlanta 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 relief as well.
Hysterectomy is a very common operation defined as the surgical removal of the uterus (womb). This operation is commonly conducted in women to cure and alleviate a number of gynecological complaints. The fallopian tubes and ovaries may also be removed at the time of hysterectomy.
Major reasons for hysterectomy include:
Today, more and more women are taking the opportunity to have tummy tuck during their hysterectomy. Tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, removes excessive abdominal fat and skin from the middle and lower abdomen. Mini tummy tuck removes this excessive skin and fat from the lower abdomen only. Dr. Stanley Okoro is an expert in combining hysterectomy and tummy tuck. He will work with your Gynecologist to give you the best cosmetic outcome.
WHAT ARE THE PREREQUISITES FOR COMBINING A TUMMY TUCK (ABDOMINOPLASTY) WITH A HYSTERECTOMY?
First, and most importantly, a woman must receive the absolute approval and cooperation of the gynecologist performing her hysterectomy. Although most doctors will not dispute that the two can be done at the same time, there are some additional risks. If your gynecologist does not like the idea of combine operations, you may want to get a second opinion. Remember, 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. In order to have the patient under anesthesia for the shortest time possible, the two doctors will work in unison. The work of the gynecologist will, of course, take precedence over that of the plastic surgeon.
Secondly, 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.
All in all, a woman facing a hysterectomy who would like to have a tummy tuck Atlanta 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 tuck at the same time as their hysterectomies may outweigh the disadvantages.
Finally, consult with Dr. Okoro, a board certified Plastic Surgeon. He is very experienced in combining hysterectomy and tummy tuck. He can actually help you coordinate your surgery with the Gynecologist.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The safety of a combining hysterectomy followed by a Tummy Tuck is dependent on your general health. Longer times under anesthesia do increase risks. A tummy tuck and hysterectomy for most patients and surgeons should be around 4-6 hours and is relatively safe.
Can my Gynecologist do the tummy tuck?
This is like asking, can your plastic surgeon perform the hysterectomy? Plastic surgeons are especially trained to perform cosmetic surgery such as tummy tuck. Your gynecologist are especially trained to perform gynecologic surgery. Most hospitals will not allow a gynecologist to perform tummy tuck in Atlanta. Moreover, it is better to have the two experts concentrate on you while undergoing surgery. Two heads are better than one.
As long as your surgeons work together, combined procedures make sense from a financial standpoint as well as the recovery aspect. Having the two procedures done at the same time means cutting everything in half. Your insurance company should pay part of the cost of surgery and hospitalization associated with hysterectomy. The combination will come with the big bonus of a single recovery and down time.
HOW MUCH DOES TUMMY TUCK COST?
The cost of tummy tuck varies based on the extent of your surgery and the cost of any additional surgery. To make surgery affordable for you, we offer patient financing plans, so be sure to ask. The cost of tummy tuck is from $4500. This will vary from surgeon to surgeon. The cost may include the following:
Most health insurance plans will not cover cosmetic tummy tuck surgery, related complications, or another surgery to revise the appearance of your body. However, most insurance will cover panniculectomy surgery due to medical condition. Panniculectomy and tummy tuck surgery are different types of surgery. Please review your health insurance policy.
YOUR SATISFACTION INVOLVES MORE THAN A FEE
When choosing a plastic surgeon for tummy tuck, remember that the surgeon’s experience and your comfort with him or her are just as important as the final cost of the surgery. Dr Okoro takes his time to understand your goals and desire for the best long term outcome. Your safety and satisfaction are very important to him.
Top Tummy tuck Doctor 2010When you want to combine hysterectomy & tummy tuck, Georgia Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery is the smart choice. For more information about tummy tuck in Atlanta surgery or to schedule a confidential consultation at our plastic surgery practice, call us or email us today!
All data and information provided within this website and related blog is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Georgia Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, PC makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. Treatment information and medical recommendations must be made on a case-by-case basis; it is recommended that you seek personalized care from a board certified medical doctor for any medical questions or health issues you may have. Some photos in this website feature models for illustrative purposes. Photos of actual patients can be found in the before and after photo gallery.