Blood Clots Blood clots (deep vein thrombosis; DVT) in the veins of the arms, legs, or pelvis may result from fat transfer if it is done as a surgical procedure. These clots may cause problems with the veins or may break off and flow to the lungs (pulmonary embolus; PE) where they may cause serious breathing problems.
Fat grafting is considered to be a safe procedure. However, in the literature more severe complications due to fat embolism have been reported, including unilateral vision loss, cerebral infarction, and even death. Complications can occur immediately or can be delayed.
Answer: Blood clots rare after liposuction
Nevertheless, it is important to take precautions to help prevent blood clots. Before surgery, your surgeon may ask you to discontinue birth control pills as these increase the risk of blood clots.
Although BBLs are increasingly popular, they involve a high risk procedure. This is because BBL puts a person at risk for a fat embolism. While the incidence of this is less than 1%, it is still a very dangerous complication that can be fatal.
The clinical manifestations may develop 24–72 h after trauma (and especially after fractures) when fat droplets act as emboli, becoming impacted in the pulmonary microvasculature and other microvascular beds such as in the brain. Embolism begins rather slowly and attains a maximum in about 48 h.
In most cases, fat embolism syndrome isn't a severe condition, and it goes away on its own within a few days. It can take days or weeks for any skin or neurological (brain-related) problems to go away in severe cases. Respiratory problems will usually go away on their own within a year.
The first indication of a blood clot following surgery could symptoms of sudden chest pain or pain with breathing. You could be short of breath. You may even cough up blood. These symptoms are related to the blood clot moving to your lungs.
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.
So in the first week or so after your surgery, don't take any blood-thinners. So if you're experiencing some pain after your surgery, consult with your doctor and see what would he recommend. He might even prescribe you some medication if necessary.
Common systemic manifestations include respiratory distress, altered mental status, and a rash. FES is most often associated with orthopedic trauma. Rare cases of FES have been reported to occur following bone marrow transplantation, osteomyelitis, pancreatitis, alcoholic fatty liver, and even liposuction.
A careful surgeon with experience is recommended for any liposuction procedure, along with them using a lymph sparing technique. Using the smallest cannula size possible will greatly reduce any associated risks of a fat embolism occurring.
The final results of a fat transfer are considered permanent. Between the ages of 16.5 and 18.5, your body loses its ability to produce new fat cells. This means that once fat cells are taken from the donor site, the donor site permanently has fewer fat cells.
Unfortunately fat can not be transferred between individuals as your body would "reject" the fat much like some patients receiving kidney and liver transplants can undergo similar process.
You should avoid vigorous exercise or strenuous exertion such as lifting or straining for a minimum of 3 weeks following surgery. Plan on taking it easy. Do not massage, rub or place any tension on the incisions for a minimum of 4 weeks after your surgery.
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.
Typically, your body will naturally dissolve the blood clot after the injury has healed. Sometimes, however, clots form on the inside of vessels without an obvious injury or do not dissolve naturally. These situations can be dangerous and require accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Fat embolism (FE) occurs in up to 8.5% of patients undergoing liposuction, and we must differentiate between 2 pathologies: fat embolism syndrome (FES) and macro FE.
The risk for a blood clot is increased for 2 weeks post op. I ask my patient not to put pressure on their buttocks for 10 days.
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.
Fat embolism is most commonly associated with trauma. Long bone and pelvic fractures are the most frequent causes, followed by orthopedic surgery—particularly total hip arthroplasty—and multiple traumatic injuries. Soft tissue damage and burns can cause fat embolisms, although far less frequently than fracture.
For a small number of people, fat embolism syndrome is fatal. Precise estimates of the death rate vary, ranging from 7 to 10% . Some people with fat embolism syndrome temporarily develop serious complications, such as respiratory distress.
The major risk factors for postoperative PE include a history of previous deep venous thrombosis (DVT), trauma, obesity, age greater than 40 years, prolonged immobility, varicose veins, and inherited molecular defects in several hemostatic components. These factors are often found in liposuction patients.