1 out 100 patients undergoing Abdominoplasty or Tummy tuck surgery will get a DVT. 1 in 200 patients may get a DVT after facelift surgery. Lower body lift surgery or circumferential body lifts have the highest risk of 9.3%.
The most serious risk of any excisional body contouring procedure is blood clots. Due to the immobility associated with any major surgery (especially one that temporarily makes it more difficult to walk), there is a risk of blood clots forming in leg veins (deep venous thrombosis).
Blood clots
Developing blood clots in the legs or lungs are a very rare but potentially very serious complication for patients undergoing any kind of operation including tummy tuck surgery. The general risk of developing a blood clot after tummy tuck surgery is about 2 in 10,000.
You're most likely to get a clot between 2 and 10 days after your surgery, but your odds remain high for about 3 months. You may have a greater chance of DVT after surgery when you: Smoke. Had DVT in the past.
Cosmetic surgery is no different, though the occurrence of blood clots is rare. The risk of blood clots continues during the recovery period due to the significant trauma to blood vessels during the procedure, and the sedentary lifestyle that patients are encouraged to maintain for at least a week or two after surgery.
Answer: Blood thinners and abdominoplasty
We typically inject Lovenox before the procedure, and the next morning before discharging patient from the hospital, but we encourage ambulation following abdominoplasty to prevent blood clots. No blood thinner is prescribed for patient during the recovery period.
So, it's essential to try to reduce your risk of developing blood clots after surgery. According to the National Blood Clot Alliance, even when you take the right steps to reduce the risk of blood clots, you have about a 3% chance of developing DVT and a 1.5% chance of developing PE.
Do walk regularly after surgery. Walking helps pump blood through the leg veins, preventing clots from forming.
While the chance of developing DVT is extremely low (about 1%) for the average tummy tuck candidate, the risk may increase for patients who are: Over the age of 40. Regularly using tobacco products. Using an oral contraceptive.
A DVT following surgery can cause leg pain or tenderness. The leg could be swollen or feel warm to the touch. One could have discoloration of the skin or redness present. The veins just under the skin could be more prominent or stick out.
It's important to know that the tummy tuck is a higher-risk procedure compared to other kinds of cosmetic surgery. There is a 4% risk of major complications such as hematoma or infection after a tummy tuck.
The American Society of Plastic Surgery reports that up to 20,000 of plastic surgery patients will get a DVT each year. Longer general anesthesia times have higher risks for DVT. 1 out 100 patients undergoing Abdominoplasty or Tummy tuck surgery will get a DVT. 1 in 200 patients may get a DVT after facelift surgery.
Approximately 10% to 20% of patients suffer a local complication following abdominoplasty, while fewer than 1% suffer a systemic complication.
The main reason you're at an increased risk of developing DVT after surgery is because of your inactivity during and after the surgery. Muscle movement is needed to continuously pump blood to your heart. This inactivity causes blood to collect in the lower part of your body, generally the leg and hip regions.
General anesthesia that lasts more than 45 minutes can increase the risk of your patient developing a blood clot by 66% if they have a past history of DVT. STOP THE CLOT Sequential compression devices prevent the pooling of blood by alternating pressure on the legs and increasing blood flow.
This evaluation, known as Homan's Test, consists of laying flat on your back and extending the knee in the suspected leg. Have a friend or family member raise the extended leg to 10 degrees, then have them squeeze the calf. If there's deep pain in the calf, it may be indicative of DVT.
They include sudden shortness of breath, chest pain while breathing in or coughing, rapid breathing, rapid pulse, feeling faint or fainting, and coughing up blood. Postphlebitic syndrome. Damage to the veins from the blood clot reduces blood flow in the affected areas.
Swelling, usually in one leg (or arm) Leg pain or tenderness often described as a cramp or Charley horse. Reddish or bluish skin discoloration. Leg (or arm) warm to touch.
The feeling can range from a dull ache to intense pain. You may notice the pain throbs in your leg, belly, or even your arm. Warm skin. The skin around painful areas or in the arm or leg with the DVT may feel warmer than other skin.
Raising (elevating) your legs above heart level helps. keep blood from pooling. This makes clots less likely to form. Elevating your legs works best if your lie flat on your back.
Normal symptoms of abdominoplasty and signs to watch for following tummy tuck surgery include the following: Tightness and stiffness in abdomen: Bruising, swelling and redness: Tingling, burning or intermittent shooting pain: These are normal experiences as the skin, tissues and sensory nerves heal.
In the first week after tummy tuck surgery, Dr. Patronella recommends patients take short walks of 10 minutes, gradually increasing this to one mile, twice daily by days 10 to 14 days after the procedure.