You’ve already decided that a tummy tuck is right for you, so now you’d like to move forward with picking a plastic surgeon and sitting down with him or her to discuss the details. But how soon is too soon to prepare for a tummy tuck consultation? The short answer is that it’s never too soon! Follow these three basic steps to get you started planning your abdominoplasty timeline.
-
Narrow down Your Search
Before scheduling any consultations, do a little research to find one or two plastic surgeons with whom you’d be interested in working. Check for board certification, memberships with accredited medical associations and before and after tummy tuck pictures online. Also find out how many tummy tucks the surgeon has performed, and whether he or she offers any variations of the procedure, such as a “mini” tummy tuck.
Once you’ve done your homework, you should be able to create a shortlist of plastic surgeons you’d like to call or schedule a time to visit.
-
Schedule a Consultation or Two
Once your search is narrowed down, you can go ahead and set up a consultation with each one any time you’d like. Even if you’re planning your tummy tuck for a year from now, it’s never too early to get your appointment in the books and start discussing your timeline with your plastic surgeon.
If you have a specific date in mind for your procedure, the sooner you schedule your consultation, the better.
-
Plan Another Visit Closer to Your Tummy Tuck Date
While there’s nothing wrong with planning your first consultation well in advance, know that you will have to schedule another visit as you get closer to your tummy tuck date. A lot can happen within a year, so your plastic surgeon will want to make sure that your medical history is up-to-date and that you’ve reached any fitness or weight loss goals you set before moving forward.
