Although serious complications are rare, tummy tuck surgery, also called abdominoplasty, involves some risks. Abdominoplasty is major surgery, and a patient should be completely informed about all tummy tuck risks before deciding that he or she is a good candidate for a tummy tuck. DocShop has included information on tummy tuck drains and other techniques that you and your surgeon can use to decrease the risk of complications from tummy tuck surgery.
Complications Associated with Tummy Tuck Surgery

There are potential complications that are associated with every type of surgery, including tummy tuck surgery. These complications include:

* Anesthesia reactions
* Aspiration pneumonia
* Bleeding
* Blood clots
* Delayed wound healing
* Infection
* Unfavorable drug reactions

Many of the complications of tummy tuck cosmetic surgery procedures can be avoided or minimized if you closely follow all of your surgeon's instructions.
Blood Clots

For tummy tuck patients, one of the risks that should be considered as a remote possibility is blood clots. Any surgery that involves the use of general anesthesia for longer than 30 minutes carries a slightly elevated risk of causing internal blood clots. Although blood clotting is your body's natural way of controlling the amount of blood loss that occurs after an injury, blood clots can become dangerous. When a blood clot forms inside a blood vessel, it can interfere with your circulation; in rare cases, it can break off and travel to other parts of your body, including the lungs, the brain, and the heart.

During your initial consultation, you will be asked to provide a medical history and other information that will help your surgeon determine whether you are at an increased risk of developing blood clots following surgery. If you are taking birth control pills, talk to your doctor about the possibility of discontinuing their use while you are preparing for and recovering from surgery. Studies have indicated that taking birth control pills while undergoing major surgery may increase the risk of complications resulting from blood clots. Your surgeon should also be made aware of all medications you are taking prior to performing the surgery. Hormone replacement therapy and some forms of cancer treatment can increase the likelihood of clotting. People over 40, people with heart problems, and women who have recently been pregnant also face higher levels of risk regarding the formation of blood clots.

The timeline for developing blood clots after tummy tuck surgery can vary, but the risk is usually greatest during the first few days following surgery. Surgeons sometimes employ compression stockings and pre or post-operative leg massages to decrease the risk of blood clots forming in the legs. Your surgeon may advise you to take short, gentle walks around the room within a day or two of your surgery to prevent blood from clotting in your thighs and calves. You should begin taking short walks outside your home a week after the surgery is performed. Although some movement is helpful and will actually speed your recovery, too much exertion, particularly before your stitches have been removed, can be hazardous to your health. Avoid all heavy lifting and vigorous activities such as jogging or rough-and-tumble sports for a minimum of four to six weeks after surgery.
Infections

Qualified surgeons will take every precaution to prevent infection during a surgical procedure. A careful surgeon keeps his or her operating room clean, sterile, and relatively warm. Contrary to popular opinion, a patient in a cold operating room is actually more likely to experience an infection than a patient in a room-temperature or slightly warm operating room.

Most infections following abdominoplasty result from the failure of patients to care properly for their wounds during the tummy tuck recovery process. It is important that you closely follow your doctor's instructions on when to remove or change bandages, when it is safe to expose your wound to water, and how to keep your wound clean. Some bleeding and leakage are normal after major surgery, but if your wound is unclean, you risk infection.

The early signs of infection include fever, chills, and sweating. If the area around your incision begins to produce pus or if the liquid draining from the incision has a greenish tint or is draining too steadily, then you should contact your doctor immediately. Infections are treatable using increased drainage and antibiotics. The presence of an infection will prolong the time needed to recover from a tummy tuck operation. Delayed healing can sometimes cause more prominent scarring following an abdominoplasty. Because of the risks of infection, if you develop a cold or any other form of temporary illness, your surgery will most likely be postponed.
Slow Healing

Any patient recovering from an abdominoplasty will heal at his or her own pace. There are, however, specific risks that are higher in tummy tuck patients whose incisions heal at a particularly slow rate. Young patients who are in good physical condition prior to undergoing surgery are expected to heal faster than older or less physically fit individuals. The tenderness, bruising, pain, and swelling that are experienced to some degree by most patients usually pass after about four to six weeks. Patients who continue to experience severe discomfort after six weeks have passed are considered to be healing slowly. In many patients, the healing of the abdomen does not proceed at a uniform rate. Often the operation site will heal a few weeks later than the outlining sections of the surgical wound. In rare cases, this irregular healing may lead to skin loss. Some areas of the skin may undergo a rapid and complete recovery, while the skin around the areas that are slow to heal may die and have to be surgically removed and replaced with a graft. In addition to the increased level of discomfort, patients who experience these complications after a tummy tuck procedure may suffer from more prominent scarring. Surgical revision is often an option for patients who are unhappy with their tummy tuck surgery results because of slow healing.

Many factors can slow the body's natural healing process. Exposure to cigarette smoke decreases the size of the blood vessels in your skin. Larger blood vessels allow for better circulation of oxygen to your skin cells. The cells of a smoker's skin are sluggish to heal because they are slightly more oxygen starved than the skin cells of a non-smoker. The presence of infection can also slow healing because it diverts the body's immune resources away from closing your incisions. Carefully follow all pre- and post-operative instructions that you receive from your doctor and inform your doctor of your medical history, any medications you are taking, and the level of physical exertion that you are accustomed to. After the surgery has been performed, contact your doctor immediately if you suspect your site of incision may have become infected or may not be healing properly. Experiencing complications after a tummy tuck surgery really is rare, and with good patient-surgeon communication, most patients enjoy positive surgical results and a smooth recovery process.
Reducing the Risks of Abdominoplasty Complications

Tummy tucks are usually very safe procedures. By following some of the guidelines for preparing for a tummy tuck and your doctor's pre- and post-operative instructions, you further reduce the chances that you will encounter complications after your tummy tuck surgery.

Some of the worst abdominoplasty risks are encountered by smokers. If you are going to undergo tummy tuck surgery, it is strongly suggested that you quit smoking two weeks prior to the abdominoplasty procedure. Do not start smoking again until at least two weeks have passed following surgery to ensure that your healing is not stunted. Complications to the tummy tuck procedure can also occur because of an overly stringent diet or over-exposure of the belly area to sun prior to surgery. The incisions made during surgery are a form of controlled damage to the body, and both of these factors can negatively affect the body's ability to heal its wounds. Your tummy tuck recovery will be quicker and less painful if your body is rested and nourished prior to surgery. In the weeks leading up to surgery, be sure to eat a healthy, balanced diet and get plenty of sleep.

If you feel sick on the day of your surgery, tell your doctor about any illness or infection, such as a cold or sore throat, that you are experiencing. A symptom that you may view as a minor annoyance can leave you vulnerable to some serious tummy tuck risks. Your surgeon will inform you if she or he thinks that your condition warrants a postponement of surgery. It is always best to delay surgery when the abdominoplasty procedure risks are too high. Complications with tummy tuck procedures can affect the overall results of your surgery. Safer surgeries involve less prominent scarring and better overall tummy tuck results.
Tummy Tuck Drains

Drains after abdominoplasty procedures are used in the patients who need them — and most tummy tuck patients need them. The purpose of tummy tuck drains is to decrease the risk of seroma formation (i.e., fluid collecting between the muscle layer and the skin flap). A seroma could be the source of infection. The use of drains after abdominoplasty provides a point of exit for this fluid, which reduces the risk of complications after tummy tuck surgery.

Tummy tuck drains are silicone tubes that are inserted into your abdomen either through a specially made incision or incisions, or through the tummy tuck incision. These tubes connect to bulbs that provide suction for excess fluid that accumulates during your recovery period at home. Usually, the patient measures the drainage each day, discarding the fluid and keeping track of the amount. It may be possible to remove the drains after only three to five days following surgery, though it may take as long as three weeks or more, depending on how much fluid is draining. Tummy tuck drains are an inconvenience, but the safety they provide is well worth it.
Locate a Tummy Tuck Surgeon in Your Area to Learn More about the Risks

As with any surgery, a tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty procedure involves risks. It is important for patients to be fully informed about both the risks and the benefits before undergoing abdominoplasty. To learn more about tummy tuck drains and other techniques used to decrease the risk of developing complications after a tummy tuck procedure, use to DocShop to find a qualified abdominoplasty surgeon in your area and schedule a

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