The New Theory about Tummy Tucks

Tummy times (Credit: Rapunsell)

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) announced today that withholding oral intake of food in patients after abdominoplasty ("tummy tuck") may not be necessary, and that feeding patients earlier could allow for quicker discharge after surgery. Findings from a study investigating the impact of early feeding after abdominoplasty on the occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting is published in the May/June 2007 issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, the Society's official peer-reviewed journal.

These findings are important because abdominoplasty is a popular cosmetic surgical procedure. According to the Aesthetic Society's statistics abdominoplasty was the fourth most popular surgical procedure in 2006, with 172,457 procedures performed, an increase of 407% from 1997.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is among the most disagreeable experiences associated with surgery, causing dehydration and retching, which can lead to poor wound healing, among other adverse effects. While postoperative management of patients undergoing abdominoplasty has traditionally involved withholding food until patients demonstrate evidence of bowel activity, this practice requires patients to remain in the hospital for the administration of intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration. However, no literature exists to support this practice.

The study consisted of a retrospective review of the medical records of 22 patients who underwent abdominoplasty, divided into two groups. Group I followed traditional guidelines for oral intake; members of Group II were allowed to consume a regular diet immediately after surgery. All other aspects of postoperative care remained the same. There was no statistical difference in PONV between the two groups.

Although the findings are promising, physicians remain cautiously optimistic about a full transition to ambulatory abdominoplasty.