For those who had TT/BA/Lift in clinic - not hospital

I've been to two consultations (third one coming up) for a tummy tuck and breast lift with aug.  One performs surgery at our local hospital, the other performs surgery at their very own clinic.  I always thought it was standard to have such invasive surgeries at a hospital, stay overnight and had nurse care as well as hospital pain medication.  I'm worried about in-office procedures b/c you go home that very same day with regular Rx pain meds and no nurse care.  I've been through 3 c sections and the VSG, I know how important it is to have hospital care!  I need stories/experience with those who had in-office procedures b/c that is very foreign to me.  From what I gather, they have a mini operating room on their office grounds?  Price-wise, I may have to go with that option but just wanting to make sure I'm doing the right thing.

The doc that does it in the hospital, how many nights does he want u to stay? I had my first bl/ba in a surgery center and went home that day and it was fine. When I had my lbl I had it in a hospital and stayed 2 nights and 3 days. I needed to stay that long for the nurses and the pain meds. 2 weeks ago I had my bl/ba redone. I had it with the same doc who did my tummy and did it in the same hosp but went to a hotel later that day.... I think as much as you are doing I would want to stay in the hospital.

 Hi there,

I have had 3 rounds of PS now all in a surgery center. My PS requires us to be taken to an after care center for one night after a tummy tuck, so I did for that. 

Have a good day!

I had an extended TT in an outpatient surgery center and went to a motel close to the center (which has a 24 hour urgent care attached) because I live 3 1/2 hours from the center. I was fine, just took the pain pills and vegged out with hubby and then the next AM took pills, got in the car, rode about 1/2 way home, ate lunch, went the rest of the way home and went to bed. I was apprehensive too but it worked out just fine. I was also saving money and it worked. I did use a PS residency program which cuts the surgeon's fee in half. I was cash pay.
Hope this helps.
Lana

May I ask you if your surgery was done in MO?  Would you give me the contact info for your surgeon. thanks!

I've had 4 rounds of plastics...

 Extended tummy tuck with BL/BA

Medial thigh lift and brachioplasty

Face and neck lift with upper and lower blephs

Breast revision

All done by the same surgeon at his own operating facility in my home town. I went home same day after all 4 procedures. He did require that I have constant care for at least the first 24 hours. My pain meds were definitely adequate and I had no problems at all. I was self-pay and the same procedures done at my local hospital would have cost me 3 times as much.

I had my TT in a surgery center and was sent home with some really good meds.  The Dr called later on that evening to see how I was doing and I was doing just fine.  I'd rather be home than a hospital, you never get rest there.  I slept in a recliner for a few days after, not a problem.

Aloha DM-

I was on the fence about having my circumferential belt lipectomy/breast lift/augmentation in a surgery center (and it's next door to the hospital) because I'm an emergency vet and I know how precious seconds are if you have a complication and need to be intubated- I don't care if the doc lives only a few minutes away, with an obstructed airway, seconds count ( remember, you can live weeks without food, days withou****er, only a few MINUTES without oxygen....).

That being said, I did have my procedure at the surgery center- it took 6.5 hours, and there was a mandatory overnight stay involving injectable pain meds, vitals assessment, pneumatic pressure pants, initial get up and walk assistance, etc. There were 2 nurses on with me as the only patient. I am surprised that any surgeon would do a long procedure ( longer than 2-3 hours) under anesthesia and allow a patient to go home the same day....I wouldn't allow it in my vet hospital...but I guess some do.

Other surgeons I consulted with who were going to split up the procedures into breast work one time, and the tummy work another time, did offer  their operations on an outpatient basis- in and out the same day. But my tummy tuck, since it was a circumferential, was a longer procedure- and combining it with the breastwork made the surgery too long to be considered for outpatient. So I guess I'd ask how long they anticipate your procedures taking. A basic tummy tuck ( front only) with no lipo or muscle tightening might be short enough to combine with breastwork and  be less than 2-3 hours. Some surgery centers are full on state of the art operating suites with full on recovery rooms that are staffed overnight with recovery nurses who are accustomed to recovering plastics patients - so it's not just a mini operating room in the next room- mine was pretty impressive and they let me tour it ahead of time as well as query the recovery nurses who'd be taking care of me. If you had a nurse or very well trained medical professional with you that night for recovery, no problem. But you will be in no shape to take care of yourself, and unless you are in the medical field, the drains and all can be intimidating at first, especially so with you grogged and out of it.

Berst of luck- XOLori

I had an Anchor TT and BA/BL done all at the same time in a surgery center.  I have also had my gall bladder and an ablation/dnc done in a surgery center.  I personally feel much more comfortable in a surgery center.  Hospitals are so germy and the lack of care in nursing usually just ****** me off and I can not get any sleep in a hospital.  

I went home just a couple hours after all of these procedures.  My TT BA/BL plastic surgeon was 2 hours away so I even withstood the drive home ok.  I pretty much slept the entire first evening of the surgery.  With my gall bladder I went clothes shopping and to a dinner party the next day.... TT BA/BL was a rough recovery so I was glad to be at home to deal with it.  I had a pain pump to assist with pain and family members to help with moving around.

I recently had tt/br/bl at a surgical center. It is off site for my surgeon's office and used by several different surgeons for all sorts of procedures. The staff was very professional and I don't know if it was because center vs. hospital, but that staff was also very hospitable and friendly (way beyond any hopsital experience I've ever had...they really helped me relax...even had me joking around before surgery!).

I stayed over night at an after care facility (a private home of a nurse). The nurse watched me 24/7 (tv monitor), took care of my meds and best of all, showed me how to get in and out of bed/car and use my thigh muscles (invaluable).

I've been home since and all is well (1-1/2 weeks).

There has been some recent news about the lack of cleanliness at some facilities. So if there is a way, look into the track record of the one you'll be using. I had the great fortune of having many OH friends (Hi Mommy Teacher) use my surgeon and this facility, so I knew I was good to go!

Wishing you well,
Rachel