Dr. Robert E. Rothfield, MD

Approach

• The practice's goal is to provide exceptional care.
• We put drains in to take care of extra fluid that can be there. Sometimes it also gives you an idea of if there's any bleeding going on inside
• The practice's goal is to achieve beautiful, natural-looking results.

Technique

• And so in a full tummy tuck, we make an incision like this, a little bit longer. We lift the skin and fat till we get to the belly button. After, you know, releasing the belly button, then all of this skin and fat is removed, and then this is pulled down
• So I occasionally use drains in surgery, typically with abdominoplasties or breast reductions
• A mini tummy tuck, you make an incision like this, and you remove a piece of skin like that, maybe a third of the distance from the belly button, and you sew it back together
• Dr. Robert E. Rothfield's practice injects long-acting anesthetics into the muscle repair during tummy tucks to minimize post-operative pain.

Recovery guidance

• Dr. Robert E. Rothfield's practice advises patients that drains work under suction and should always be closed, except when they are opened to measure the fluid.
• Dr. Robert E. Rothfield's practice ensures that when drains are removed in tummy tuck and breast surgeries, there is no pain because they cut the attaching stitch, allowing the drain to slide out easily.
• If you have drains, it may be up to six days where you need somebody responsible like that
• If you have children, you certainly want to have another responsible adult in the household for at least 48 hours

Safety

• But if you happen to get pregnant and deliver a baby after your first tummy tuck, it's not a problem