Absolutely. When you visit us for a tummy tuck in Port St. Lucie, we put you under general anesthesia. This ensures you feel zero pain during the procedure.

Due to the numbing effects of anesthesia, you should arrange for transportation. All patients are often unsafe to drive after receiving general anesthesia. Should you need help acquiring transportation, our team can make arrangements for you.

Some patients have concerns about general anesthesia, but we want to put those worries to rest. Our skilled providers have trained for decades to perform these procedures, so we are more than prepared to ensure your safety.

As much as Meet Dr. S. Darrell Lee deems it safe. Perhaps you only need a little additional help eliminating that stubborn fat that does not go away no matter how much you work out or diet. Maybe you have recently given birth and are unsatisfied with the sagging in your abdominal region. Some patients come to us for age-related belly fat and excess skin. We can treat all these cases and more.

An abdominoplasty is not a weight loss solution. However, it can improve the look of your stomach after a weight loss journey. Many patients who have recently lost a decent amount of weight find that the skin on their abdomen has stretched. This can lead to unsightly drooping, which a tummy tuck can fix.

During your consultation, Dr. S. Darrell Lee asks you which prescriptions you currently take. He may ask you to get in touch with your doctor if certain medications need to be on hold during treatment. Be sure to follow these instructions carefully, as certain substances can affect surgery outcomes.

At least 2 weeks before coming in for your procedure, you should begin abstaining from alcohol and tobacco products. These can impact your blood flow, which interrupts the natural healing process. You will also want to avoid over-the-counter substances such as aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and other supplements that may increase bleeding.

Once your surgery is complete, we monitor your condition and release you with a compression garment. Wearing this is essential to the healing process, as it helps to reduce swelling. Be sure to rest for a few days, and expect walking and standing to be difficult during this time. As the incisions heal, standing will become easier as the abdominal muscles relax and settle. You may be slightly bent forward for 1 week.

Normal activity can resume after about 2 weeks have passed, such as walking up to 2 miles per day. However, you should avoid strenuous activities and workouts until Dr. S. Darrell Lee has cleared you. This takes roughly 6 weeks on average.