Tummy Tuck - Tummy Tuck Complications

Tummy Tuck Surgery - Abdominoplasty

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An individual’s choice to undergo tummy tuck plastic surgery should be based on the assessment of the risk to potential benefit. Pain and swelling are consequences of any surgery including tummy tuck surgery. Your surgeon will prescribe pain medications and will instruct you on how to best handle the discomfort. Soreness can last for quite a few weeks; even months after tummy tuck plastic surgery. You may also have numbness for a similar period of time.

You are at increased risk for complications if you have diabetes, poor circulation, heart, lung or liver disease, smoke, have a family history of blood clots, take certain medications, etc. You'll want to discuss your medical history thoroughly with your physician before you choose to undergo surgery.

During surgery, an incision that was intended to be lower may have to be made higher. This is because the skin might not stretch enough. After surgery, scars can change position, and especially drop. For these reasons final scars may not be exactly where you anticipated.

Tummy tuck surgery involves a very essential part of your body. Although the majority of patients do not experience the following complications, you should discuss each of them with your doctor to make sure you understand all possible consequences of tummy tuck surgery. Abdominoplasty complications could include:

Bleeding. It is possible, though unusual, to experience a bleeding episode during or after tummy tuck surgery. Should post-operative bleeding occur, it may require emergency treatment to drain accumulated blood or a blood transfusion. You may be asked to discontinue some of your medications up to 14 days before tummy tuck surgery, as this may increase the risk of bleeding during or after surgery.
Infection is unusual after tummy tuck surgery. Should an infection occur after tummy tuck, treatment including antibiotics or additional surgery may be necessary.
Change in skin sensation. Diminished (or loss of) skin sensation in the lower abdominal area may not totally resolve after tummy tuck.
Skin contour irregularities and depressions may occur after tummy tuck. Visible and palpable wrinkling of skin can occur.
Skin scarring. Surgical scars are permanent. There will be a long scar extending from hip to hip. However, the incisions are usually placed below the swimsuit line so they will not normally be in view. Your scars may actually worsen during the first three to six months as healing takes place, but this is normal. It normally takes nine months to a year before scars flatten out and lighten in color. Excessive scarring is uncommon after tummy tuck but in rare cases abnormal scars may occur. The scars may be unattractive and remain a different color than surrounding the skin. Your doctor may recommend certain creams or ointments to use after you have completely healed to help with the scars. Additional treatments, such as surgery may be necessary to treat abnormal scarring.
Surgical anesthesia. Both local and general anesthesia involves risks. There is the possibility of complications, injury and even death from all forms of surgical anesthesia or sedation.
Asymmetry. Symmetrical body appearance may not result from tummy tuck. Factors such as skin tone, fatty deposits, bony prominence and muscle tone may contribute to normal asymmetry in body features. The belly button may be off the midline of the abdomen.
Delayed healing. Wound disruption or delayed wound healing is possible after tummy tuck plastic surgery. Some areas of the abdomen may not heal normally and may take a long time to heal. Some areas of skin may die. The belly button may not completely survive, especially with previous history of laparoscopic procedures. This may require frequent dressing changes or further surgery to remove the non-healed tissue.
Smokers have a greater risk of skin loss and wound healing complications.
Allergic reactions. In rare cases, local allergies to tape, suture material or topical preparations have been reported. Systemic reactions which are more serious may occur to drugs used during tummy tuck surgery and prescription medicines. Allergic reactions may require additional treatment.
Pulmonary complications may occur secondarily to both blood clots or fat particles (pulmonary emboli) or partial collapse of the lungs after tummy tuck surgery. Should either of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment. Pulmonary emboli can be life-threatening or fatal in some circumstances.
Seroma. Fluid accumulations infrequently occur in between the skin and the abdominal wall after tummy tuck. Should this problem occur, it may require additional procedures for drainage of fluid.
Umbilicus (belly button). Malposition, scarring, unacceptable appearance or loss of the umbilicus (navel) may occur after tummy tuck.
Long term effects. Subsequent alterations in body contour may occur as the result of aging, weight loss or gain, pregnancy or other circumstances not related to tummy tuck.
Pain. Chronic pain may occur very infrequently from nerves becoming trapped in scar tissue after abdominoplasty.
Other. You may be disappointed with the results of your tummy tuck surgery. Infrequently, it is necessary to perform additional surgery to improve your results.

Fortunately, major complications from tummy tuck surgery are uncommon. Every year, thousands of people undergo tummy tuck surgery and experience no significant problems.

Carefully consider all tummy tuck risks and complications and discuss them with your surgeon before making the decision to have the tummy tuck plastic surgery procedure.